ONE BIG UNION

Shannon News, 23 June 1925, Page 4

ONE BIG UNION

Rugby Amalgamation Sanctioned BY SUBSTANTIAL HOROWHENUA MAJORITY. LEVIN OPPOSITION OUT-VOTED. An important decision was made by a general meeting of delegates from Horowhenua Football -Clubs at Levin last night, when it was decided by 27 votes to 10 to accept the terms finally agreed to by the Manawatu Union for an amalgamation of the two Unions. There was a large attendance of accredited club representatives, and Mr J. W. Procter, President of the Union, occupied the chair. The President called upon. Mr Moynihan (Shannon) to put the' proposition before the meeting. Mr Moynihan read the proposed basis of amalgamation. The representation would be as follows:—A president and two vice-presidents, and a, management committee of seven to be elected from the office hold- : ers of the Management Committee of the Manawatu Rugby District and the Horowhenua Rugby District at a combined meeting of both bodies. The president of the Union to be elected alternately from the Manawatu Rugby District and the Horowhenua Rugby District at a combined meeting of both bodies. The president of the Union to be elected alternately from the Manawatu Rugby District and the Horowhenua Rugby District. Each district to have equal representation on the Union unless the right is waived by either district. Except that the treasurer of the Manawatu Rugby (District shall be ex officio treasurer 'of the Union. He said Horowhenua first put forward the proposition that the voting power on the controlling body should be fifty-fifty, but Manawatu wanted at least three of a majority. On coining down to bedrock, however, they found that Manawatu insisted on having a majority of one as they had a, far bigger district. It gave them a majority, even when Horowhenua had < the president and one vice-president, but there was always the chance that one of their committeemen would not see eye to eye with them. Mr Casey: And some of our men may not see eye to eye with us.' Mr Moynihan admitted that this might be so. Each district would ran its own club competition as in the past, except in regard to finance. Each section of the Union would have to account to the combined Union for its finance at the end of the season. If financial assistance was needed at this end of the Union the combined Union would be prepared to come down and assist ' it. flhe suirptos funds would be used for that purpose. Palmierston would not need any financial assistance for the next ten years. The only place that" migiht require it was Feildin'g. He further explained the representation. Five members of the 'Management Committee would be elected from Horowhenua and five from Manawatu. Out of those the President, and two vicepresidents would be elected. The treasurer was an extra man and would have a vote. He would be a Manawatu man. ffhe President would come alternately from each i end of the district. The combined J Committee would have complete con- \ trol of the finances of each union ' which would have to supply an audited statement at the end of each sea- } son. The assets of each Union would 1 be vested in the combined union, which would control all representative teams, and tours. All home representative matches would be played where the Union decides, but all things being equal, one.home match j would be played in Horowhenua district to every three in the Maiuuvaui district. Provision was made for the | Horowhenua. Union to eontinae to play for the Bebbington Cup, but :he Combined Union woHild have first call on rep. playersMr Wrigley asked the meaning of , the words "all things bei'.g equal." Mr Moynihan said it. was considered that from a financial point of view it would be an advantage to play the majority of the games in Palmerston.

,Mr Robertshaw said WaiawaUi was willing to throw the six rep games due to them this season ink- the scheme to strengthen the finances and they raised no objection tc the Hav kes Bay return match being played here. . . . Mr Carmiclmel said Munawatu had .nent £IOOO in sending teams ou tour and these six return games were the result. They were willing to put the financial returns from them into the combined union's funds. Mr Robertshaw: And not touch our return matches.. Mr Moynihan asked what hope Horowhenua had of raising even £IOO here from rep. games. The Maori rep, matches were secured to Horowhenua. Mr Carmichael, (secretary) said the scheme was only a skeleton, which would have to be drawn up in detail. The men they had met in Manawatu were fine sports and otu;t only for the good of Rugby. He thought they were quite entitled to the extra vote and that Horowhenua had nothing to lose in joining in the big Union In a few yejujs' time there would be a certain amount of money to spend on the benefit of football and that would be spent in Horowhenua as the Manawatu Union was tlie best equipped union in New Zealand in regard to grounds. It was ridiculous to suppose that Manawatu were out to crush football at this end of this district for their own benefit. He was certain the effect would be to stimulate Rugby and improve football throughout the whole Union. Mr J, W. llimmer (Wanderers) believed personally that the scheme was a good one and would improve football, but there were certain weaknesses in it. When the scheme took root he believed that certain funda-

mental changes would be necessary. The constitution could be filtered only ■ by the two management committees. But while he believed that the Mannwatu Union was prompted to move by what they believed to be the best

interests of football, looking at the geographical position he believed it was possible to conceive that Shannon and Tokomaru might eventually become separated from Horowhenua and attached to Palmerstom, with. Foxton attached to the sub-union, and the southern end of Horowhenua left to itself. If such an idea were presented at a later date, he believed Shannon would be inclined to favour it. lie saw a possible danger of the Horowhenua Union being greatly weakened in that way. He said his club (Wanderers) had instructed him to vote against it. Mr Peters asked whether the delegates would not be instructed by the Horowhenua Union which way they would vote on the question of any alteration of boundaries.

