HOROWHENUA RUGBY COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3773, 29 March 1928, Page 2

HOROWHENUA RUGBY COUNCIL

ANNUAL MEETING. The animal meeting of delegates to the Horowhenua Rugby District Council was held in Levin on Tuesday evening. The president (Mr. J. J. O’Connor) was in the chair, and 29 delegates were present, representing the following clubs: — Wanderers (six), WSeraroa (six), Foxton (three), Shannon (six), Hui Mai (six), Hautere (one), Mirnnui (one).

Officers for the ensuing yean were elected as follows: —Patrons: Messrs J. Linklater and W. H. Field, M.P’s.; president: Mr. W. Hannan; vice-presidents: Messrs T O’Rourke, A. Richards, and J. W. Proctor; secretary: Mr. J. Casey; treasurer: Mr. J. W. Rimmer; delegates to management committee 1 Messrs G. Mitchell (Shannon), E. M. Ryder (Wanderers), F. Robinson (Hautere), W*. S. Joyce (Weraroaj, H. Hutchins (Foxton), S. Hooper (Weraroa) and Les. McDonald (Wanderers); schools representative: Mr. 11. G. McDonald: auditor: Mr. W. Bull; senior selector: Mr. M. Winiata; junior selector or selectors, appointment left to management committee; thirdgrade selector or selectors, left to management committee to appoint. Mr. F. Robinson urged that financial help lie afforded the junior selectors in their travelling. lie said it was hard that these men had to pay their own expenses in going about the district to select the junior rep. team, as they had to do .last year.

Mr. Bolton said that if assistance in this direction were given to the junior selectors, it should also be given to the third grade selectors. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Bolton, seconded by Mr. Robinson, that it be a recommendation to the management committee to consider paying the travelling expenses of junior and third grade selectors. A new club named the Hautere Club applied for admission to the district with a third grade team. — Granted.

It was decided that all injured i players be admitted free to all matches in the district during the season while incapacitated.

Nomination for teams for the competitions closes on April 9th. Mr. O’Connor reported that several members of the Council had attended a meeting of the Foxton iClub, which asked what chance there was of obtaining a grant towards a dressing shed on the racecourse. He had given them the opinion that the Council, which was unable to make grants to clubs, could provide Foxton with a loan for the purpose named. He thought the Council would be acting rightly in accepting that suggestion, as dressing accommodation was badly needed at the ground. Mr. E. M. Ryder said that the Foxton Club had contended that the grandstand was too far away to be used as a dressing-place, but he did not concur in this opinion. With reference to the suggestion for a loan, Mr. Rimmer (treasurer) said that the Council would not. have any security in this case, as neither the ground nor the building' belonged, to the club. Mr. O’Rourke said that if guar-, antors were secured, the proposal could be considered favourably.

The chairman said that if a recommendation was sent to the management committee, it would be fully considered.

Mr. Robinson said that with the grandstand available the Foxton Club was in a better position than >ome of the other clubs in the district.

Mr. Ryder stated that the club was in a strong financial position and did not need to apply for help. Mr. Hutchins (Foxton), said it had not been found practicable to use the grandstand for a dressing pavilion, the players preferring to change under the trees in proximity to the ground. The club thought it was necessary to have a shed not merely for their own purpose, but for the benefit of visiting teams.

Mr. O’Connor said he was not referring particularly to Foxton, but to the principle that where the Council had money in hand it might, be applied for by clubs in the way of a loan for improvements. No motion was put to the meet-' ing, and the subject- lapsed .

At a meeting of the management committee held subsequently, it was decided to hold the next meeting on April 10th. Messrs Ryder, Richards and Hutchins were appointed delegates to the Combined Union.