THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

Shannon News, 21 September 1928, Page 3

THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

FALLING-OFF IN GATE RECEIPTS IN HOROWHENUA.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE’S SUC - CESSFUL ECONOMY.

The concluding meeting for the season of the management committee of the Ilorowhenua Rugby District Council was held in the Wistaria Rooms on Tuesday evening, there oeing present: Messrs W. Hannan (president), H. McDonald (Schools), A. Richards (Shannon), J. W. Procter (Hui Mai), M. Winiata (senior selector), Les. McDonald (Wanderers), S. Hooper (Weraroa), W. Phillips (Referees,), Cr. Mitchell (Shannon), J. W. Rimmer (treasurer), H. Boulton (third-grade selector) H. Hutchins (Foxton), and J. Casey (sccrctarv). An apology for absence was received from Mr F. Robinson (Hautere. TWO SUSPENSIONS.

The committee dealt with the cases of Graham (Weraroa) and Fitzgerald (Shannon) who were ordered off by the referee, Mr E. Bevan, in the Nash Cup final at Levin on September Bth, for striking at one another. Grahaib was ordered to stand down for three playing Saturdays and Fitzgerald for four playing Saturdays at the opening of next season. • financial report. The secretary reported that the gate receipts for the season had been £294, exclusive of the ' Manawhenua gate,which amounted to about £OO. rlio gross proceeds of club gates were: Levin £lOl, Shannon £32, Foxton £-3, Mariakau £6, Otaki £2. The receipts from district rep. matches avere: Levin (Maori-Pakc.ha and . Bush games) £SO, Shannon (Mnnawatu game) £4O 9s 6d, Foxton (Rangitikei game) £3B- - total gate receipts this year showed a falling-off of over. £2OO, as last season thev amounted to ->£olo. Not-, withstanding the decreased revenue, the Council Avas able to show a credit balance, Avhich amounted to £2O "s od. This had been brought about mainly through .decreased expenditure on rep. football, Avhich had cost £72 this year as compared with about £l5O last-year. The Council bad £l5O on fixed deposit at-the Bank of Australasia. There was a credit of £25 6s in the insurance fund, Avhich had paid out £lB Is tnl in compensation, but there would be a further claim to pay, Avhicli Avould reduce the balance to about £2O. lie would propose to allot this balance bv. paving £lO into the general account and putting £lO on fixed, deposit. There Avere four fines outstanding. CLUB FINES. The President said he did not knoav who would take the chair next year, but until he vacated it. those clubs that had not paid their'fines Avould not be able to vote at the annual meeting. Mr Richards reported that ' two wrongly coloured jersey's had been worn by members of his club’s team at the Nash Cup final on Saturday week. A fine of ss-was imposed on the Shannon club. _ FOURTH GRADE PROPOSED. With regard to the reorganisation of the loAvor grades, the secretary reported that the committee , set up to investigate the question recommended there be a fourth grade ivith an age limit of 16 rears, and that the third oracle be subject to a 19-year age linn ft, A £7 10s subsidy Avas recommended for the fourth grade. The recommendations Avould come before the annual meeting. SCOPE OF INSURANCE. The Chairman reported that. Mr Procter and himself had inquired into the rules in Wellington as to the application of insurance. It was provided that it should only cover competition games. To make the rules clear, it would be understood that in friendly matches this Council did not take any responsibility of insurance. ROWLANDS CUP VICTORY, The secretary stated that he had a message from Air E. M. Ryder, a member of the Council, conveying congratulations to the Hui Alai club on account of its juniors having Avon the Rowlands Cup, thereby adding considerably to the prestige of the district. The Chairman endorsed Mr Ryder s compliment, and said that for the Rowlands Cup to have, been brought to the district was a great, achievement for the Hui Alai juniors. The senior football in the district this year had been a little beloAV standard, but the juniors had made a better showing than in previous years. Hui Mai juniors deserved congratulation, as they aveie a young team. They might think that the Council had erred a little in one of its rulings [ordering the junior final between Hui Alai and Aliranui to lie re-played], but he . thought they would take the Council’s congratulations in the spirit in which they Were given. The Council Avere only too liappv for Hui Alai to have brought back a 'trophy that would mean revenue to the district in future years if the champion, team next, year could hold the trophy. He Avishccl Mr Procter to conA'ey to the Hui. Alai club the Council’s congratulations. Air Procter thanked the Council and stated that he Avould express its sentiments to the club.

