HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3675, 6 August 1927, Page 3

HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION

The management committee of the Horowhenua Rugby District Council met in Levin on Tuesday evening. CLUB MATCHES ON REP. DAYS. Mr. R. Hornblow, secretary of the Foxton Club, wrote asking for information on the question of play or no play when Combined Union games are on. His club wished to know why there were no games at Foxton on Saturday, Jujly 23rd, seeing that games were played on the 16th. The Foxton club did not have a third-grade team in the field on the 16th because if was thought that there wore to be no matches on that day, and consequently they had to forfeit. As there were no games at Foxton last Saturday, he asked the Council to consider the question of having that match replayed. It was only owing to a misunderstanding that Foxton had no team on the field. Mr. Dobson said that wild rumours had! been circulating in the district as to club arrangements on days of Union matches. It was possible that false reports had got abroad at Foxton, as they had done in the northern end of the district. Mr. Ryder pointed out that, at the last meeting of the Council, Mr. Neville, one of the Foxton delegates, took upon himself the blame for the mistake. In that case it should not have been necessary for the Foxton club to send this letter to the Council. Mr. Rimmer moved that the Foxton club 'be notified that Mr. Neville had accepted the responsibility for the non-playing of the fixture. Mr. Casey: Should we play matches when combined games are on? Mr. Robson: Not junior games. I am not altogether in favour of playing senior games 'then. I was defeated on an amendment about it. How long was it since there was a junior game in this district prior to last Saturday? I have a junior team that is going pretty well, and I am trying to keep it up to concert pitch. We have not had a game since the one with Weraroa on July9th. I thought we were dealing with the seniors only. Mr. Rimmer: The feeling with many, is to give the juniors an opportunity of seeing good football. Mr. Robson: How many juniors would travel from here to Palmerstori to see a game ? Mr. Rimmer: If we are to have no matches on'rep. days we may as well shut up the show altogether. Mr. Robson: All the Palmerston games were played last Saturday. There was a Combined Union game on, and a senior rep. game as well. Mr. Rimmer: Our football is strangled fonthe benefit of the combined games. On the motion of Mr. Robson, seconded by Mr. Wrigley, it was resolved that junior and third grade matches be played on the days of combined rep. matches. FINE REMITTED. A fine of 10/- imposed on the Otaki Club for allowing members to play in other than club colours was remitted on the plea that new jerseys had not come to hand in, time for the match. REP. MATCH AT FOXTON. A letter was received from the Oroua Sub-Union agreeing to the match for the Bebbington Shield at Foxton on Saturday, August 13th. The secretary stated that he had written to the N.Z. Referees’ Association for a referee. He had also visited Foxton and seen Mr. Neville and Mr. Austin about the ground on the Racecourse, and they, assured him that it would be in good order for the match. Mr. Ryder suggested that the 'Committee have . power to change the venue from Foxton to Levin if rain renders the ground unsuitable for play. He remarked that if rain came on some days previous to the match, they would be left without a ground fit for the game to be played on. Mr. Richards: The Foxton clubs ought to put the ground in order for the match. Shannon did the same for the Manawatu match. The secretary stated that two other rep. matches would be played at Foxton on the day of the Oroua mqtch. There would be the schools trial rep. game against the Wellington B team, and a third-grade trial. JUNIOR KNOCK-OUT. The following nominations were received for the junior knock-out competition for the Licensed Victuallers’ Cup:—Weraroa, Foxton, Miranui and Shannon. The draw for the first round, to take place on Saturday next, resulted as follows: —Shannon v. Weraroa, at Shannon; Miranui v. Foxton, at Miranui. DUAL CONTROL. There were indications of dissatisfaction between the Horowhenua Council and the Combined Council, Manawhenua, at the meeting which may lead to a rupture between the two unions. The secretary reported that he applied to the Wellington Rugby Union for games for the Horowhenua juniors and thirds, and suggested August 27th as the date for the later game. The Union replied that they were arranging with the Manawhenua Union in regard to junior and fourth grade matches. Mr. Casey remarked: that people had been wi'iting to the Manawhenua Union, thinking they were dealing with Horowhenua. His letter was sent in a week before Manawatu’s communication. Mr. W. N. Anderson had suggested to him that this Council apply for a ruling on the question of whether the Mana-

whenita Union controlled football in all its phases in this district or only senior rep games. Mr. Robson: I think it is a matable to do justice to the position. Manawntu Council, and I don’t think the combined Union have been able to do justice to the position. It is a crying shame. There is a junior game going begging there; and nobody will deny that there is nothing that helps football more than the juniors getting into big matches. Mr. Rimmer: The combined Union seem to be concerned with those games that are going to give good returns. Mr. Casey: They have not supported football here at all. Mr. Winiaita: They want the finance. The Chairman: At the expense of the lower grade. Mi'. Ryder said he had heard that the Manawatu Council had a piece of land in Palmerston and were after money to turn it into a playing ground and erect grandstands. Mi'. Robson: That is right. The ground is there and' is being developed. Mr. Casey moved and the Chairman seconded, that a protest bo lodged against the ruling of the Manawhenua Union in regard to not playing junior rep. games. Mr. Robson: Sooner on later there has to be a fight over this, and the sooner it starts the better. The motion was carried. POWJERS OF COMBINED UNION. The secretary stated that he had wished to ascertain under what rule he could call a special meeting of the delegates to the Manawhenua Union. He wrote to their secretary, and received a reply stating that the president and the secretary had perused the rules and could, not find authority for anybody other than the Union to call a special meeting. Application would have to be made to the Union and the circumstances stated, and if the Union were of the opinion that a special meeting was not necessary, the business would have to wait till the annual meeting. Mr. Rimmer: If they wash us out, does it necessarily follow that we are going to stand still? We can adopt other means. ' Mr Casey: We have more senior teams than they have. We should tell them that on account of having so many members in the Manawhenua team, we are entitled to equal representation on the Union. Mr. Rimmer: It is going, to cost us, for the rest of the season, from £IOO to £l5O in loss of gate money. We are swelling the gates of the Manawatu District Council. They are holding the money they get at •the expense of this and it is not going into the combined body. It was resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Wrigley,' that • application be made to the Manawhenua Rugby Union for a special general meeting of delegates, to amend the rules so as to give Horowhenua equal representation.