HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3030, 1 May 1926, Page 2

HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

REP. AIATCHES TO BE PLAYED

IN LEVIN.

PLAYERS TO ASSEMBLE AT OWN EXPENSE.

The hardy annual where should the rep. matches be played, came up for decision at Tuesday’s meeting of the Management Committee of the Horowhenua Rugby Union. Mr. F. Robinson (Foxton) formally moved the following motions: (1) That all rep. matches be played in Levin during the 1926 season, in order to strengthen the finances of the Union; (2) That players in such matches assemble in Levin at their own expense. Mr. Hannan (Levin) seconded the motion and, in so doing, said that this used to be done in years gone by. ■Mr. Austin (Foxton) said he took the motions to mean that a man from Paraparaumu or Paekakariki would have to pay his own fare, and buy his own meals, etc. Mr. Robinson said that, so far as the second motion was concerned, it seemed a bit hard on players, but he felt certain that if any repj men were chosen from Foxton they would come over to Levin without any expense to themselves or the' Union—they were enough sports in Foxton to guarantee that. He understood a similar position was in evidence at Otaki, and if that were so surely there was a sufficient number of sports in other towns who would be pleased to do the same thing! Certainly the gates at Foxton and Shannon had been good at previous rep. matches played there, but, so far as the former was concerned, had it not been for the generosity of one or two supporters in making donations and giving a lot of assistance in a number of ways, the gate would have been nothing like that of Shannon, whilst the ordinary cup matches in Levin would, probably, have produced as good results as Foxton with a rep. game. Anyway, the motion related only to the 1926 season, and as the Union was hard up against it, although it did seem a trifle hard on Foxton and Shannon, he had acted purely from the

Union’s financial standpoint, and if <1 the thing were carried there would not be a man throughout the Union who would be sorry that he had acted in this way, whilst the financial aspect would, undoubtedly, he a good deal brighter. Mr. Moynihan (Shannon) said this same matter had been thrashed out some years ago, but people seemed unable to get away from the parochial view of the situation. The record gate for the Union had been obtained at Shannon, the Union were sadly in need of funds, and he suggested the Committee should have the matches played where they, could get the best gate; also that Shannon should he given the Manawatu game as the tpwn was only an hour’s run from Palmerston and they would get some people from Manawatu to go to Shannon who would not be willing to go down to Levin. The Committee should not overlook the fact that in all probability the finals for the Bebingtoq Shield would be played off in Levin, and that a rep. Maori team would also play a match there, so he did not see why this Manawatu match should not be played in Shannon. He moved accordingly. Mr. Brann (Shannon) supported Mr. Moynihan. The first motion was put to the voting and was carried by a big majority. “CHEESE-PA’RING METHODS.” The second motion, relating to players coming to Levin at their own expense, was then subjected to discussion Mr. Moynihan pointing out that such an action would penalise players from Paekakariki and at either end of the district, and the whole effect of such a motion was absolutely unreasonable. Mr. Robson (Miranui) was of the same opinion as Mr. Moynihan, and while he granted them that Levin was the centre of the Union, all the players and supporters of football were not in Levin. He further contended that as Levin’s rep. players did not have any expense, why should not the same facilities he extended to players at Paraparaumu and simarly-situated towns? Mr. Austin was of the same opinion as the two previous delegates, but he thought that expensesshould be drawn up on a sliding scale, the same as they were last season.

The chairman, Mr O’Connor, said he thought they were all getting away from the fact that Mr. Robinson had brought forward the motion for the purpose of strengthening the Union’s finances, which were in a very bad way, and he knew it was the Committee’s wish that the funds should be conserved as much as possible so that the Union could show a. credit balance at the close of the year. If however, they were going to pay out for this, that and the other, the funds would go back still further. Next year, perhaps, with a good credit balance the Union might bo in a position to pay for players to come to Levin, but players should realise the position. The speaker said that, for financial reasons alone, he was in favour of the motion. Air. Robinson, in speaking to the motion, mentioned the work put in by the Management Committee during the season, and with a good deal of expense. Surely, if the Committee could do that from year’s end, to year’s end, the players should also do something to assist their Union? Mr. Proctor observed that it was only of late years that the question of paying players’ expenses had cropped up, aud in the past they had been only too glad to be able to play for a team, but nowadays he thought the players were being too pampered. Air. Aloynihan; Why all these cheese-paring methods all of a sudden? Mr. Robinson: The., books 'will show you why! Air. Rimmer (treasurer): At the close of last year we were £IOO on the wrong side of the ledger, but if the executive go along throughout the season as they have at the commencement, I am satisfied we will show a great difference at the end of the year. If the management are prepared to work and make sacrifices for the sake of the game —why not the players themselves? I do think the players should show they are desirous of playing the game and enabling the Union to be put on a good footing, and I also think that the honour of being a rep. player should be sufficient incentive for the men to turn up when selected. Air. J. B. Proud (secretary of the Union), who was a visitor, informed the meeting that, in the Alanawatu district matches, pltayers assembled at their own expense. Air. Hannan: About these cheeseparing methods, a few years ago the Committee were in the same position, and Air, Moynihan paid his fare to Taranaki and also to Mar ton, and I don’t think you would get any grousing from tho players to-day if you put the position to them. Air. Neville (Foxton): So far as the Foxton players are concerned, they say they won’t come over to Levin. Voices: Then they arc better out of it .

The motion was then put to the meeting who carried it with a 9 to 5 majority.—Chronicle.