RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3925, 2 April 1929, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

IrOIvOWTIEiNUA DISTRICT COUNCIL.

The animal. meeting' of delegates to itlie Horowhenua Rugby District Council was hold, in Levin on Tuesday evening-' last. There was an attendance of over 30, and the lrresident (Mr. \V. Hannan) was in tihc chair. An apology for absence was received from Mr. Martin JViniata, who forwarded a message that his services would again he alt the disposal of the Council if they were wanted. The clubs were represented by the following numbers of delegates:— Wanderers five, Wleraroa five, Ilui M'ai four, Fox ton five, Shannon six, Waikanae two, Paraparaumu two. The annual report and balancesheet were read, and were adopted on (he motion of Mr. F. Robinson, seconded pv Mr. S. Hooper. FI XAX CIA L STATEMENT. the audited balanice-sheet showed a credit in the general account of £1 (1-1 IDs od. The receipts, including a credit of £153 Is 7d, with which the year started, totalled £555 15s Bd. They were made up as follows :~ctClub gates —Levin £lOl 12s (id, Shannon £34 14s (id, Foxlon £23 3s (id, Manakau £(i ss, Paraparaumu £-1 Os, Olak'i £1 14s, total £l7l 18s (id; representative gates —-Mauawatu at Shannon £4O Os (id, Rnngilikoi at Fo.vton, £35, Bush at Levin £35 8s (id, Maori-Pa-k(4ia at Levin £ls 15s fid, total £l2O 13s (id; other receipts £lOl 2s Id. The expenditure amounted to £3OO .10s 3d. The principal items were: Rep. football £72 14s, ground fees £35 18s (id, advertising £32 2s, grant to primary schools £3O 3s Id, referees £2B 17s Bd, Combined Union expenses £2O 5s fid. The insurance account showed a credit balance of £O3 2s -Id, as compared with £59 18s 4d at the beginning of the year. The receipts were: Premiums £43 2s (id, District Council grant.£lo, interest £2 3s. The expenditure was -made up of.cnmpen--ation £2O 10s (id, refund £1 Is, and bank fees 10/-. The Council's liabilities were nil, and the assets £427 18s Od, composed as follows: —Cr. Balance general accoiml £lO4 10s sd, • cr. balance insurance account £93 2s 4d, jerseys, footballs and h ! ose £ls,' trophies Clso, bags, bell, stationery, etc., £5. , The recently formed Waikanae .Club was admitted to membership of the Council. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The election of officers for the .ensuing year resulted as follows: — Patrons, Messrs .1. Linklater and W. 11. Field, M.’sP. (re-elected); president, Mr. W. Hannan (re-elec-ted); vice-presidents, Messrs J. W. Procter (ro-elwted), Thos. O’Rourke (re-elected), and A. Richards; secretary, Mr. 4. Casey (reelected) ; treasurer, Mr. .J. W’. Rammer (re-elected); management commit Ice, Messrs F. Robinson (Foxion), 0. Mitchell. (.Shannon), S. Hooper (Weraroa), F. Meyers (W|aikanao), W. 0. McLean (Paraparaunni), J. AfcGill (Olaki), W. S. Tfeves (.Foxton), 11. 6. McDonald (Schools), and \V. Cr. Phillips (Referees); auditor. Mr. W. Bull (reelected); .senior selector, Mr. M. Winiata; junior selectors, Messrs Thos. Watson and S. Hooper; third grade selectors, Messrs H. Bolton and Thos. Left eh. A]] the selectors were re-elected.

SUBSIDISED COMPETITION FOR A FOURTH GRADE. The management committee recommended (that a fourth grade competition he subsidised up to £7 10s for travelling expenses, and that there be an age limit of 1(1 years on April 30th. The chairman stated that the recommendation had been brought down as the result of an investigation of the needs of the ca.se by Mr. Casey and Mr. Procter. The Secretary explained that the idea involved was that it would be a pity to lose the players from (lie primary schools who were doing so well, and it was thought that this scheme would give encouragement to the boys leaving school. The subsidy of £7 10s would represent the interest on the Council’s fixed deposit. It was proposed to subsidise the travelling teams to the extent of 15/- for each trip, the •players finding the 'balance necessary, at 1/- per head, to pay for ’•bus hire. If four teams could be obtained, a competition could be run quite well. The motion, on being put to the meeting, was carried vyiilthout dissent. AGE LIMIT FOR THIRDS. A further recommendation by the committee was that the third grade competition be limited to players 19 years and under on Aipril 30th. Mr. Casey drew attention to the disparity between various third grade sides, mentioning that in the northern part of the district the thirds were much smaller than in the southern. Although the proposal was for a 19-year-agc limit, the committee was not necessarily committed to that. The meeting might wish To raise it by another year on the ground that there were not end ugh players between the ages of 10 and 20 in this district to (make a good competition. The recommendation was adopted by a large majority. INSURANCE RULE TO STAND.

