HOROWHENUA RUGBY COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3544, 30 September 1926, Page 2

HOROWHENUA RUGBY COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING OF

DELEGATES,

A special meeting' of delegates of all clubs in the Ilorowhenua football district was held in Levin on Tuesday night, to consider the question of dividing the union into two portions—Northern and Southern.

There was a large attendance, the following clubs being represented Wanderers, Weraroa, County, Foxton, Shannon, Ilui Mai, Southern United, and Awahou. Messrs H. Hutchins, A. Stevenson, D. R, Barron, R. Cochrane, W. Neville, and R. Ilornblow represented the local club.

The meeting was presided over by Mr J. J. O’Connor (Chairman). Mr O’iConnor said the object of the meeting was: (a) To consider the following recommendations: 1. That, a southern division of H.R. D.C. be formed; 2. That the boundary be a line south of Levin to be decided upon by H.R.D.C. with the suggestion that the line be such as to take in Kuku Club in the southern division. 3. That players resid•ing' in' the southern division must play in the competition in that disprovided that teams of their grade are playing in the southern division competition. 4. That a player’s place of residence be decided upon by H.R.D.C. 5. That a committee be formed, composed of two members from each club in the southern division and public schools in the S.D. have the fight to elect one member for all the schools. The powers of the committee will be the drawing up of fixtures in the southern division and assisting the Management Committee of H.R.D.C. in the supervision of games and gates, (b). To determine the basis of voting strength of clubs at the annual general meeting. Football in the south, had been very poor this year, said the chairman, and the Council desired to find some means of improving it. The above recommendations had been the outcome of considerable thought on the matter and a copy of them had been forwarded each club who had sent delegates to the meeting that night to vote on the matter.

The Chairman then formally moved a motion on the lines stated in the (a) portion of the recommendations. This was seconded by Mr Rimmer.

Various delegates then spoke in opposition to the scheme and after a general discussion the motion was put to the meeting and lost, only one delegate voting for it. VOTING STRENGTH OF CLUBS. The second recommendation then came up for discussion —the voting strength of clubs. Mr Casey moved that the voting strength of clubs be.on the playing strength of the team for the previous season, but this motion lapsed for want of, a seconder.

It was finally deeided that the voting strength of clubs remain the same as previously, i.e. Senior grades 3, Junior 2, Thirds 1. ASSISTANCE TO CLUBS.

Mr Rimmer brought forward a scheme for the assistance of clubs outside Levin. He considered that any team having to travel further than Levin should he assisted by the Union. The team should pay its own way to Lev-in and the Union should pajf for the rest of the distance. Instancing a match between Foxton and, Paraparaumu. Mr Rimmer said that the limit of Foxton’s expenditure would be to Levin, everything beyond that would he paid to the Foxton Club by the Union. This would not be a cost, on the District Council provided matches were played and not forfeited. If forfeits were eliminated the gate receipts would go up and this would equalise any payment made by the Council for travelling expenses.JT. Ibis scheme was adopted a severe' penalty would have to be enforced in the case of a team forfeiting without any valid reason. Mr Curren (Shannon) suggested that the travelling expenses should be standardised.

Mr Casey said that four clubs were in need of assistance with travelling expenses. They were Paraparaumu, Foxton, Shannon, and Otaki."He suggested that- when Foxton played Otaki and; Paraparaumu the’local club should be given a definite sum for travelling expenses and vice versa.

Mr McClaggen: The whole difficulty can be overcome if each club is given a day on, which they take the gate for themselves. Mr Casey opposed this on the grounds that the day decided on might prove wet and not prove a success.

Mr Casey then moved that it be a recommendation to the annual general meeting that a fixed amount be paid to Foxton, Otaki, Paraparaumu and Shannon to assist them with their travelling expenses. The amount, of subsidy to be determined by the finance committee and submitted to the annual general meeting. Seconded by the chairman and carried unanimously. . , GRADING OF PLAYERS. Mr Hutchins brought up the question of grading of players and said that some better system was necessary. The chairman said that the rep. selectors had the-matter in hand and the grading would be more satisfactory next year.