THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

Shannon News, 20 March 1923, Page 3

THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

Tke tiiue of year is fast approaching when we shall say farewell to what are known as ‘summer sports ; and we must prepare to welcome in the pastimes of: winter. It is generally expected that there will be a boom in New Zealand’s national game this season, and in this district it is anticipated considerable improvement in the standard of play will be shown. The display of Rugby football was better last season than for some years and this was chiefly due to the fact that more young- blood was to be found in the teams tkqn has been the case for many seasons past. The Union should make an effort to start the championship matches early. Unless this is done the championship fixtures are likely to badly clash with the representative games. The season should close about the end of August, because many players engaged in dairying find it dii- i ficult to. give the time after that to football.

Owing to the heavy rain on Wednesday night the Meeting, to have been held at Otaki Railway/ was allowed to lapse. There were several enthusiasts present, and it was generally agreed that Otaki should have a senior and junior team. The idea is a good one, and for the sake of sport should be given every consideration. A senior club in any town is a splendid thing, and. is an incentive for junior players to do theii/ best to .gain honours. In previous years Otaki has had two or three teams, but seldom a senior one, aild this year it is hoped a fifteen will be put in the field that will be a credit to the town and district. With the, object of considering the matt or a meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at 7.30 on Monday night when Ft is expected that all footballers will attend and discuss the matter.

A general meeting of the Hui Mai Football Club was held in the Manakuu Town Hall last Thursday,' about 50 members being present. Mr Win. Bevan was in the chair. The balanc . - sheet was read and showed a profit tf £9 17s for season. ''The following officers were clect,< d for coming season: —Patron, Major Tatum; President and Treasurer, Mr Dnlzell; Vice-presidents, to be elected later; Delegates to Club, Messrs Bevan, Dalzell, 1 ' Martin and Nees.

Mr R. Creed was again elected Secretary to Club for season 1923. Mr Bevan, in his remarks, referred to the excellent -way in which the Club’s business had been transacted for the past season by members.

\ WERAROA CLUB MEETS

The annual meeting of the Weraroa Football Club took place 'at Wells mid

Cooper’s rooms last evening, about 30 menSbers being present. In the tinavoidable absence of the president, Mr J. J. O’Connor, Mr O.'Jackson was voted to the chair; The' report and balance-sheet, presented by the secretary pro tern, Mr R. Ryder, showed a credit of £5 12 11 and were passed without discussion. The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr T. Bevan, re-elected; president, Mr J. J. O’Connor, re-elected; vice-presidents,. Messrs. W. Tantrum, W. Peters, J. Young, J. McFaflaue, G. Bell, W Wells, G. Cooper, I-I. Denton, J. Bebbington, T. B. Overton, 1-1. Dyer, T. Broughton and 11. V. Brown; secretary, Mr O. Jackson; ■ treasurer, Mr B. Ryder; management committee, president and secretary ex officio, and Messrs. Sudd, Bolton, Hooper, Young, Peters and Gibbs; delegates to Rugby Union, president and Me»: is. Peters, Jackson and R. Brought'm; | coach, Mr J. J. O’Connor, with power to add; managers of teams—-seniors, Mr J. J. O’Connor; juniors, Mr O. Hooper; thirds, Mr Bolton; fourths, Mr. Sadd, the managers to automatically become selectors; club captain, Mr S. Hooper. At the invitation of the cliaifm m, Mr R. Broughton gave the meeting the benefit of liis opinion. He Avas of opinion that the club could easily support four teams. They were getting a number of new members and hoped to get more, and should have |io difficulty in making up the teams. Alter some discussion it was •: imposed by Mr B. Broughton and e> onded by Mi; S. Hooper, that lour teams be played.—Carried.

Subscriptions were fixed at last ylear’s rates, with the exception rf fourth grade, namely: Seniors 5/, juniors 5/, thirds 3/, with 2/6 insurai.ee. In the case of fourth grade playe s, a subscription of 6d was fixed, it being generally felt that the boys would take more interest in the club if ;liey were financial members. It was m;o decided that i! any player, alter having paid liis subscription for one grade, be elected to a higher one, he shall not pay any extra subscript »n, should there be a difference. Mr Brown brought up the qu.eslion of eslablishing a travelling fund. Be approached the question with * me diffidence, he. explained, as (he. did not know the official ruling on such in at-

ters, but lie felt that if sucira lund could be arranged it would be greatly in the , interests of the club. There were .many players who could not aifuru to pay their share of the expense of a team travelling to matches, and the club lost the benefit of their services. If a travelling fund were started, out of which general travelling expenses could be paid, this disability would be overcome, and ’hey would get men to join who now Kept out of the club because they could i..ot afford to join. If the idea -vere agreed to, he was willing to canvass Weraroa to form a nucleus for such a fund, which could he kept up by subscription or any other means the club decided on. (Applause.) Replying to a question by Mr Ryder, the chairman said that paying a member’s travelling expenses would not, make him, a professional. He considered the proposal ,an excellent one. In a matter such as this, it was necessary to have the- backing of the whole club il' the idea was to be a success. He' would suggest that it be left in. the hands of the management committee for consideration.—Carried.

