HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

Otaki Mail, 1 May 1922, Page 1

HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

MEETING OF DELEGATES

A meeting of tlie Horovvhenua Rugby Union was iield in Levin on Wednesday evening. The president (Mr E. J. Nash) was in the chair, and there was a large attendance of some 30 delegates from all parts o ftlie district. QUESTION OF REP. SELECTORS ivir it. UL'uu, ceoioiui.) ui ilie !Ui •uar elun, Munukau, gate nonce m motion mat a soiu soiectur uc ippointed to select representative teonia m lieu ol lliree selectors, as was mo case last season.

Mr W. Revan, in moving the motion, said his ciub thought it advisable lo have a sole selector. It wotud he less (expensive, and prove more satisfactory. The motion was seconded by Mr Dixon (Kuku.). Mr W. Thomson (Weraroa) aske-1 if it was not usual to give delegates notice in event of a notice of motion being on the agenda paper? The secretary stated that the Weraroa secretary had been notified of me notice of motion, and it was his place to have notified his delegates. Mr F. Whibley (Foxlon) said -he proposal brought forward by Manakau was not suitabie to a scattered district like Horowhenua. By having three officials, as was the case I-isi year, they could witness all the matches in their districts, but if a sole selector were appointed, tie could not be expected to travel about the district, to see all the matches played. Mr 11. Karauti (Kuku) asked if the new rule would operate immediately if the motion was carried. The chairman: Yes.

That being so, Mr Karauti did not think it lair to wash the three selectors out after having elected them only a fortnight ago. He, thought the three selectors should be given a trial at anyrate.

Mr W. Thomson (Weraroa) Mated he did not, know the feeling of his club on the matter, but lie was going to vote against the motion. From hi & experience of Horowhenua lootball matters, the district was tar too large for a sole selector to do justice to the work of selecting, a team. If there were three selectors, they could see all the matches in their districts, and then come together and make their selection..

Mr ,T. O’Connor (Weraroa.) stated that there were only six senior teams in the Horowhenua this season, and there would be three games every Saturday. If a sole selector were appointed it would he a. simple matter for him to see all the senior matches. He favoured the sole selector, and thought that if such an official were appointed, he could easily keep himself in touch with all senior matches. Mr Desmond (Foxton) said the question of the expense of selectors had been mentioned by one of the speakers. He asked, as one of last year's selectors, what had been the selectors' expenses last season. The secretary (Mr Carmichael: stated that there was no record of fke expenses.

Mr Desmond said he had made no claim for expenses last year, and as far as he knew none of the other selectors did.

On being put to the vote, 12 delegates supported the motion and S opposed it, but as the rules provide that there must be a two-thirds majority before such an alteration can be made, the motion was declared lost. INSURING OF PLAYERS, i The chairman stated that at the meeting of the Union about a fortnight ago, it was suggested that the insurance scheme be gone into at the nest meeting, as it was not working j altogether satisfactorily. j The secretary explained that there \ was a sum of £2 13 6 in hand in the j Union’s fund, but there were some' claims still to come in. The chairman stated there were; some proposals on the matter from the Weraroa Club, as follows: (1) That each team in the Union set aside a' match each year, the gate money to be given into the insurance fund; (2) a percentage of ail gate moneys taken i throughout the season be given to the 1 insurance fund: (3) that each club insure 15 men for the season. Mr J. O'Connor said the recommendations were alternative, and were made with an idea of assistingUnion. Personally, he »** . . Union should - thought he rV „. v .uo something to assist ..ie insurance scheme, as players were put to a good deal of expense in providing their . playing outfits, without, having to bear the whole cost of insurance.

Mr .1. \V. Procter pointed out that previous to last year the insurance charge was £1 per senior team and 10/ for junior teams, but last season the fee had been raised to 5 ! per man. The season, however, was a bad one so far as accidents were concerned, and there was little money left to pass on to ihis season. Mr O'Connor suggested that the clubs should each insure 15 players. Each club would then have a team insured. The secretary pointed out the difficulties of maintaining the fund in a buoyant condition. It was impossible to do that unless there was sufficient income. Mr W. Bevan considered the present, scheme was not much use to players or the Union. He thought it bette to make use of the ordinary accidei

