N.Z. RUGBY UNION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9146, 15 May 1908, Page 7

N.Z. RUGBY UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING. Per Press Association. Wellington, May 14. The annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union took place .tljis.aftsrnoon and evening. A resolution was adopted extending a cordial welcome to the British team, due to arrive in Wellington by the Athenic next Monday. A sympathetic resolution was ■adopted concerning the death of Mr Alf. Bay ley (late president of the Union). On the motion for adoption of the report and Jialance-slieet being' put, Mr Pirani asked-what information had been brought before the Management Committee with regard to the conduct of the last New Zealand team in Australia. Intimation was made that nothing was before the Committee except the manager’s report, which made nothing but complimentary references to the team. With respect to the grant of £2OO made for sterling football in the public schools, Mr Hunter said he was opposed to the spending of £44 in the purchase of trophies, which was really the-, underlying principle of professionalism. He hoped the incoming Management Committee would bear this in mind when considering the matter this year. He did not object to the payment of travelling expenses in fostering football, but he objected to any expenditure on trophies. Mr Weir expressed the opinion that the British team was coming a couple of seasons too soon to do much good as an educative factor.

Mr .Langford asked on what terms the British team was coming to New Zealand.

Mr Dixon explained that the New Zealand Union was paying all the expenses with regard to the matches to he played in Australia. The Englishmen were going there on exactly the same terms as • the 1904 British team played matches in New Zealand. The New South Wales Union paid all the expenses of the team going from New Zealand until it left for England, the New Zealand Union to receive half the net profits • entertainment expenses to be charged against the New South Wales Uuiom Mr Hunter moved —“That Rule 85 be struck out.”

The rule gives to the Management Committee the power to enter into an arrangement with the New Zealand Football Association, or with any other amateur sports body, or Association, whereby the disqualification of any such body or association and the Union respectively shall be mutually recognised and enforced, after notice has been sent to the affiliated Unions of any such arrangements. All disqualifications reported to the Union by any such body or association, and communicated by the Union to any affiliated Union, shall be observed as if the same were a disqualification imposed under Rule No. 84. After discussion, the motion was carried by 34 votes to 15. Mr Dixon moved, on behalf of the Management Committee, that Rule 7 of the Ranfurly Shield be deleted and the following substituted In all challenge matches for the shield (as distinguished from an ordinary match declared to be a chailnge match under Rule 2) the New Zealand Rugby Union shall, if requested by either the challenging or the challenged Union, appoint the referee. The challenging Union shall be entitled, so far as the proceeds of that particular match . will, allow (after payment of all actual ground charges, gatekeepers’ wages, advertising, and other incidental expenses of transit only incurred by the challenging Union in playing the match. Any balance of such proceeds shall belong to the Union challenged. The words “of transit” were cutout, the remainder of the clause being adopted. Mr Hutchinson moved, on behalf of the Otago Union —“That it be an instruction to the Committee of Management to consider carefully the rules of the game with a view to their improvement where possible, and that the suggestions of the Committee be circulated among affiliated unions for their consideration prior to their being forwarded to the English Union for adoption. Mr Wilford, in seconding the motion, gave it as' his opinion that within the next two years the only game played in the Dominion would ba that ®der the Northern Union rules—not under a professional code, but amateur. A long discusison took place, various delegates urging that too. much attention should not be paid to “gates,” or the question of pleasing spectators. • It was resolved—“ That the- affiliated Unions and Referees’ Associations be requested to submit to the Management Committee suggestions lor the game within two months, and that the proposals of the Management Committee and the suggestions bs .forwarded to the Bdglish Rugby iynion as soon as convenient, . with Request that they may be dealt th before next season.

A lengthy discussion took place on the question of professionalism, but a number of suggestions subumitted on behalf of the Wellintgon Rugby Union were rejected.