MANAWATU RUGBY UNION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2500, 31 October 1922, Page 2

MANAWATU RUGBY UNION.

AMALGAMATION WITH HOROWHENUA. NO FINALITY REACHED. V" A well attended meeting of delegates of Rugby football clubs in the Manawatu Union’s district was held at Palmerston last week to discuss the proposed amalgamation of the Manawatu and Horowhenua Unions. In referring to the proposed ainalgamation between Manawatu and Horowlienua Unions, the chairman (Mr Ongley) remarked on the benefit that would accrue if such wore effected, as both unions were 100 small to be successful in representative matches, and were being passed over. Il was desired that they should undertake a South Island tour, but as things stood at present they could not present a sufficiently strong team and it would he detrimental to local Rugby if they sent away a weak fifteen which would he badly beaten. Through an amalgamation, however, they might he enabled to get together a sutlicienlly strong fifteen, a tour by which would ensure good return representative matches. Were the amalgamat ion effected, Manawatu would put £SOO into the common funds, though Horowhenua. he stated, had none, and at the end of the la>t year had had a debit balance, li had been suggested to the Horowlicnua Union that each should control. under its district committee,, riub matches in its own area, and that the funds of the proposed new union should comprise the sum of £SOO now standing to the credit of ihe Manawatu Union and the nett proceeds of all representative matches and inier-elub matches controlled by the Manawatu district committee. Horowhenua would not he called upon to contribute toward- the funds of the union, hut would retain the proceeds of its inter-club matches. As to the con--titution of the management com-

mittee of the new union, it was suggested it should be the Manawatu Rugby Union committee, and three delegate- from Horowhenua. The control of matches was also dealt with by Ah- Ongley, who said it had been proposed that headquarters be at Palmerston North, and that representative maches he played in the proportion of two in Manawatu to one in Horowhenua. Horowhenua, however, had submitted- counter proposals, which included a suggestion that amalgamation should be conditional upon the pooling of funds being effected at the eml of next season after all legal liabilities had been met, that each district committee under a new union so formed draw cheques on a joint imprest account. The counter proposals further suggested that the new union should meet alternately at. Palmerston N. and Levin and that the management committee .comprise three delegates from Horowhenua and four from .Manawatu. Mr A. Hannay (Old Boys) moved, •’That in tlie opinion of the meeting ii would he in the interests of football in the Manawatu and Horowhenua districts for both unions to amalgamate if satisfactory arrangements can be made.” In reply to Mr Duthie the chairman said that once an amalgamation was effected there could be no severance as the New Zealand Rugby Union was desirous of enlarging the various districts. The motion was carried and it was then moved by Mr A. S. Faire (Old Boys) : ’’That this union is of the opinion that each district should continue to be responsible for football in its area, and that the funds of the combined union should lie reserved for all its engagements, and also that the proposed clause i) (governing the personnel of the management) -will involve the creation of two governing bodies in the - *” district.” After being seconded the motion was made the subject of the, following amendment by Air Hannay: ' “That the Horowhenua Union be informed that the scheme submitted by the Alanawatu Union is the only one oil which it will agree to an anialgamation." The motion as amended was carried.