FOOTBALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 69, 29 March 1913, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI RUGBY UNION

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Union was held in the Stratford Borough Council Chambers last night, when Mr F. T. Bellringer (president of the Union) was in the chair, the following delegates being present: Messrs R. Masters and E. Jackson (Stratford), T. Buchanan and DGeorge (Clifton), J. McLeod (Tukapa), G. Bertrand and C. E. Sadler (Star), C. A. herd and W. F. Narbey (Eltham), L. do Launay and Nicholls (Inglewood), P. O’Dea and Atkinson iHawera), A. Lees and J. Crowley (Okaiawa), F. Spurdlo (.Referees’ Association), AV. I). Webster (Rovers), J. S. McKay and W. Glenn (Animate), Messrs D. Malone (treasuiei), and P. Skoglund (secretary), were also present. Opunake, Patea and Fitzroy clubs were not represented • PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.

Tlio Chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance siieet, referred to the excellent attendance of delegates, which, lie considered, showed that there was still a big interest shown in football in Taranaki. In other centres, also, the same enthusiasm was manifest, and the amateur Rugby game was evidently not going to have much trouble to maintain its great hold as in tho past, as the leading and most interesting winter game in New Zealand. Dealing with tho annual repart, the President instanced the fact of the friendly game with Wellington having been lost, and spoke strongly against these matches being hold. Some years ago, when he was on the Management Committee, a scratch team was sent to play Wel.ington, there being special circumstances why the match was desired. The game, naturally, was lost, yet the game was entered in the Wellington records as a victory against Taranaki. These games should certainly not be entered in tho records, and he considered this point should be borne in mind, when fixing these games. He noted that tho report stated that “there was a noticeable absence of rough play during tho season, and the Committee had fewer cases of this misdemeanour to deal with than for some years past.” This, he considered was a matter for congratulation, hot. to tho players and to tho referees, that the Committee should he abh to make such a statement. Of course there was no reason why there shouk. ho rough play, and he had no doulh that tho 'Committee would deal ver severely with any of these cases thai may come up. In the matter of schoo: football, tho President continued that ho thought that this matter had tlu full sympathy of delegates,' and hr trusted that during, tho year some scheme would be evolved whereby con siderably more interest would he tab en in school football than has bee taken in the past. As to the questions of tho half-holiday and playing A. and B. teams, tho- speaker gave i! as his opinion that both schemes were in the right direction, and, if carried into effect, would have a very important bearing on the encouragement cl football in Taranaki. In conclusion the President touched on the Club 'Championship, and congratulated tin AVaimate Club on their very fine record in winning both the first anc second grades. (Applause.)

OTHivR SPEAKERS

Mr James McLeod (.Chairman of tin Management Committee) seconded th. motion. The balance sheet, he said, was financially a great disappointmen to his committee, who had at the beginning of the season regarded a profit of £2OO within the realms of pos sihility. It happened, however, tha, the same circumstances as had tolc against Wellington and Auckland had considerably affected Taranaki: throughout the season, the Union

had had but one fine day for a football match. That game was played at Hawera, and the result was shown by the gate. After that match, hardly any money was made, and, i; one case, there was a loss. Taking all things into account, and the fac that last year was abnormal in tin expenses of our own players, it wa; a matter for congratulation that thej had come out so well. The players expenses* were heavy, because in som instances players had had to hire motors to get to the matches. Tilt Union, however, could not cavil a. this. In the old days, it would have meant that the places would have had to bo filled by inferior players The Speaker continued that the tot i expenses of their own players (£120) had exceeded very very much any pro vious year for one season, and thu amount did not include the expense, of travelling to Auckland and Wa i ganui. While other delegates had concurred with him as to the roy prospects of the last season, lie won!', say that, so far as ho was personal:.' concerned, the financial result ha been totally unavoidable. However, they hoped this year to swim through. After all, they were not out to male* i.mney ,and so long as they couh keep ahead, matters were not so bad. Mr McLeod then touched on the hail holiday Cji.estion, and said that though the matter was a debatabl one, everyone ag-’ced on this point namely that the existing positio was most unsatisfactory, and it wa ilmost impossible for football to flour i:jh. It so happened that the lav gave an opportunity to those who be [iev.ed in a universal half-holiday c attaining that object, and it was hop ed that after June Ist therwas a reasonable possibility that Saturday would bo the day Already it was assured that polls would bo taken in every borough ii Taranaki, Hawera, the last ti be approached, having '‘come in” that

I day. Last year rules had io bo suspended, and these were generally ridden rough shod over. The same thing would very likely happen this season. Football, if the Saturday h df-holiday was adopted, would have to be reorganised, at any rate in New Plymouth, but the new conditions would simply have to be met in a reasonable and logical way; rules that ought to be suspended, would just simply have to be suspended for one. season until a rule was drafted to suit the new circumstances. Continuing, Mr McLeod, touched upon the issue el free tickets to cld players, and thought that this departure would have the endorsement cf all present-day players. On this point he mentioned that two old players in fir... era hat. offered, by donating a guinea each to form the nucleus of on old players' subscription fund in aid of tho Union’s finances. It appeared to him that this was a matter the Management Committee might discuss, and, if suitable, take advantage of. It would keep the old players closely in touch with tho Union. As regards school football, a scheme had been worked out last year, and this included the whole of Taranaki, dividing the province into twelve school districts. He was to have submitted that evening a full report on tho matter, but considering their finances, he had come to tho conclusion that it was not worth while. In conclusion, he suggested that the various clubs should take under their wing the schools in their respective district. The scheme can bo ■ worked at such time as the Union can come into closer contact with the schools.