WANDERERS MEET . • \ The annual meeting of the Wanderers Football Club was held in Mr W. CrystaU’s rooms on Thursday. In tlhe unavoidable absence of the pi’esident, Mr j. Bebbington • occupied the clmir. The balance-sheet wa,s as follows: Balance in hand, March 1922, 15/; donations, £lB 18/9; subs., £5 12/6. Expenditure: Horowlienua Rugby Union, £4 14/6; general expenses £.19 1/; leaving a credit balance of £1 10/. The report and balance-sheet were acloptetl.... '

The election -of officers resulted: Patron: Mr P. Winiata; president, Mr J. W.' Procter; vice-presidents (it was* decided to limit the number of vicepresidents to 16, as follows, thirteen being re-elected): Messrs; F. S. Procter, 11. Nicholson, J. W. Riinmer, W. Donnelly, J. Ryder, N. Winiata, W. Crystal!, L. S. Carmichael, J. B. Bebbington, C. Redfern, Tuiti McDonald, E. ,1. Nash, Dr. Bryson, W. Li' Williams, L. J. McDonald and R. A, McDonald; secretary, Mr T. Winiata, reelected; treasurer, Mr J. Bebbington, re-elected; selection committee, seniors, Mr M. Winiata, sole selector; the election of a junior selector was postponed for the time beiiig; auditor, Mr A. Pringle; vice-president to Rugby Union, Mr L. G. McDonald; delegates to Union, Messrs Procter, Bebbington and.. Nash.

Management. Committee.—Messrs. L. G McDonald, Hector McDonald/E. J. Nash, j. Rose, W. Hannan, with president and secretary ex officio. Mr Procter, .moved that the Union have one selector instead of three, this to go in as a suggestion from the club to the Horowlienua Rugby Union. Mr Nasli supported the motion. There had been, lie said, too much difficulty in getting the selectors together when necessary, and better results would be obtained by having only one. Subject to the necessary support from one other club, the motion was carried.

Replying to a question by Mr J. Hopa, the chairman said the club had, at a previous meeting, passed a resolution in favour of amalgamation with 'the Manawatu Union, if favourable conditions could be obtained. The big difficulty was the, question oi' representation. The suggestion of the Manawatu Union was that Horowlienua, in the event oi amalgamation, should have a representation oi five, Manawatu to be represented by its Management Committee. As Manawatu would not define the numbers of this committee Horowlienua might find itself hopelessly outvoted. Under the circumstances, the proposal had been negatived. The Horowhenua Union’s suggestion was that Horowhenua have a representation of three as against Manawatu’s four, but this Manawatu would not agree to.

Mr L. G. McDonald suggested that the club oppose, the amalgamation, as against the best interests of the club. Mr 11. McDonald spoke strongly in favour ol amalgamation. At present the Horowhenua Union was in the petition of not /being able to get outside recognition. Could this outside recognition*' -be effected, they might hope for a general improvement in this direction, and consequently better match arrangements. The meeting decided in favour of amalgamation if favourable conditions could be, obtained.

On the question of reverting to the rules as played before last season, Mr 11. McDonald moved that, should the matter come up lor discussion at the meeting of the Rugby Union, there should be a recommendation from the club to the Union that the old rules be reverted to. This was seconded by Mi 1,. G. McDonald. Mr Procter-opposed the motion, saying that this was primarily a matter ibr the playing members to decide, and flint, there was not a sufficient number ol players present to speak authoritatively. There wa.s keen discussion on the question. ' Mr 11. McDonald said that New Zealand was now in the position of b'e-

ing, forced to play one set of rules for local play, and anotljer if a team was sent abroad, or in the case of a visiting team. The rules had been tried out, and whilst there were certain advantages there was more l-*&t than gained by not being in line with other countries.

Mr Procter said that the New Zealand Union had not the power to alter the rules. It had been necessary to obtain permission from the English Rugby Union to play the amended rules, and it would be necessary to obtain permission for another change.

It was finally decided that, should the matter be raised, the club support the re-adoption of the old rules. Mr Hopa suggested that delegates support at the Rugby Union meeting that junior reps. be. classified before the. beginning of the season. Mr W. Hannan moved as a recommendation to the Union, “That no player who has played senior be allowed to revert to junior.” This was seconded by Mr L. G. McDonald and carried.