FOOTBALL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8803, 3 May 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Visit of 1 American Team. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 2. At tho Football Conference the delay experienced in obtaining replies to communications addressed to the English Eugby Union was discussed. The opinion was expressed that an International Board o£ Control should be established, and that a lot of time had been wasted in referring matters to England which could have been dealt with by the New Zealand Union. NX Rugby Union. Wellington, May 2. The annual meeting of New Zealand Eugby Union was held this evening, Mr G. F. C. Campbell presiding. The financial report of the Union showed a profit for the year of A 302. Loans amounting to £3-150 had been granted to tho following Unions: Auckland .£IOOO, Taranaki .£4OO, Wanganui £750, Southland £I2OO. The sura of £O3OO had been placed on fixed deposit. Tbo chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, spoke in flattering terms of the tour of the “All Blacks” in England, which had had a highly beneficial effect in tbo promotion of Eugby football. Ho read a letter from tho Stanford University offering fo send a team to New Zealand, to show tbo progress of the game in America through tho visit of the New Zealanders, Stanford University team hoped to leave San Francisco on June 10th, arriving at Auckland about July Ist, and staying about six weeks in this State.

Mr Weir (Hawke’s Bay) took exception to the manner in which the secretary had been appointed, also to the non appointment of a manager for the North v. South Island match. He alleged they wore allowed to ramble about at their own sweet will and one man was in a state of intoxication. No one attended to the team in interval, all tbo officials being busy looking after the gates. Why also were certain clubs allowed to secedo from the Hawke’s Bay Union without consent of that Union and allowed to join another Union? More light should be shed upon the doings of the Management Committee, and affiliated Unions should be made acquainted with tbo proceedings of the Committee. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr Gr. H. Dixon on behalf of the Management Committee moved that tho New Zealand Eugby Union become in-; corporated under the Unclassified Societies Eegistration J\ot Amendment Act, 190 G, which was carried. Mr E. M. Isaacs (Otago) moved an amendment to rule 3 (control of the game) providing for appointment of referees, such appointments to be made by »u Appointment Board consisting of two members of tho Management Committee and one member of the New Zealand Eeferees’ Association, to bo nominated by that body. Carried on division. Mr M. J. Keardon (Bush) moved to amend rule 0 (officers) by providing that the secretary of the Union bo not an honorary, but a paid secretary. Ho contended that the Union was no .v a moneylending institution with a capital of over £12,000, and it was high thiwUiey had a paid secretary.'—Carried. Dr Newman (Wellington) moved that tho Union revert to the old method of. appointing vice-presidents, one lo bo nominated by each Uavn, instead of three being elected at the annual general meeting of the N.Z. Union. To this Mr Langford (Auckland) moved a proviso that a vice-president must be resident within tho boundaries of the Union nominating tho new man. The amendment was carried with the proviso.

Mr Wilson (Otago) moved the deletion of sub-clause C of rule 15, that any one delegate may exercise all the votes to' which his Union is entitled.

Homo objection was raised to the proposal on the ground that an injustice would thereby be done to smaller Unions who could not afford to send a full number of delegates. The motion .was rejected and the old clause retained.

Mr Skoglund (Taranaki) moved to amend rule l(i in the direction of providing that the report and balance-sheet shall ho in the hands of the affiliated Umons—at least a fortnight before the annual meeting.— Carried.

Mr Campbell (Otago) moved in rule 20, from the decision of the Management Committee on all matters coming within its power or referred to it, thore shall be no appeal, tho deletion of tho words “ there shall be no appeal ” and to substitute “ there shall be the right of appeal to an Appeal Council to be appointed by the delegates at the annual meeting, -.the members of such Appeal Council not to be members of the committee of management.”

Mr Hales (Wairarapa) suggested that such appointments to the Appeal Council should bo made by the President as was done by the President of the Eacing Conference.

Mr Campbell’s motion was carried. / Mr Murray moved to amend rule 33 (annual subscriptions) by adding “ provided that the maximum subscription payable by any Union shall not exceed 323 12s 6d.”—Carried.

I)r Newman (Wellington) moved that the Banfiirly Shield regulations be amended to provide 'for the following ■—-The competition for shield to be between the provincial districts of New Zealand, shield to bo held in first place by the hinion of tlio capital town of the province winning the same, any union within the province defeating the union holding the shield to obtain possession and hold the same on behalf* of the province. Shield match to bo played on the ground of the u nioii that at the time of the match holds the shield.” The mover thought the present anomalous position should be remedied; It was felt that the shield should be confined to tho provinces and not to the unions.

Mr G. H. Mason (Canterbury) maintained that tho whole scheme was unworkable. The ■ shield should be wiped out altogether. Once they started quibbling over who should tight for it they would create groat dissension. Mr White (Builer), said the idea was that if, say Wellington Union, won tho Shield, it should be wrested from them on their own ground. This would give country players a chance of coming directly under the eyes Of the selectors of the New Zealand team.

The motion was lost by 28 votes to 19.

Masteeton, May 3,

. With reference to the proposed professional football team for England, two or three of the lied Star players have been approached with a view to securing their services, but they have emphatically declined to have anything to do with the project- It is stated that the matter is being worked up from Wellington.