AYING FOR THE HONOUR OF IT.

Shannon News, 30 April 1926, Page 3

AYING FOR THE HONOUR OF IT.

PLAYERS TO ASSEMBLE AT OWN EXPENSE. ' The hardy annual where should the rep. matches he played, came up lor decision at Tuesday’s meeting of . the Management Committee oil the Horowhenua Rugby Union. • Mr F. Robinson (Foxton) formally moved the following two- motions: (1) That all rep. matches be played in Levin during the 1926 season, in order to strengthen the finances of the Union; (2) That players in s uch matches assemble in Levin at their own expense. Mr Hannan (Levin) seconded the motion and, in so- doing, said that this used to be done in years gone by. Mr Austin (Foxton) said he took the motions to mean that a man from Paraparaumu or Paekakariki would have to pay his own fare, and buy

his own meals, etc. Mr Robinson said that, so far as the second motion was concerned, it seemed a bit hard on players, but lie felt certain that if any rep. men were chosen from Foxton they would come over to Levin without any ex-

pense to themselves o,r the Union—there were enough sports in Foxton .to guarantee that. He understood a similar position was in evidence at Otaki, and if that were so surely there was a sufficient number of sports in other towns who would be pleased to do the same thing? - Certainly the gates at foxton and Shannon had been good at previous, rep. matches ■ played there, hut, so far as. the former was concerned, had it not been for the generosity of one or two' supporters in making donations and giving a lot of assistance in a number of ways, the gate would have been nothing like that of Shannon, whilst the ordinary cup matches in Levin-' would,- probably, have produced as ( good results as Foxton with a rep. game. Anyway, the motion related only to the 1926 season, and as the Union was hard up against it, although it did seem a trifile hard on Foxton and Shannon, be had acted purely from the Union’s financial standpoint, and if the thing were carried there would not be a man ' throughout the Union who would be sorry that he had acted in this way, whilst the financial aspect would, undoubtedly, he a good deal brighter. Mr Moynihan (Shannon) said this same matter had been thrashed out some years ago, but people seemed unable to get away from the parochial view of Hie situation. The record gate for the Union had been obtained at Shannon, the Union were sadly in need of funds, and he suggested the Committee should have the matches played where they could get the best gate; also that Shannon should be given the Manawatu gaime as the town was only an hour’s run from Palmerston and they would get some people from Manawatu to go to Shannon who would not be willing to go down to Levin. The committee should not overlook the fact that in -all probability the finals for the Bebbington Shield would be played off in Levin, and that a rep. Maori team would also play a match here, so he did not see why- this Manawatu match,should net be played in Shannon. He ■ moved accordingly. ~Mr Brahn (Shannon) Supported Mr Moynihan, ■ The first motion was put to the voting and was carried by. a big majority.

“CBEESE-P AIUN-G METHODS.” The second motion, relating to players coining to Levin at their own expense, was then (subjected to discussion, Mr Moynihan pointing out that such an action would penalise play- , ei'S from Packakariki -and at 'either end of the district, and the whole elfect of such a motion was absolutely unreasonable. " • Mr. Robinson (Miranm) was ot the same opinion as Mr Moynihan, and while he granted them that Levin was the centre of the Union, ,all the players and supporters of football were not in Levin. He further contended that as Levin’s, rep. players did not have any expense, why should not the same facilities be ex-, tended to’ players at Paraparaurnu and similarly-situated towns? Mr Austin was of the same opinion as the two previous delegates, but he thought that expenses, should be drawn up on a sliding scale, the as they were last season. The ' chairman, Mr O’Connor said he thought they were all getting away from Hie fact that Mr Robinson had brought forward the motion for the purpose of strengthening the Unions finances, which were hi a bad. way, and be knew it was the Committee’s wish that the funds should be conserved as much as. possible so that the Union could show a credit balance at the close of the year. If however they were going to pay out for S ’tha/and the other, the lands would go back still further Next, year perhaps, with a good credit balance the Union might be m a position to pay for players to come to Levin, wW« should the position. The speaker saidthaU fm financial reasons alone, he.was m favour of the motion. th Mr Robinson, in speaking to motion, mentioned the work put by the Management Committee during the season, and with agooddeal of expense. Surely, if the Committee could do that from year’s year’s -end, the players should also do something to assist their Union: Mr Procter observed that it was only of late years that the question of paying players’ expenses had cropped-up, and in the past they had been only to glad to be able to play for a team, but nowadays he thought

the players were being too pampered. Mr Moynihan: Why all these cheese paring methods all of a sudden? Mr Robinson: The bonks will show you why! Mr Rimmer (treasurer): At the close of last year we were £IOO on the wrong side of the ledger, but if the executive go along throughout the season ae they have tit the commencement, I am satisfied we will show a great difference at the end of this year. If the management are prepared to work and make sacrifices for the sake of the game—why not the players themselves? I do think the players should show they are desirous of playing the game and enabling the Union to be put on a good footing, and I also think that Ihe honour of being a rep. player should be sufficient incentive for the men to turn up when selected. Mr J. B. Proud (secretary of the Combined Union), who wag a visitor, informed the meeting that, in the Manawatu district matches, players assembled at their own expense. Mr Hannan: About these cheeseparing methods, a few years ago the Committee were in. the same position, and Mr Moynihan paid his fare to Taranaki and also tot Marton, and I don’t think you would get any grousing from the players to-day if you put the position to them. Mr Need lie (Foxton): So far as the Foxton players are concerned, they say they won’t come over to Levin. Voices: Then they are better out of it. The motion was then put to tna_ meeting who carried it with a 9 to 5 majority.