insurance companies;, whose benefit were much better than that of the Union’s scheme. Mr W. Thomson maintained that the doctor's charges were a severe handicap on the fund. The Union should not, be called upon to pay these. At the invitation of the chairman, Mr McKenzie, of Hawke's Bay, stated that, in his district there was a rule in operation by which players were insured at a fee of 2/6, the players, of' course, to be financial with their clubs. In the case of accident a player received £f per week for JO weeks, £lO being the maximum. The scheme had been in operation for two years, and there was a credit, of £6O. The fund was assisted by a game at the end of a. season, whilst a. portion went to the hospital, and lie thought that if a charity competition were run i here it would be a success*and assist the insurance fund and any other local charity. Mr R. \V. Percy said as it was the intention to hold only two rounds in the senior competition this year, why not hold a seven-a-side tournament in between to benefit the insurance fund. He relieved Mr Mclvenzie's charity competition would be a good idea if adopted locally. The chairman agreed with Mr Percy’s suggestion, and thought it should be given a trial. Mr Parata (Rotorua) at the invitation of the chairman, explained that in the Rotorua district the sub-unions j manage their own insurance schemes, j which were working satisfactorily, i The Rotorua Union was in the fortunate position of having very few accidents of late years, and their fund was in credit by some £6O. Mr Percy then moved, and Mr White (Kuku) seconded, that one Saturday be set aside for a seven-a-side tournament, the funds derived therefrom to be devoted to the insurance fund. The motion was carried unanimously.

In reply to Mr Thomson, the chairman stated that the meeting had power to deal with the rules in regard to the insurance fund. Mr Thomson said that being the case, he would move to amend Rule -i by withdrawing the free services of a doctor to injured players, and extending the time during which the Union will assist such players from six weeks to ten weeks. The motion was seconded by Mr Dixon and carried unanimously. Mr Thomson then moved to delete Rule 3. also touching on insurance, and adopt a new rule providing for insurance by increasing the club subscription by 2.6 per player, the latter amount to go to the insurance scheme. Some discussion took place on the position of emergency players, who would probably not be financial so far as insurance was concerned. Mr W. Bevan said that in the case of emergencies, they should be allowed to pay their insurance premium on the ground previous to the match. Mr F. Whibley opposed the motion, and considered there was too much “spoon-feeding" of players in this district. It would overcome ah the difficulty if players would pay their club subscriptions, which would make matters easier as regards the insurance fund.

Mr Thomson agreed that there was a good deal in what Mr Whibley said as regards the paying of club subscriptions. If a fain proportion of the subscriptions were paid, 2 6 would cover the insurance' premiums.

Mr Whibley moved an amendment, and Mr Karauti seconded, that the insurance premium be 5 for senior and junior players, and 2 6 for third and fourth grade.

The amendment was lost and the motion carried.

PLAYERS MUST BE FINANCIAL. Mr Thomson then moved that Rule 17 concerning rules for club contests be strictly enforced, and ’hat secretaries be notified accordingly. The rule provides that all players must be financial with Their clubs by May 31. and any club playing an unflnancial member shall forfeit the match. The motion was seconded by Mr .1. W. Procter, and carried. TIME FOR STARTING MATCHES. Mr W. Bevan asked if it could not be arranged to start the matches this season at 2.45 instead of 3 o'clock. Last year some of the games were very late in being started. The chairman said the Union had already considered the matt** QC j it was decided to eh- f °'"' e the sorting of matches. ►•‘A,' a 1 2.40. CLASSIFICATION.

Mr J. O’Connor brought up the question of classification, which had given the Union a lot of trouble last season. The position was not satisfactory at all.

Several speakers pointed out that to improve the status of the game, players' fit to be seniors should not be allowed to remain in junior ranks. Mr S. Parker (Otaki) said that some of the juniors in the rep. match played at Otaki last season were fit to play as senior reps. The chairman said at had already •been decided to allow three matches this season before classifying any further juniors, so that the matter wotiid have to rest there for the present. MEETING OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. A meesng of the Management Committee was then held. Mr Nash presiding- . . Mr Dixon informed the meeting oi the withdrawal of the Kuku fourth grade team from the competition tor that class. This was agreed to. ' The secretary and treasurer were

authorised to sign all cheques, and arrangements are to be made lor tlie disposal of admission tickets at each of the football centres, and that the matter of gate attendance at matches be carefully watched.