MANAWHENUA UNION DELEGATES MEET

Shannon News, 3 April 1928, Page 3

MANAWHENUA UNION DELEGATES MEET

Making Preparations For the Coining Season

The annual meeting of the District Councils’ delegates to the Mahawatu Horowhenua Rugby Union was held at Levin last week, the following being present:— • Manawatu: Messrs. T. Collins (in the chair), J. A. Colquhoun (president), H. Crawford, K. Eglinton, J. B. Hardie, and C. D. Fraser (secretary). An apology for absence was received from Mr. A. M. Ongley. Horowhenua: Messrs. W. Hannan (president), J. W. Procter, G. Mitchell, A. Eichards, E. M. Eyder, S. Hooper, H. Hutchins, W. S. Joyce, and T. O 'Eourke. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report disclosed that, in all, some 295 players are under the jurisdiction of the union, consisting of 92 club teams, in which there are 1380 players, and of 61 school teams, with a total of 915 boys. This is ample evidence of the' popularity of Rugby in this part of the Dominion. Last season B twelve representative matches were played; of these four were won, seven lost, and one drawn. Notwithstanding the number of games lost, the union’s representatives had holders of the blue ribbon of New Zealand Rugby, the Ranfurly Shield, and the union’s representatives are deserving of great praise l for their magnificient achievement. There is no doubt that the doings of the New Zealand team will be watched by the football public here, but as the union has not lost any of its players with that team the material here should be good enough to put our representatives on an even higher plane than last season, and as it is possible .that there will be some five or six matches in this district, interest should also be greater than last season.'

The union’s finances are, thanks to an increase in gate takings of over £2OOO, in a very healthy state, the credit cash balance being over £llOO. The executive congratulates Messrs Hunt, Anderson, Galpin, Parsons and Crawford on being chosen to play in the All Black trial game at Wanganui, and Messrs Bropliy and Galpin on being picked to play in the North Island Possibles and Probables match, and they also wish to place on record' their deep regret at the severe injury received by Mr Jacobs at the close of last season. m.

The executive also desires to place on Record its appreciation of the services rendered by the gentlemen of the medical profession, and it likewise wishes to convey its thanks to the gentlemen who assisted with first-aid work. Thanks are due to Messrs Ryan and Winiata for the able coaching of representative players, and they also have to convey their gratitude to Mi Robinson for the manner in which he managed the representative teams. In moving the adoption of the an ,nual report and balance-sheet, tin chairman said the union was to be heartily congratulated on the working of the past season. If there had been any doubt as to the result of the amal gamation of ‘ the two districts he thought that last year’s record had amply proved that it was the finest thing that had happened to football in those areas. The winning of the Ranfurly Shield had put the combined dis trict on the map. The team had shown a sporting spirit in playing four matches in a week and losing to an admittedly better team, the members of which appreciated the spirit of the Manawhcnua team. He though the Canterbury team would be the first to welcome the .combined representatives if the game for the Shield was granted by the New Zealand Union this year. Referring to the financial position, the chairman remarked that the Union was approximately £9O more in credit than in the previous year. This was due mainly to the Union having been able to hold shield matches. While the Hawkes Bay Union had held the shield, it made a small fortune; and in the short time that Manawhenua had held it, it did remarkably well. On the whole the Union had liad* a splendid season, and was to be congratulated on the results. Mr. Hannan seconded the- motion which was carried without discussion.

Election of Officers. The following officers w'erc elected for the ensuing year: Patron, Mr. H. F. Gibbons (re-elected); president, Mr. W. Hannan; vice-presidents , Messrs. A. M. Ongley and J. W. Procter; treasurer, Mr. J. E. Hardie; secretary, Mr. C. D. Praser; management committee, Messrs. E. M. Eyder, A. Richards, 11. Hutchins (Horowhcnua), K. Eglinton, H. Crawford, J. A. Colquhoun, and T. Collins (Manawatu); vice-president to the New Z<j|land Rugby Union, Mr. W. Hannan; atftlitor, Mr. K. Eglinton; se lectors, 'to be nominated by the respective councils; delegates to New Zealand Rugby Union, Messrs. J. A. Colquhoun and W. Hannan. On taking the chair, Mr. Hannan thanked delegates for having elected him to the position of president and stated that he would endeavour to do his best to carry out the duties satisfactorily. Mr. Collins moved and Mr. Mitchell seconded, that the secretary’s salary be increased from £lO2 to £l4O per annum. ' i wm The mover said that with the. growth

