HOROWHENUA RUGBY DISTRICT COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3910, 23 February 1929, Page 4

HOROWHENUA RUGBY DISTRICT COUNCIL.

ANNUAL REPORT. ‘The. annual report to be submitted to the annual meeting of the Ilirowhenua Rugby Council reads as follows: — Whilst the competition in the senior grade was not as keen as w@ should like to see, last year, the low er grades compensated for this in a marked degree. Some strong measures must be taken in senior football to prevent the plethora of senior representative games. It is stressing the coimmonplace and the very patent fact that our very existence as a partially separate entity on the football map of New Zealand depends upon our senior club games. What was the position last season? We were enabled to complete, but two rounds before being draJwn into the representative maelstrom. This meant that the average player enjoyed but eight games with his team at full strength. He naturally asks if it is worth while commencing to play football under these circumstances. With the keenness lost by the players, there follows a lack of interest on the part of the public. We sincerely hope that for the good of the game in this district that repeated promises of curtailing representative matches will in the not distant future be honoured.

EINANCE. The balance-sheet shows very completely the financial operations of the season. Like many other bodies last season we found that there was a considerable falling off in gate receipts compared with the previous season. The shrinkage in gate receipts amounted to £2OO. This loss of revenue necessitated our making another call on honorary workers' to enable us to finish the season without calling upon our reserve. Your committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the efforts of the following in tirno given and money spent in the furtherance of the game: —Messss T. Dalzell, T. Moynihan, Wj. Moynihan, A. Richards, G. Mitchell, S. Austin, F. Robinson, Foxton Football Club, Thos. O’Rourke, Leslie McDonald, Lindsay McDonald, E. M. Ryder, J. Wj. Rammer, W. C. Hannan, W: McLennan, E. Jones. It will be noted that a grant of £lO was made from the General Account to the Insurance Account. We are pleased to chronicle that the calls on the Insurance Fund were few. This Fund now has a credit of £93 2s 4d, which with the credit of £l'64 16s 5d in the General Account makes a total of £257 18s 9d. This must be considered very satisfactory as we began three seasons ago with a debit of £IOO. ■COMPETITION WINNERS. - Senior: — Championship: Wanderers. Nash Cup: Shannon. Juniors: — Championship: Hui Mai. Runner-up: Miranui. Licensed Victuallers’ Cup: Hui Mai. Thirds: —'Championship: Otaki. Primary Schools: — Championship : Levin D.H.S. Noad Shield: Levin D.H.S. Other Trophies:—Dewars’ Imperial Trophy: Maoris. Rowland Cup: Hui Mai. CLASSIFICATION. The following Third-grade players have been classified as Juniors : Otaki Football Club. —B. Ryder, Cheer, P. Wallace, P. Cooke, J. McDonald, G. Merwood, S. McDonald. Hautere Football Club. —Edwards, Hayward, A. Rolph, 10 ltolph, J. Fielding, C. Morgan. Shannon Football Club. —Tippler, N. Holden. Foxton . Football Club. —'Smith, Taylor. Weraroa Football Club. —Woollett, Walton. Wanderers Football Club. —WkyIman, H. Jones. REPRESENTATIVE GAMES. Senior: —Horowlienua v. jVtanawatu, won 15 to 6. Horowlienua v. Manawatu, won 9 to 3. Horowhenua v. Rangitilkei, won 20 to 0. Horowlienua v. Bush, won 13 to 8. Junior: —Horowlienua v. Manawatu, lost 17 to 26. Third-grade: — Horowlienua v. Bush, won 18 to 14. Your senior representative team withstood two challenges for Bebbington Shield, viz., against Rangitikei and Bush. Your Committee wishes to place on record the very fine work of your senior selector, who again came through the season without a loss being inflicted on his team. It says much for Mr. Winiata that the team he has built up could stand the defection of that worthy player, Mr. 11. Jacob. SCHOOL FOOTBALL. The advancement of Rugby Football throughout the district has been very marked. For this notable achievement your Council "wishes to place on record its appreciation of the work of the Horowhenua Primary Schools Rugby Union. Its representative on your Council was Mr. 11. G. 18. McDonald, whose work and enthusiasm has been an inspiration to all. A Primary School team journeyed to Wellington where they met and defeated a Wellington team. The team was very hospitably treated by the Wellington Primary School Rugby Union and our Member, Mr. J. Linklater, went to no little trouble to make the trip one to be remembered by the young travellers. They were shown over Parlialment Buildings and entertained by Mr. Link later to morning tea at Bellamy’s and thereafter motored to Athletic Park. It was a very kindly act on Mr. Linklater’s part and one thoroughly appreciated by the young footballers.

THANKS. In conclusion your Committee desires to express appreciation of the assistance rendered by all Club officials during the season. The Referees’ Association has been of great assistance and, to its members, on behalf of all with the interests of the game at heart, we offer our sincere thanks. To the district Press we are very grateful for the very full reports and courtesies shown during the year. We desire specially to thank the following who generously placed their grounds at the disposal of the Council without any charge: —'Mrs. Christina Prouse (Levin), Mr. Slack (Manakau), Mr. Woods .(Shannon).