With regard to insurance, the committee recommended the altering of Rule 5 of the scheme to provide that claims he allowed for injury sustained whilst playing in any competition or representative match played under the 'Council’s control, 'the existing rule sanctioning the payjment in respect of any match under the control 0$ the Council. Mr. Casey stated that he and Mi*.

Procter, were 'trustees for this fund, and thought .that it wanted safeguarding. The pradliice of the Council had been to make a proviso iii the ease of a “scratch’' game, that it was not subject to the insuriUice ■scheme. If. players in siich games were to bo covered, the Council' would get nothing out of it. The position was that the Council would withhold |jerinission lbr these games if they were going to encroach on its insurance funds. The insurance had been built up, and if the Council could 'keep anything like a decent scheme going it would be quite all right and a cover would be available for players. As an amendment, Mr. Robinson moved and MV. .Moynihan seconded that the conditions of the insurance scheme rein vain unaltered, and this was carried on a show of- hands. METHOD OF DECIDING A TIE. Mr. lii 1-eh all asked for a ruling ns to the method to be followed when two teams tied in a play-off. lie instanced the conflict of opincaused by the manner in which the final match for the Licensed Victuallers' (Cup, between Ilui Mai and Miranoi, was' completed, last season. Previous to that year, lie said, the first force-down or score would have terminated the extra play after the draw. The chairman said it was not last year that the change was made. In 1920 the Council laid it down that two extra spells of 10 minutes each should be iplayed in the event of a draw in a knock-out.competi-tion. Mr. Birc-hall said that all he wanted was an understanding as to what, would he done in the coming season. The chairman said that, according to the rules of Rugby, equal spells must be played. CLASSIFICATION OF PLAYERS. The Chairman brought up the question of classification of players, as affected by the 'Combined Union's rules. He stated that at present the rules provided that a senior player was one who had represented any Union in senior football within the last two years, or any player who had played more than twice in senior contests in the past oi present seasons. The management oommitltee of this Council wished to have the words “past and present seasons” deleted, the effect of which would bq that once h man was a Senior he would always be a senior until reinstated by the mauagdipcnt committee. That would do away with old players, whose presence was not an encouragement to younger players. The same system should apply to juniors, thirds and fourths. He accordingly .moved that the delegates to the Manawheaua Union be instructed to support a recommendation to strengthen the elassiffention by-laws. The motion w'as seconded by Mr. Mitchell, and carried without dissent.

Mr. Birehall moved that the separate northern' and southern competitions in the third grade be done away with and that a. straight-out competition be held. lie pointed out that there were now only two third grade teams in the northern division. A short discussion ensued, in the course of which it was stated that there were likely to be seven, or eight third grade teatos in the district. As definite information as to the prospects was lacking, the matter was left in the hands of the management committee, to deal with when the teams have been nominated. ()n the motion of Mr. Casey, seconded by Mr. Hooper, it was resolved that the opening day of the season be Saturday, April 20th. It was also decided that nominations close on April Bth. A meeting of all juniors, thirds and intending players will be held in (lie practice shed to-night, at 7 o’clock sharp. THE COMING SEASON.

Manakau will make strenuous efforts to place a strong fifteen in the field this season, but will be minus several of last year’s players. Even the veteran captain, Boh George, talks of giving the game — as far as playing is' concerned — best, but has practically decided to take on refereeing. Manakau is fortunate in having “Joe” Corbett, and ex-All Bla.dk, and this enthusiast will act as coach. Last season lie was one of the team’s mainstays. Another enthusiast that Manakau is lucky to possess is Tom O’Rourke. With such “old-timers” behind the game Manakau should rally round and give all support possible. ft. was expected that Manakau juniors would be. weak this season hut judging by a Union official the statement that certain juniors had been classified as seniors is premature.

A meeting of the Management Committee of the Otaki Club (seniors) was held on Monday night when it was reported that several donations had been received and others promised. It behoves playin',s to now becolme active, pay their subs., and get into form. On one occasion when the seniors had a strong combination only three out of 18 paid their 5/- sub. This is not as it should he and players this year are expected to pay promptly. Without funds the club cannot carry op, especially as visiting teams wall have to be entertained. -

Mr. Harry Jacob, who received a bad injury a season ago, has consented to act as a referee this year. His knowledge of the game is great, and there is no reason why he should not be a success.

It is understood that an endon-' vour to form a Te Horo-llautere third-grade team has lapsed. Wlaikanae, it in understood, intends to enter for the Horowhenua championship. It is thought that Weraroa will place a strong team in the field this season. It is stated that nearly all of last year’s players are available.