in the number of representative matches the increase was justified. The motion was carried. Mr. Hardie moved that the payment of the secretary’s salary be apportioned in sums of £75 from the combined union and £65 from the Manawatu District Council. This was seconded by Mr. Collins, and carried unanimously. Season’s Tickets. A letter was read from the Horowhenua District. Council endorsing the principle of uniform tickets being issued throughout the combined district. Mr. Eglinton moved that the combined council be authorised to issue the season tickets at the former price of £l/1/-. Mr. Procter seconded the motion. It was suggested by Mr. Hardie that the price be raised to £l/5/-, and that 5/- of this amount be devoted to the injured players’ funds. The secretary reported that last year only 38 tickets were sold—-six by the Horowhenua Council and 32 by Manawatu.

The motion was carried. Notification was received from the New Zealand Rugby Union that the annual meeting would be held on May 3rd, and any recommendations should be sent to the secretary four weeks before that date.

Mr. Colquhoun said that this union should got some indication of the representative matches to be arranged this season as last season there was some congestion in the programme. It was explained by the secretary that there were four matches which the ■ combined team would be expected to plqy on the southern tour this year, namely against Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Mr. Eglinton moved and Mr. O’Rourke Seconded, that a southern tour be undertaken and that the delegates endeavour to arrange that the matches be commenced not earlier than the middle of August. The chairman said he thought that Mr. Eglinton’s idea was a good one as he would not like to see the club matches interfered with too early in the season. Mr. Ryder referred to the upsetting of club games last season owing to rep resentative matches clashing with the result that the public lost a good deal of their interest in the local games. The motion was carried. The secretary said that North Island matches which the combined team might be expected to play at home, as indicated by last season’s programme, would be against Wellington, Waikato, Auckland, King Country, Hawke’s Bay, and Wairarapa.

; It was resolved on the motion of Mr. Collins, seconded by Mr. O’Rourke, that the matter of representative fixtures be left in the hands of the dele gates.

. On the motion of Mr. Procter, sec ended by Mr. Richards, it was decided to procure a new set of jerseys and stockings for this season. It was resolved that the financial year end on January 31st. A motion expressing sympathy with Mr. Ongley in his illness and tho hope that he would soon be restored to good health was passed oh the motion oi Mr. I-lardie, seconded by Mr. Hannan. Accommodation for Officials. Mr. Ryder suggested that at future combined representative matches in Palmerston North accommodation should be set aside for officials of both districts. It was difficult'last year, he stated, for representatives of the districts to obtain seats. Mr. Hardie agreed that seating ac commodntion should be set aside both for Manawatu and Horowhcnua offi cials. Mr. Collins said that the officials who put in their time and labour in the in tercsts of Rugby in the district should' be entitled to preference in the matter of accommodation. The meeting decided on the motion of Air. Ryder, seconded by Air. Crawford, that it be a recommendation tc (he in-coming executive that accommodation at representative matches be set aside for officials of the union. Passes for Visiting Players. Attention was drawn by Air. Hardie to the number of passes issued to visiting representative teams. He thought that 30 passes were too many to issue to 'a team. The Alanawhenua team when touring did not receive this number. He considered that 20 passes would be enough to issue to teams. Mr Joyce suggested that the passes be issued to the Union secretary for the visiting team a week before the mate'll. No action was taken.

A hearty vote of thanks to the outgoing executive was moved, by the president, who stated that the members had worked very hard t;o place the union in the position in which it stood to-day, and great credit was due to them.

The motion was seconded by Air. Collins, and carried.