RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 18 October 1929, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

CLOSE OF THE SEASON. HOROWHENUA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The final meeting for the season of the management committee of the Horowhenua Rugby District Council was held on Tuesday evening, in the Wistaria rooms, there being present: Messrs W. Hannan (president), J. W. Procter (Hui Mai), F. Meyers (Waikanae), A. Richards (Shannon), F. Robinson (Foxton), S. Hooper (Weraroa), W. S. Heyes (Foxton), W. G. Phillips (Referees), M. G. McLean (Paraparaumu), and J. Casey (secretary).

The Mauawhenua Union wrote stating that they had been asked by the Wellington Rugby Union to convey to the Authorities at Levin their best thanks for the kindness shown to their junior team during their recent visit to Levin. —Received'.

Mi- W. Noad, of Gisborne, formerly of Levin, who gave the shield for tho Ilorowhenua schools’ seven-a-side competition, wrote acknowledging the secretary’s letter acquainting him with the result of the last contest. He expressed his pleasure at the interest taken in the event. —Received.

Mr A. P. Ralph, secretary of the Otaki Ladies’ Hockey Club, wrote reminding the Council of the financial arrangement in connection with the occasion when a Rugby game was played on the same grounds as the Wel-(iington-Otakj. hockey; match—namely that the takings should be shared equally between the Hockey Association an'd the Rugby Council.—lt was decided to remit to the Association the sum of £2 17s 6d, being half the nett gate proceeds. A SMALL PROFIT FOR THE YEAR The balance-sheet had not been finally made .up, but the secretary reported that the profit for the season would be about £2O, and he had paid that amount into fixed deposit, bringing the sum so deposited to £IBO. There then remained in the general account a credit balance of about £lO. A balance-sheet of the insurance fund was presented. This showed that the season was commenced with a credit of £93 2s 4d, and subsequent receipts amounted to £49, made up of players’ premiums £l4 10s, clubs’ premiums £2l 10s 6d, H.R.D.C. grant £3O, and Savings Bank interest £2 19s 6d. The expenditure was £29 0s 6d, leaving a credP balance of £ll3 Is lOd. The Chairman said it was certainly satisfactory that the Council had come out on the credit side, in view of the ups and downs of the past season.

The action of the secretary in paying £2O to the fixed deposit was endorsed.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF CLUBS

Mr Heyes asked if it was the rule that all gate takings came to the District Council. He added that a good many clubs had difficulty in financing themselves; in some eases they had to hold shop days. He suggested that a remit might be prepared for the annual meeting, setting out that a percentage of the gate takings should be retained by the clubs for their own working expenses. The Chairman: It is done in Taranaki, but I think they have a club Saturday. | Theirs is a big Union and very financial. Our hardest, task is to meet our obligations.

Mr Richards said he was -in favour of the suggestion, provided that the Council was in a good financial position, in which case it could help tlie clubs to some extent. Its finances at present were not strong enough to help any of them.

Mr McLean: If the clubs had taken a share, there would not ha\e been anything over. Mr Richards: In another year or two w« might help the clubs a bit-—say, with a club Saturday. Mr Casey said that this Council took over control about four years ago, when things were very poor. It was about

£IOO in debt at that time, and-got out of debt through the good graces of its supporters —the members of this Council. It must have cost oneunan, in tlie two seasons lie was on the Council; something in the vicinity of vthree figures. It was due to the Assistance* of such men that the Council 1 was able to show a balance at all. The members put in a good deal of time and "spent a good deal of money in the course of looking after the interests of football

in the district. As time went on they did not see much for it. When they left the Council they would probably like to see some result of their work. He thought that the Council should concentrate on getting a ground of its own. The feeling existed that, if a man was connected with the management of Rugby footbal|, he was getting something out of it, having a good time, probably having dinners at the expense of the gates. This Council had not been in-the position of getting anything Hike ‘.that .out Of football; the members were actually poorer for their connection with it. No financial benefit was received by any member except himself; and he was compensated for the time he put in as secretary. Mr Meyers endorsed Mr Casey’s re-

marks. He said that a time might come when, instead of having a credit, balance, the Council would have to fall back on its reserve. It was very handy to have a fund which would serve that purpose. As for the idea of doling out donations to individual clubs, he was rather against it. As far as clubs

with which he had been connected were concerned, he thought it was up to the members of them to keep' them financial without having to come to the parent body for assistance. Certainly, in some insances they were expensive to run, but footballers usually played the game for the sport of the thing. One must pay in some way for sport. If the Council mollycoddled the clubs by paying their liabilities, the clubs would lose interest in their affairs, and in cousequence the sport itself would deteriorate. Let them fight their own way and get themselves in a good financial position. If any giving was to be done, let the club 3 give to the- parent body, because it was that body that arranged all their sport for them. Mr Heyes explained that he did not want the Council to make donations to the clubs. His meaning was that a percentage of the gate takings might be handed to a club to help in paying some of the expenses it had to meet, members should not be expected to put their hands in their pockets to pay for things. If it had cost other clubs as much as it had cost the Foxton Club, they would not play football. He was not going to move on the lines of his suggestion; he did not want a donation from the committee, but just wanted enlightenment. Mr Meyers said it would be quite , all right if the 'Oouneil were in a different position—it could then give half the

gates for - one or two Saturdays—but he wa-3 bearing in mind the position at presen t. The chairman said it was impossible to bring a recommendation to the annual meeting in this connection;' because it would mean, on their present working, that they woifld be in debt. 1930 SEASON‘TO COMMENCE EARLIER.

When arrangements for the next «eason came up for preliminary consideration, Mr Richards {Rated that the Manawatu-Horowhenua match would have to be played earlier in the year than usual, owing to the visit of the English team.

