FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 991, 13 May 1911, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

Everything in connection with Foxton playing in the Horowhenua Rugby Union’s competitions has now been finally fixed, the boundaries agreed upon by the Mana.vatu and Horovvhenua Unions having been confirmed by the New Zealand Rugby Union at its annual meeting, held at Wellington on Thursday.

The Horowheima Union’s senior competition commences to-day, the fixtures being Tainui v. Levin —Wanderers at Levin, referee Mr T. Pa rata ; Shannon v, Hui Mai at Manakau, referee Mr J. Freeman, and Foxlui a bye. The balance of the fixtures for the first round will be drawn to-night. The junior competition will commence on Saturday next. The nomination of teams for this grade has not yet closed, but it is anticipated there will be anything from seven to ten teams taking part.

The Horowheima Union has decided to charge one shilling lor admission to senior matches and sixpence !'oi junior. Commenting on this, “ tiuJjMjat,” in the Horowhenua Chronicle, says ; —“ Some comment has arisen over the action of the Union in raising the cost of admission to one shilling for senior matches. Mo doubt the Management Committee has good reasons lor putting on the screw or the rise would not have been made. Most outsiders lose sight of the fact that the almighty dollar is a very necessary factor in the purveying of football in the various parts of the district, and the Rugby Union can in no way be considered a philanthropic institution. The sport has got to be made to pay its way, and if sufficient £s. d. cannot be made in serving out football at a “tanner” a lime all round then a revision of the tariff becomes necessary. It is a business proposition pure and simple, and in the end the public get the benefit. Consequent on the Uniou being iu funds, better playing grounds will be provided, and better football will be the natural result. As I take it, the extra charge is placed only on senior matches, and it it sticks in any person’s gills to part out a “ umble bob” to see a rattling senior football contest then that person ought to practise taking larger strides when he is walking so as to save shoe leather. The ladies will welcome the revision of the tariff. Hitherto they have been thought of so little consequence that they have been admitted on the “ uod ” ; uow, however, the Management Committee have recognised their importance by placing on them the admission charge of the noble sum of 6d for senior and 3d forjuuior matches.”

The Horowheuua Union’s referees for the coming season include Messrs Dr. Adams, J. Desmond and T. Curtis, of Foxton. The Devin-Wanderers this year will have the services of a new half-back iu the person ot Lester, who is reported to have played some down the vvel West Coast, and would last year have been that Union’s “rep” half-back had the ex-Petoueite Green not been there. It will be well for local toeballers to note that the Union makes it compulsory tor all players to take the held in the registered colours of the Club, and any offender in this respect is to he reported to the Union by the referee. Foxton’s registered colours are blue aud white hoops aud white knickers. Another very important rule is that all players must be financial with their Clubs ou May 31st, by which time secretaries ot Clubs must send in to the Union all duplicate receipts. A Club playing an nnhuancial member shall forfeit the match, aud players who have not paid their subscriptions by the date mentioned above will be suspended by the Union until such subscriptions are paid.