MANAWATU ENDORSES AMALGAMATION.

Shannon News, 26 June 1925, Page 3

MANAWATU ENDORSES AMALGAMATION.

CONFIHMJSD AT LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. Last night a special meeting of the Manawatu Rugby Union confirmed ilie fusion of the Horowhenua and Manawatu Unions. , The chairman (Mr A. Hannay) said the fusion with Horowhenua was the finest thing that had ever happened to football in both districts. As they *v©re aware, the tendency was lor the iurg«r unions s to confine their representative fixtures to themselves, and "the Manawatu was not big enough to clay against tjiem on its own. What 'he Union was out for was big lootball and the amalgamation with Horowhenua would enable them to put a team in the field that could stand up against the representatives of any Union in New Zealand, lhc outlook of the sub-unions (Oroua and r.. Kawau) would be greatly improved too, and the speaker, in referring to -recent matches in which they had figured *vas fully convinced they had - .pfayers worthy of being brought out %a compete ic the big representative •matches of the future. The proposals showed that a fair thing had been done' as far as Horowhenua was conremed Manawatu having a slight advantage in the matter of rcpresenSLn. Mr Hannay the meetinj? realised this was the gieattbt t£> That* had ever been tak,n iov Rushy in this district. He then tor S 7 moved that the arrangements made by the delegations of the two unions be confirmed This was seconded by Mi A. b. Faire a vice-president of the mm. f'U 'who took a leading part in the • V ?SSIe discussion followed 4onZ position of the TeKaj txna Oroua! fcub-unions, their del •gates asking for direct representdlion'on the combined management committee, and the Manawatu delegates replying that they wmild have a voice in appointing the Manawa i delegates to the combined committee Eventually it was agreed that W sub-unions should appoint direct representatives (to the Manawatu • Committee, without votes, until the Jules could be altered to give them

permanent representation on the Manawatu Committee. The motion agreeing to the amalgamation was then put and carried amidst loud applause.