Mr Buchanan, in speaking to the motion, said ho came with a big lot of growlings, which he enumerated individually. He criticised severa; clauses in tho report, and also items in the balance sheet, on which he desired enlightenment.

•Mr O’Dea agreed with Mr McLeod that it would bo a good idea to open the honorary subscription list. Ho considered that all old players would deem it an honour to join. AVith regard to the President's remarks concerning the friendly matches with other unions, he hop ed these would not be misunderstood, as, he said, these matches gaVe a great filip to the game in Taranaki, and should bo encouraged) He accounted to a great extent to the pool showing of the balances in tho Hawera matches, and said to Hawera must be attributed in a considerable extent the poor showing of the annual balance sheet. Mr Masters'congratulated tho Management Committee, on the success 01 ; tho year's working. The balance sheet shown that evening was very fully drawn up, and the 1 werk done during the year was a credit to the Committee, in face of thOl'very bad weather experienced. 'Thfe only item which lie thought could lie 1 called odd, was the expense of the uWifc rirs, which were much heavier than in the pre-

vious year. Speaking of the district So represented, Air Masters said that Stratford had had but one match but it had showed a bigger-profit than had any oilier towm 1 Ho agreed with previous Ipoakers that the opening 01 an honorary suMifeription list was a ; good ideftt, and, if taken up' property! 1 he considered tho old players would respond spontaneously, and if nfathing more the Union would get anything‘from £IOO to £lso’ a year. AVith regard to school football, which he said should he encouraged, he suggested that a kind of union similar to tho Rugby Union should bo formed to control this important branch of the game. It was to the schools that we looked for our future players, and if the scheme was carried out properly football would certainly go ahead in Taranaki.

Tiro motion was then put and carried unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Officers for the ensuing year were sleeted as follows President, Mr F. T. Bellringer (re-elected); hon. secretary, Mr P. Skoglund (re-elected) ; hon. treasurer, Mr It. Masters; delegates, N.Z. Union, Mr M. J. Crombie (re-elected), the chairman of the, incoming committee; auditor, Mr A. Coleman (re-elected); Management Committee: Northern division—Messrs McLeod, Buchanan and de Launay; Southern Division—(-Messrs Glen, Atkinson and Lees; Saturday Division— Mr Garcia. NOTICES OF MOTION. Air Buchanan gave notice to move that the rule referring to the auditor b 6 amended so that two auditors should be appointed, instead of one only as at present. ' On the suggestion of Mr Malone, Mr Jackson gave notice to move that the treasner be made an ex officio member of the executive committee. GENERAL. ' The secretary was voted the usual bonus of £2l. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the members of the out-going committee. / The President moved that the headquarters of the Union remain at Stratford as at present, and the motion was carried unanimously.

Mr Skoglund said that for the bene-

It of tl;6 game he thought it would bo advisable to approach the Wanganui Union with the idea of forming i suh-union which would embrace that district given to Fatea last year, and >art of the Wuverley district. The

•.amo proposal was before tlio Union last year when consideration was deterred. The Paten Club considered it had too far to travel, and if the interested sub-union was formed, it would enable the formation of perhaps half-a-dozen clubs, who would have less travelling to do than at present, and would get more grimes. Mr O’Dea seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously without discussion.

Air AlcLcod mentioned that possibly this year they would have an additional football district. Ho had received this week a letter from AVhangamomona which intimated that a-sub-union, consisting of live clubs, had been formed there. AVhile they werej losing Fa tea they were going to gain “out-cast,” and ho thought this would give the necessary vim to the game iu Taranaki. He referred with regret to the severance from the active list of Alcssrs O’Dea and Alalone—men of whose stamp tho committee could ill afford to lose. Air Chalmers, who was not present, was another member of the executive who he regretted would not bo working tliis year.

•Sneaking on behalf of the Referees’ A locution, Air Spurdlo urged delegates to try and unearth new ir.cn tc take on refereeing. It was in th: interests’of tnogune that clubs fhoula do their best in their respective -towns towards securing new men to centre: the games. COMMITTEE MEETING. At a subsequent meeting of the Alanagemont Committee, Air AlcLood was re-elected chairman. ■ The Eltham colours were altered to red and wlute, to avoid clashing with other clubs. A letter was read from the Auckland Union suggesting that a match be played with Taranaki at Auckland at the latter end of August, the net proceeds to be divided equally between the two unions, and an allowance of £.25 to be made to tho Taranaki union towards travelling expenses. The letter added that a simi; lar match was being arranged with Wellington. Members of tho committee thought the suggestion an admirable one, and the meeting decided to provisionally accept the offer.

REFEREES' ASSOC lAT I Oil. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Referees’ Association was held last evening, prior to the meeting cf tho Rugby Union. The President (Air F. T. Bellringer) presided over the following members:— Messrs. F. Spurdlo, A. Lees, P. Skoglund, and the secretary (Mr C. H. Potts). The balance sheet, which was adopted, showed receipts £lB 18s, and expenditure £8 Os 6d, leaving a credit balance of £lO 17s 6d. Tho following motions were carried: (1) “That the President of the Taranaki Rugby Union bo the President for tho time being of the Taranaki Referees’ Association. (2) “That tho delegate to tiro annual meeting and conference of tho N.Z. Referees’ Association be appointed alternately from each division.” A vote of thanks was passed to Air A. Lees, for representing tho Association at tire conference of the New Zealand Association. An honorarium of £3 3s was passed to Air C. H. Potts, the honorary secretary. Air F. Spurdlo was appointed delegate to the annual meeting and conference of the Now Zealand Association.