RUGBY FOOTBALL

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17164, 22 March 1927, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NORTH OTAGO SUB-UNION. 'ANNUAL MEETING Og . '"^DELEGATES. / " u^s „ 't-k , $•-"!* ^ ,J * The fnM&l jne&ti'ng bf ihe" North Otago" Rfcgb^Sxx!b~Union ;was held last evenin&'.the president (Mr C. Mollison), presidmg over a full attendance 1 oi delegaites. The icHa&man, cxtended a welcome o oldandYiew delegates, mak*ijg special $-eference to the prescnce of Brdthfeg lBdwlejPa ; pf Redcastle College^. 5*'' ,, ■ , In moving ihe adoption of the annual report and halance-sheet (already pxihlislied) / the chairman said the Suh-Union could congratuiate itsejf on the past season. Mr Mollison enlarged on whai was contained in the report and spoke of the excellent work of the Country Committee. He thought from the players coming forward that the represeixtative team would be well catered for and said fhey had come to a satisfactory arrangement for the lease of the showgrounds for the coming season. The speaker thanked the Referees' v Aso'ciation for the way they had controlled the games and suggested. that new members of4 the Association would be welcomed He also thanked others who had assisted in more ways than one and mentioned the excellent work of the secretary (Mr H. Robertson). Referring to the finances, Mr Mollison said wheoi hey realised that they had an overhead expenditure of £90 which was nonrecurring, it would be seen they were in a good position, The report and balance-sheet were adopted. A Progressive Move® In accordance with notice, Mr H. Colquhoun moved that steps be taken to have North Otago raised to the status of a Union. Mr A. Smith seconded the motion. The chairman explained that the formation of a Union had been mooted for years past, but matters had never come to a head. Mr Mols lison spoke of what the executive had done in this direction and said the idea was- to rafse their status as a football body. By becoming a Union their. teams would be looked upon as Union teams and not as Suh-Union ones. Players would also take a greater intere&t in the game if North Otago were a Union. There mght be added expense but taking everything into consideration he thought it was a step in the right direction. Replying 'to Mr McCulloch, the chairman/ said the extra expense woflld depend on the programme mapped out. / Mr J. W. Holmes said he did not think the time was ripe for the formation of a Union and expressed the view that the New. Zealand Union- did not want more unions. As a Union:they would have to submit their programme of representative matches to the New Zealand Union while as a Sub-Union they 'could axv range their own games. Another fac tor against the formation of a Union was that they did not have their own ground. He did not think they would have a better chance of getting North Otago players into the South Island jteam if a Union were formed- If- they were going to ixnpove the standard.of football, or get ,two . more teams 'into the competi- ' ion. it woud he a good thing. Mr Colquhoun said if their matches were going to be arranged by the New Zealand Union, were they going to be at a disadvantage with other Unions. Regarding the ground, Mr Colquhoun asked if the Otago Union had a ground they could call their own? North Otago had the lease of a ground for ten years with the right of renewal. What better did they want? Mr Holmes seemed to think they were going to be turned down, but sup..posing they were, "It is better to 1 have triecl to fly than never to have flown at all," he said. The raotion was carriecl with one dissentient. Eiection of OiRcer^. The following officers were eiected : — Patrons Messrs F. Milner, H. Newton. 0. R. Wise senr.,' W. D. Burns, J. A. McKenzie and S. Lee; President: Mr C. Moiison; . Seuior vice-president, Mr R. Young; ior vice-president: Mr R. E. Dimick; Treasurer : Mr W. McCombie; Aiiditors: Messrs M. K. McCulloch and J. Gerrie; Trustees: Messrs J. CroWley and C. Mollison; Management commitice : Messrs A. Smith, A. McKenzie, W. Hopley, 0. R. Wise, A. Gilchrist, N .H. Colquhoun, G. B. Stevenson, J. W. Holmes, J. Crowley, E. Whitcombe and N. Fraser. On the motion of the chairman a hearty vote, of thanks was passed to Mr A.' Clark (Maheno) for donating , a shield for competition hetween the premicr teams of North Otago csd Waimate. ' A recommendation was made to the incoming committee that a fourth grade competition.be inaugurated. A suggestion that senior games he of two 45-minutc spells was idopted. Meeting of Committee~ A meeting of the newly-elected •ovnmittee was held at the conclufion of the annual meeting, The chairman extended to the new members a welcome and hoped ] they would work for the furtherance of football in North Otago. The following transfers were approved: A. Ciinpbell from Excelsior to Athetic; J. E. Harle, Old Boys to Ecelsior; A. Oairns, Old Boys to Athletic. J. Granger, Excelsior to Old Boys. The question of inclqding a fourth grade competition was heid ovi— till next meeting and the secrela;. was- instructcd to communicate with the clubs on the subect. It was decided to approath the reserves Committee of the Dorough Council with a view to securing the use of Trkaro Parlc for the coming season. j the motion of Messrs W. Hoplay and N. H. Colquhoun it was resoivect to commence tlie competitn*- on May 7th. The date of the next meeting was f-d for April 11 and AnrR 2S was

decided upon as the datc for the closing of entries. Mr ,T. Himburg was appointcd to represenl the Sub-Union on the Otago Union. Mr A. Smith suggested a proposal whercby members would take charge of the gates evcry fourth Sa turda y. The chairman said the idea was a good one but thought it would be better to get paid labour to do the job. Mr vSniith then moved that a man be paid to look after thc gatcs. It was finally decided to hold the | matter over till the next meeting. ' """ ~ ' " •* ~