FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2263, 14 April 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

HOROWIIENUA RUGBY UNION, ANNUAL MEETING, The Ilorowhqnua Rugby Union held its annual meeting at Levin on Tuesday evening, when there was a record attendance, thirty delegates being present. , .. .. la the unavoidable absence ot the president (Mr J. Mclntyre), Mr Hone McMillan was voted to the chair. Mr \v. Wehipehana acted as secretary. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The annual report stated that the pj2o season had provided a great deal of interest amongst followers of the game generally. The senior teams in the competition numbered six, and the honours again rested with the Levin Wanderers. Tokomaru was a new team, and although beaten in most of their games, they have the makings of a good combination. The same might be said of Kuku. In the junior grade eight teams competed, and there was naturally keener competition. After some sterling battles, Fexton defeated Waikanae for ..the Cup. The third grade contest was revived after being in abeyanco for a number of years. The usual representative matches took place, and Horowhenua won three, drew two and lost two In the junior rep. games, two matches were won and two lost. The thanks of the Union were due to Messrs. Stihan, 3. Procter and Coley for presenting cups for the various competitions. The balance-sheet presented was as follows: Receipts—lnsurance fees £l3 9s, subscriptions £8 4s, gates, etc., £225 4s lid; balance as per bank book 1910, £64 0s lOd—Total, £340 18s 9d. Expenditure—lnsurances £43 9s, current expenses £267 4s lOd, petty cash £l3 13s sd, balance as per pass book £l6 11s 6d.

Mr Whibley (Foxton) said he was rather surprised at the balance-sheet. For lack of information it was the limit. The fact that the insurance fund balanced itself to a shilling was a remarkable coincidence. The secretary said he had all the details in black and white. If all the details were given dho meeting would take all night.

Mr Moynihan (Shannon) said that without making any reflection on the management, lie thought more information should be given in a published balance-sheet before the meeting, so that members could come prepared > discuss the finances.

Mr Whibley asked for details of the imuiance fund, which were given by 11 10 secretary, showing that the insura*'ce fund really had a credit uf £l3 odd Mr Moynihan asked for the returns of the gates at the rep. matches last se< sort, two only of which were avail-able--one £2O and the other ;a junior match) £8; In reply to Mr Wh'blev. the secretary stated that the .9ri‘ Foxton-Waikanae match brought ii! £l4. lie did not have details of o;hrr matches.

M" Rose asked what the expenditure was on a rep. match. Toe secretary said it was rather difficult to give, but the cost of entr. can ing the Welington team for tea and smoke concert was about £l4. In reply to a query by Mr Gustofsen (Shannon) it- was discovered, amid eons o'erable amusement, that two clubs '••ore unfinanrial to the Union— Foxton and Shannon. The balance-sheet was adopted, and it war decided to recommend the incoming management committee to provide a copy of the balance-sheet in future to each club before the annua: meeting. ** NEW TEAMS. The new teams represented were.Junior—Otauru (Shannon), Paraparautr.u, Weraroa and Otaki Old Boys. Che Pataparauinu delegate, stated that Waikanae were, not Conning a eta } this year, but were going in with Por.ipr.raumu in the hope of putting in senior and junior teams. RULES REVISION. Mr Gillens (Rovers) moved, and Mr Whibley seconded: That Messrs. Procter, Wehipehana, Ford and T. Rowland be a Rules Revision Committee; that the committee invite suggestions for revision from each club; that the revised rules he submitted to a special general meeting for confirmation.

Mr Claphaxn moved, and Mr Smith seconded an amendment that Hie rates be revised at the present meeting.

Mr Clapham pointed out that one rule which needed revising was that relating to boundaries. Was it right for a player residing in one part of the district to be allowed to play for a club in another part of the district. There should also be a rule preventing a player in one Union playing for another Union. The president assured members that the revision of the rules would not interfere with the fixtures. The amendment was put and lost, and tile motion was carried. OFFICERS.The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr W. H. Field, M.P.; president., Mr J. Mclntyre; vice-presidents (one from each club); secretary, Mr W. Wehipeihana; treasurer (held over): management committee, Messrs F. Whibley, T. Dalziel, J. Procter, Gustofsen, R. Ford. It was decided in the event of the new rules allowing for an increase in the membership to seven, that the two next in the ballot be appointed. These are Messrs. R v George and T. Rowland. Mr M. Sub an was appointed vicepresident to the N.Z. Rugby Union, with Mr Procter as delegate. Mr T. Brown was auditor. REFEREES' ASSOCIATION. Mr .1. Rose said he had been requested by the Weraroa Club to ask the Management Committee to endeavour to fonn a Referees’ Association. ■ Mr Clapham supported the suggestion. He said the conditions last year were anything but satisfactory. The chairman said the Union had the greatest difficulty in getting referees at. all last year. Mr Ford said the game was advancing rapidly, and some organised effort was needed to get more referees. There had been a great deal of con-

fusion last season over different interpretations of the rules. The names of a number of possible referees in the different centres were handed "in, and it was decided, on the motion of Mr Procter, to get these men together at a future date to endeavour to form % referees' association. THIRD GRADE A discussion took place on the classification of third-grade players last season. Mr Ford stressed ihe importance of the third-class competition, as it was to that they should look for the players of the future. It was pointed out that the conditions under which the Procter Cup was donated included the proviso that the third grade players should be under 17. It was further suggested that another grade should be created between 17 and 19. The secretary pointed out that with another grade there would be a difficulty over grounds. GENERAL. Mr Procter announced that Mr J. Bebbington had donated a cup for the senior competition, to be competed for under whatever conditions the Union thought fit. A vote of thanks was passed to the donor. Mr Moynihan brought up the question of rep. matches being played in Shannon and Foxton. He considered, also, that there were too many rep. matches last season for the good of club football. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting. A meeting of (he newly-elected Committee was held at the conclusion of the annual meeting, when Mr J. W. Procter was elected chairman. It was decided to commence the competitions on Saturday, * April 30th, and the Chairman promised to visit every centre in the district before that date and arrange about grounds. It was decided to hold the next meeting on Tuesday, the I9th instant, when the fixtures will be drawn up.