Mr Robertshaw: The amalgamation, would not affect our combined boundaries, would they. Mr Carmichael said the only way Shannon couild break away was by putting a notice of motion to the Horowhenua Union and unless they consented it could not go forward i the combined union. No club could put a proposition to the combined union.

| Mr Moynihan: Mr Rimmer's remarks give me the impression that Wanderers are scared of Shannon and would like* us to go up and play with Palmerston. Shannon has no intention whatever of going to Palmerston, because the geographical position makes it more suitable for us to play with Horowhenua. Mr T. O'Rourke (Otaki) said the delegates deserved the thanks of footballers for the manner in which they hud gone into the matter and explained it to the meeting. Oroua had been against Manawatu, with one on the Management Committee for years, and they were justas likely to turn round and . vote against Manawatu with ilorowhen.ua, which, would dispose of Manawatu's majority. Manawatu was a big union—' Mr Carmichael: Sixty-five teams. •Mr R. George (Hui Mai) favoured the amalgamation. He had played for Horowhenua for 23 years and had never got outside further than Wanganui and Wellington. The amalgamation was in'the interests of the young players. It would give them the chance to come under the NewZealand selectors' eye, the notice of the public and perhaps more important the man who wrote lor the papers. (Hear, hear). As long as they stayed in Horowhenua they would never get outside. •A voice: What about Jacob?

Mr George; I am just coining to him. (Laughter). When he was 1? years old he was playing junior in Horowhenua. A Maori team was selected to go to Australia. He got in before me. (Laughter). He goesover there and what did he do? I want you to understand that he was only a junior player in Horowhenua 'then and before long lie was in the All Blacks.' If that iboy had not been picked for that Maori team he would have been like me—never out of Horowhenua. Mr George said he was fighting for the amalgamation to give the young players a chance of getting out of Horowhenua and— A voice: Getting into the limelight. Mr George: Yes, that is the only way. Unless we get into the amalgamation my boys will be like me—never got out of Horowhenua. (Applause). A voice: .You forget Porter. Mr George: I was his captain at one time. He went into Wellington and plaved one season and gets into ilie reps" and then into the All Blacks. (Applause). If he |had stayed m , Horowhenua he would still be here. (Laughter). ' Mr Casey (Wanderers) expressed appreciation of the time spent and manner in Which this Union's delegates had presented the amalgamation He opposed it, however, on behalf of his club. From what they had heard Oroua and all the small unions seemed to be against Manawatu What was the reason? He opposed the representation because i gave the treasurer such an exalted Position compared with the miserable position he occupied in Horwhenua where he only had a vote if. there was no other delegate from his club on the management committee. Mr Carmichael said' there could not be any other club delegate on the committee. Mr Casey said they heard a great deal about money and the betterment of football. Where were they going to spend the money and what did the betterment, of football mean. What did matter was the honorary workers for football in the; differoji centres. Here in 'Levin one Club had a gymnasium and there was a movement to instal floodlights at the Doair or practice at nights. He conSd that-these things were more n the interests of good lootball tha rurting a few rep. players round thu country in motor cars. It would b fir better to concentrate on trust th ngs-small though they bo-m this riiSrirt and not go into Manawatu ?vho"when it suited them would cast Horowhenua aside. , Mr Peters (Weraroa) said he ijau hPPn instructed to vote against the tCgh thaUhe Mecca of ev^foo. 1 hor in Manawatu or Horowhcnm, Mr Boulton (Werarwi) asked how j many rep. players M »ww.itu wen I -iftor from Horowhenua-about two. i a Mr Moynihaiv said that there won be one selector each and he tho V tint if there were fifteen better men n Ma*awatu than in Horowhemm then they should be picked. (Applause). Mr Peters asked whether in the event of a rep. game at Palmerston the local club games would be put off on that flay.

Mr Carmichael said thr Horotwhenua management, oommjttPe would have powrr to deal with that.

Mr Eagle (Miranui) said he was inductedl to vote for the amnlgamaUmH hling thought that the players could only get the best out

of football by getting into bigger games. Replying to. Mr Boulton, Mr Moynihan s.aid nuances of Manawatu and Horowhenua had nothing to do with the amalgamation. Mr Boulton said that two years ago Manawatu had a credit- balance of £6OO. Now it was down tQ £2OO. Mr Carmichael said that since then Manawatu had spent £IOOO in sending teams on the tour and the amalgamation would get the benefit of the return matches. Mr.Hutchens (Foxton,) favoured the amalgamation because Horowhenua would benefit to the extent that the profits from rep. matches' would go into the combined Bund. Mr Mosley (Otaki) said he was instructed to vote for the amalgamation. Horowhenua had everything to gain from. it. A few years ago Hawkes Bay was a weak union, and they came into the limelight by their match against the Springboks and once they were in the limelight they were alright. Mr Peters: What would happen in the event of the combined union finishing up as Horowhenua usually does—bankrupt. (Laughter). The proposal was then put to the meeting, trie voting which was received with loud' applause, being as follows.:—. For. Against. Paraparaumu 2 Weraroa i Waikanae 1 Wanderers ... 4 Otaki 4 L.D.H. School 2 Hui Mai ...... 3 Kuktu 1 Shannon „., ...4 Miranui ..." ... 2 Tokomaru ... 2. Moutoa 1 Foxton ,3 Awahou 2 County ... ... 2 For 27 Against 10