Mr Robinson said that it would be necessary to hold the annual meeting earlier than in former years. The Chairman said that Rugby would have to be started a month earlier next year. He thought they would not have any difficulty in coming to an agreement with the Cricket Association for the use of the Domain before the usual time.

On the metion of Mr Robinson, seconded by Mr Heyes, it was resolved that the annual meeting be held not later than the second week in February.

The chairman said the secretary would see that the clubs held their annual meetings earlier also. These had to take place before the Council’s annual meeting.

A VETERAN OFFICIAL. Reference to Mr Procter's long and faithful services to football in the district was made by the chairman, who said he would like to see appreciation of those services placed on record. Mr Procter had new completed 25 years on the Council, raid it should be a recommendation to the annual meeting that he be made a‘ life member of the Council. That would not prevent him from being an active member if he chose to carry on for another season. It would be only some slight recogni-, tion of what he had done. If members who had only served two years on the Council found the going strenuous, what must it have been for a man with a quarter of a century of service. The speaker doubted whether such a record was equalled in New Zealand. The chairman moved, as a remit to the annual meeting, that Mr Procter be elected a life member.

Mr Robinson expressed much pleasure in seconding the motion, and said he could remember when the Council was "very hard up against it," and Mr Procter and himself, lie thought, were the only two who had stuck to the ship when it was sinking. Mr Procter was a man who'was always in the collar; every year i he was at his post. Years before the speaker was on the Union with him, lie often met Mr Procter and had the pleasure of being with him when he (Mr Procter) was managing teams. Mr Procter -had always faithfully fulfilled his -duties on the Council, and he was to be congratulated on his valuable services. (Applause). Mr Richards spoke of having ridden as a boy, fromßhannon to Levin to play football, in 4ays ; when Mr Procter was probably au active member of

*ofr tho Council which followecUthe Union, Mr Proe-fIP ter had taken a great interest in thejip. welfare of the sport and had done his share of hard work. It was to be hoped that he lAVOuld be with the members for many more years,.

Mr Casey said that, in the position of secretary, he depended a good deal on members of the management committee for assistance, and Mr Procter bad always been to the fore; he hail been one of those who had helped the speaker considerably in regard to transport, which had not only been a source of personal convenience, but a saving, to the Council,, Mr Procter’s knowledge, also, had been indispensable; he not only took an interest in the higher grades of football, but also in the lower grades, "where he was not so much in the limelight. If the'Council procured an honours board at any time, the speaker would like to see Mr Procter's name placed at the top of it. The chairman stated that, towards the end of the 1929 season, when the Combined Union games came on, he had -had to appeal to Mr Procter to do his work; Mr Procter had done so willingly, and had helped the chairman out in many ways.

The motion was carried, with ap plause.

Mr Procter thanked the members very heartily, and stated that his term of office on the Council and on the Union previously had been one of pleasure to him. He had made a lot of friends, and did not think dhat he had made any enemies. It had always, been a rule with him, in whatever he took to do it to the best of hip ability. If he could not give the necessary time to anything, he withdrew without delay, There might have been times when, as chairman, he gave rulings that did not please everybody, but he had done what -he considered right and fair to all. TRIBUTE TO THE CHAIRMAN.

Mr Heyes congratulated the chairman on the pleasant meetings that had been held, and said he had looked forward with pleasure to attending them. He complimented the chairman on the. wav he had conducted tho business of the Council. He thought that Mr Hannan had- actod according to what he believed to be the best interests of Rugby generally, and trusted that he would again be in the presidential position next year. Mr Richards spoke in a similar strain. Mr Hannan’s rulings, he said, had been very fair and in the best interests of Rugby in this district. The chairman’s position was not an easy one to fill, as he had to use his own discretion in giving his rulings. The committee had been, very fortunate in having Mr Hannan to guide their affairs during the past two years; he hoped that that gentleman would be re-elect-ed. ! ,

Mr Meyers said it had given him great pleasure *to attend the Council meetings during the past season, although he lived a long way off. He congratulated the chairman on his conduct of the busines, and expressed approval of the grasp that he had of Rugby matters generally. Mr Meyers also paid tribute to the cap Abilities of - Ivlr Casey as secretary and Mr Procter as vice-picsident. The chairman, in responding, said it had been a pleasure to him.to be associated with the members, 'and .he complimented them on their attendance at the meetings. Players might grumble at times abouv having to pay some expenses, but members of the management committee, some of them from long dist incc-s, had taken a step in the right direction by attending at their own expense!, and he thought that the success ox the Council during the 1 past season had been due to their good attendance and the interest they had shawm They had had their little differences on some questions, but at the close of every meeting, he could say that the members were still his- friends. He was there, like the rest of them, for no gain; he had tried to do his best, and the committee had alwaysgiven him great consideration. Without a good secretary it would not have been possible for the speaker to have given the same results; and he could safely say that, in Mr Casey, they had one of the best secretaries in New Zealand. The Chairman added that he would like to congratulate the Referees’ Association cn trying to do their best. The Council may have had some complaints to make; but he hoped that - when the referees held their* annual meeting as many-members of this executive as possible would go along- and try to help them to get on a better basis of working with the Council. This year the two bodies had endeavoured to work together. The Association did - not get much credit/and referees were men who had to stand a lot of abuse, and if any organisation was deserving of assistance from this Council it was the Referees’ Association.

Mr Phillips responded on behalf of the referees, thanking the chairman for his sentiments. He said it would be of great assistance to the Association if a few of the delegates to the Rugby Council would attend the Association's annual meeting, to give some information as to what had gone on during the year and to advise the organisation how to go about things. He extended a hearty invitation to the committee members to attend the meeting. Thanks were, in conclusion, extended by the chairman to the Chronicle representative for the full reports given of the meetings of the management committee.