HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

Shannon News, 24 April 1925, Page 3

HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING OF DELEGATES. The annual meeting of delegates to the Horowhenua Rugby Union was held in the Druids Hall, Levin, on Monday evening, the acting president (Mr. J. Procter) being in the chair. vuexujjates ware present from the following clubs: —vVaikanac, Otaki, Hui Mai, Kuku, Foxton, Shannon, Awahou, Miranui, Moutoa, Levin D.ILS., Weraroa, County Council, Tokoniaru, Paraparaumu. Balance-Sheet. The balance-sheet presented by the secretary (Mr. L. Carmichael) disclosed the following position:— Receipts. —To balance from 1921, £6 6s sd, gates £3OO 6s 7d, insurance ... e vis 6d, affiliation £lB 18s, donations £ls 14s, Wellington Rugby Union £l2 4s Bd, and other small items making ~i of £413 8s lid. Expenditure.—lnsurance £54, Travelling expenses £9O 6s 2d, refreshments £s;j 6s 3d, referees’ expenses £7 19s 9d, school grant £l9 10s, advertising £56 18s lid, percentages £29 12s, guarantee Nelson Union £2O, and various small amounts making a total of £391 4s 3d, and leaving a balance of £22 3s lOd. . Club Representation. A long discussion took place as to the constitution of the Union, as the result of the following notice of motion moved by the Wanderers Club:— That rule six be altered to read: — . ‘ ‘ The management committee shall consist of president, seven non-playing members and secretary and treasurer ex-officio. The management committee shall have power to replace any member of the management committee who resigns or who fails to attend throe consecutive meetings. No club shall have more than one member on the management committee, president, secrotary and treasurer excluded.” The general feeling of the delegates present was against the motion as presented, it being held that one club might elect a delegate to the management committee, and also the secretary, treasurer, and president, which would give that club a preponderance of influence. Mr. O’Rourke proposed an amendment, which was seconded by Mr. T. Wrigloy, that the secretary be without a vote.

Mr. Casey protested this would place one cluib in the possible position of having three votes on the management committee, which was little better than the motion.

Mr. O’Rourke: It is up to__the meeting to see that that is not done. The rule was finally amended to read as follows: —

(1) “The management committee shall consist of the president, seven non-playing members, and hon. treasurer, ex-officio, also hon. secretary, who shall be a consultative member only. •Except that in the case of duplication of club representation on the committee, the hon. treasurer shall only exercise the rights of a consultative me iber, i.e., be denied a vote. (2). No dub shall have more than one member on the management committee, ether than as applied to the president, hon. secretary, and hon. treasurer. (3) The management committee shall have power to replace any member of the committee (except as applied to an officer) who resigns, or who. fails, without adequate explanation or leave of aibs'enee, .to attend three consecutive meetings, or six meetings at intervals. Union to pay Management Committee’s Expenses. The following was moved by the Shannon Football Club: —"That all expenses incurred by the delegates of the affiliated dubs he borne by the Union and not by the dubs as hitherto.” The secretary (Mr. L. Carmichael) said that when a delegate was elected to the management committee his club had to bear a very considerable expense to provide transport to the meetings. He considered that the Union should boar this expense. Mr. Casey seconded this. Mr. O’Rourke protested that if the Union paid all expenses, it would cost abou/t £lO per week. Mr. Moynihan said it had cost his dub £ls to send a delegate to the management committee meetings last yer. He considered that if there was a man on the committee who had a car, he should be allowed decent running expenses and could convey neighbouring representatives. Levin. was the centre of the Union and one car from the north, and one from the. south could bring delegates to the meeting. Personally he considered that there were too many meetings. One every fortnight would be sufficient instead of every week. (Hear, hear.) The motion was carried.

On the motion of Mr. Robinson (Foxton) it was decided that meetings of the management committee be held fortnightly. Referees’ Association Represented on Management Committee. A further motion from the Referees’ Association, to the effect that the Referees’ Association have a direct representative on the Union, such representative to be there for the purpose of watching the Association’s interests only, and not to have voting power, was carried without discussion. Correspondence. A letter was received from the N.Z. Rugby Union notifying that they would hold their 'annual general meeting on Thursday, April 23rd.— Received. Election of Officers. Patron: Mr. J. liinklatei', M.P. President: Mr. J. Procter, v Vice-President to N.Z. Rugby Union. Mr. J. Rimmer. Delegate to N.Z.' Rugby Union: Mr. T. 'Wrigley. . Secretary: Mr. L. Carmichael. Treasurer: Mr. J. Rimmer. Auditor: Mr. W. Bull. Management Committee: Messrs Austin, Hutchings, H. McMillan, P. Robertshaw, W. N. Anderson, and Dalzell. Senior Selector: Mr. T. Wngley Junior Selector: Mr. H. McMillan (northern), Mr. J. Puti (southern). General. The secretary pointed out that according to the rules 'of the Union it was necessary that all trophies should

be returned to the Union before the beginning of the season. Insurance. Mr. W. Peter asked if it would not be possible to effect some new scheme of insurance to replace the present unsatisfactory one/ by the Union. The secretary' stated that some time ago the N.Z. Rugby Union had tried to bring down a scheme of insurance, and had found that the best that they could get an Insurance Company to take the business over for, was 35/per man. Mr. Robershaw stated that two years ago, the Manawatu Union had £2OO in hand. In one season they had cleared this out, with the addition of all the season’s takings under this heading, Mr. Peters said he was under the impression that insurance could be effected for £1 per man. If the Union could get every man to come in, he felt sure that they would get a big concession on even that sum.

The secretary said that there was no chance of getting all players to come in at £l, when they would not oven pay 2s 6d now. Reinstatement. Mr. H. Bolton protested against the reinstatement of mialtured seniors to junior rank. Such action was only slowing up the game. When a senior reached the age when he could no longer hold his end up, it was time he got out and gave the younger men a chance. The secretary said that this matter was being carefully watched. Season Tickets. Mr. H. McDonald advocated the sale of season football tickets. He hod seen the scheme in operation in Taranaki where it had been a great success. The secretary stated that the great difficulty to this was that the Union hired most of its grounds from the Borough Councils, and had to pay a percentage of the gate money, this being checked by Borough officials. If season tickets were sold a man might use such, ticket in any of the Boroughs in the district and it would be difficult to arrive at percentages.

A hearty vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.