HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

Shannon News, 28 April 1922, Page 3

HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

MEETING OF DELEGAIES

A meeting of the HqroWhenua Rugby Union was held in Levin on Wednesday evening. The president (Mr E. 3. Nash) was in the chair, and there was a large attendance of some 30 delegates from all parts o fthe district.

QUESTION OF REP. SELECTORS Mr R. Creed, secretary of the Hui Mai Club, Manakau, gave notice of motion that a sole selector be appointed to select representative teams in lieu of three selectors, as was me case last season.

Mr W. Bevan, in moving the. motion, said his club thought it advisable to have a sole selector. It would be less /expensive, and prove more satisfactory. 1

The motion was seconded by Mr Dixon (Kuku).

Mr W. Thomson "(Weraroa) asked 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 (Foxton) said ’he proposal brought forward by Manakau was, not suitable to a scattered district like Horowhenua. By having three officials, as was the case list year, they could witness all ibe matches in their districts, but if a sole selector were appointed, he could not be expected to travel about the district to see all the matches played. Mr H. 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 fair 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) stated he did not know the feeling of his club on the matter, but he was going to vote against the motion. From his experience of Horowhenua football matters, the district was far 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. v 1

Mr J. 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 be 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; been the selectors’ expenses last season.

Tfie secretary (Mr Caripichael) stated that there was no record of the 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 8 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. 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 next, meeting, it was not working altogether satisfactorily. The secretary explained that there was a sum of £2 13/6 in hand in the Union’s fund, but there were some 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 all gate moneys taken throughout the season be given to the insurance fund; (3) that; each club insure 15 men for the season. Mr J. O’Connor said the recommen-

dations were alternative, and were made with an idea of assisting the Union. Personally, he thought the Union should do something to assist the 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 J. W. 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 this 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 better to make use of the ordinary accident insurance companies, whose were much better than that bf the Union’s scheme.

Mr W. Thomson maintained that the doctor’s charges were a severe handicap on the fund. The Union should not N 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 coursie, to be financial with their clubs. In the case of accident a player received £1 per week for 10 weeks, £lO being the maximum. The scheme had been in openatiqn 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 he thought that if a charity competition were run here it Would be a success and assist the insurance fund and any other local charity.

Mr R. W. 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 insdram e fund. Tie Relieved Mr McKienzie’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 manage their own insurahee schemes, which were working satisfactorily. 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 £und. Mr Thomson said that, being the case, he . would ntpve to amend Rule 4 bv 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. Bevaii 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 all 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 fail) proportion of the subscriptions were paid, 2/5 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 that 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 J. 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 1 considered the matter, and it was decided to enforce the starting of matches at 2.45. 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 it had already beeh decided to allow three matches this season before classifying any further juniors, so that -the matter would have to rest there for the present, MEETING OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Management* Committee was then held, Mr Nash presiding. Mr Dixon informed the meeting ot the withdrawal of the Kuku fourth grade team from the competition for that class. This was agreed to. The secretary and treasurer were authorised to sign all cheques, and arrangements are to be made- for the disposal of admission tickets at each of the football centres, and that the matter of gate attendance at matches be carefully watched. -