THANKS TO SECRETARY. Reference was then made by Mi Procter to the work of the Council’s secretary, and he moved that the committee place on record the good work that Mr Casey had done. The mover remarked that none of the members realised the amount of work carried out by their secretary, who had been able to furnish information at short notice on a great variety of subjects connected with the 'Council’s activities.

Mr Boulton said that Mr Casev was “the right man in'the right place.’’ Mr Hutchins supported Mr Procter's remarks. He said that secretaries generally came in for a good deal of criticism, but he had not heard a word against Mr Casey. Mr Casey returned thanks for the kind words expressed. He added that

he avus not the only one doing the work —there Avas always somebody to take up part of the task. Every member of the committee did his bit, and really did some of the secretary’s work. Mr Rimmer’s part ns treasurer Avas no small one, and without his aid the secretarial Avorlt Avould be much greater. The same applied to the Chairman, Avho had been of much assistance. SCHOOL FOOTBALL-

Mr AlcDonalcl made reference to the grant to schools by the Council and said he was sorry that lie Avas not yet able to make a report as to AA'hat. had been done AA'ith it. He had AAiitten to the various schools, and some had sent in their financial statements, but others had held the matter up. It a, -as hoped that the schools would be able to buy rep. jerseys next year. VETERAN COAIMITTEEMAN RE-

TIRING.

Mi- Procter said that this Avas absolutely his last year as a member of the committee. He thanked one and all- for the courtesy shoAvn him during his term of office, Avhicli had extended over 24 years. CHAIRMAN AIAKES, SIAIILAR ANNOUNCEMENT.

The Chairman said he was very sorry to hear Mr Procter say that he Avas going to retire from the management of the game. He hoped that, by the time the next season came round, Mr Procter would re-eonsider his decision; at any rate, he would always come forAvard to do a bit of Avorlc. The Chairman Aveut on to thank the committee for the Avay t-lie members had worked, and for their loyalty to himself. He added that it Avas only through hard Avork and the great benefit Avhich had been received from, donors that the Council had been able to come out "on the .right side of the ledger. Like Air Procter, he was also retiring, and if the committee would give him the credit of having tried to do his best he Avould be Avell pleased. SHOULD BE RE-CONSIDERED. Air Richards said he hoped that the Chairman and Air Procter would reconsider their decisions next season. The Chairman had been very impartial in his decisions and had treated the delegates very fairly, and the speaker, for one, Avould be very sorry to see him retire. . , . . Mr Hooper endorsed Air Richards s sentiments. ■ The Chairman said that, if any of the present committeemen desired to stand again next year, he Avould do his l est to see that, they were elected, because he had faith in every member of the committee. RE-CLASSIFICATION.

In answer to a question by Air Hutchins, the chairman stated that Mr Procter and himself Avere going to investigate the question of re-classifica-tion of players re-entering the game, and Avould report to the annual meet-

ing. Mr Hutchins said there avere a number of old senior players in Foxton who could be brought in as juniors under the rule that a player could revert to junior status after being a 11011-player for tavo seasons. THIRDS’ ENJOYABLE TRIP.

AL Boulton reported on the trip to Pahiatua by the third grade reps, on August 23rd, when they defeated the Bush thirds He said it had given him much pleasure to see so many members of the Council at the match. The Horowhemia lads had a really good time on the trip, AA'liich was full of pleasant sui prises in the way of entertainment. . The event would be of great encouragement to the lower grade football, and he avished to thank Air Procter for his good services Avhen accompanying the team.