NEW ZEALAND UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10289, 26 May 1919, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND UNION

ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report of the J\ew- Zealand ituscbv X'ootball biuon to bo presented at my annual meotiiiK of tlio council of uie union on 'iJiimu.nr next records that uespito the diiiicuties and limitations imposed bv thu ulmornitU conditions or uio past live yea is tne Ramo nas been carried on almost successiuUy. At any. rate, stutes tne report, tho boys under military a(?e '.have, hud conserved for tneiu facilities and opportunities for indulgence'in tho healtny recreation provided bv our national same, and, it atiay safelv be asserted, havo ibeneflted physically, raentaly, and morally by our organisation. In ats wider operations, however, the game has undoubtedly been severely hampored. Lack of senior players, and lack of funds has imposed a considerable handicap upon every, union in tho Dominion, and it is to their very (treat credit that, in the face of unexampled difficulties, thev have still "carried on.'' It is therefore not bo ninch because of satisfaction with the past season's operations as because of relief from tho dark burden of war, aad 'be-, causa of ihope for. and 'belief in, the j future ■weU-ibeiuit and usefulness of the] Kamo, that your committee expresses pleasure ir* subruiUina: the iJTth annual report. . i

Last season's operations were again limited in scope. Satisfactory development, however. increased public interest in tho majority of the larger centres, and in some instances,, improved financial results. The prospects for the comimj season are of tho brightest. The ranks of active players will be considerably augmented by the return of our callant soldiers, and co-incidentally with this increase of strcnßth, the possibilities aro that inter-union matches will Ibe resumed, and the pre-war popularity of the came will bo fully restored. Because of its Ix-arinc on tho futuro of tho Rnmo. it is inteiestintr to note tho important fact that amongst the "boys" at the front Kuirbv Union football has umnistakcably asserted its pre-eminence, over all rival codes. ThrouKhotit the war period it has "been universally favoured by tho military authorities, and lias become the jrenornllv rccoffnised test in international athletics. In view of tho foregoing facts it appears to your committee that, in tho interests of New Zealand football, it would 'bn most, unwise to take any steps calculated to upset or interfere with tho existing international uniformity. A comparison of this year's balancesheet with that,for tho previous year shows that there has been little change in the financial position of the union. The sum of £di was allocated to tho var-

ions unions for the encouragement of school football. . . The committee urges tho various unions to take steps to assist mthe compilation of a complete record of tho war services of all the members of the various Rugbv clubs in the Dominion. It is recommended that the incoming committee should tako steps for_tho renewal of inter-island fixtures; aiso tor tho recommencing of fixtures with -New South Wales, and to get into touch with that bodv on tho various aspects of tlie game. , , ~ . , A motion to be moved by the Auckland delegate is as follows: -- lhal 'Northern Union' players who have been on active service, or who have never received monetary payment for playing football, shall be eligible for reinstatement; but no player over the ago of I*> years last birthday who takes part in the 'Northern Union' tramo subsequent to the 31st of the month immediately following that in which the annual general meeting of the N.Z.R.F.U. is hold shall be eligible for reinstatement. In regard to tho Laws cf the tome consideration is to be given to the following notices of motion adjourned from the special meeting on January 30tn, 1919:- . , , t. Abolition of tho wing-forward—Free kicks bv wav of penalties shall be awarded (a) if any player not in a scrummage advances bevor.d a lino drawn through tho back of his own scrummage parallel with the goal line p oeforo the ball comes out of such scrummage, and (b) if any player in a scrummage breaks away before the ball monies out of such scrumAbsolute free k:cks. and kicks at goal ?roni penalties and tries—All such kicks to be, absolutely free from a charge. Any player to be allowed to place or kick the ball. The placer and kicker need not necessarily bo the same player. Referee to put tho ball mto scrum— The referee is fo put the ball into the scrum on all occasions. . Modification of the law governing kicking into touch, otherwise than from a "kick-off" or "drop-out" already provided for—lf tho ball drops directly into touch from a kick, except in the case of a penalty kick, and except he be within his own "twenty-five." it shall be brought back, and a farmed from touch at a point opposite tho place whero the player was at tho time he kicked tho ball. ' , Advantage rule to apply to line-out play—This in effect will mean: (1) If a plaver throws the 'ball out bo as not to alight at right angles to the touch line, or (2) if the ball is "knocked-on and the opposing side gain the advantage, in cither casa. from immediate succeeding play, the game goes on.