"The Kick-Off.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 83, 28 March 1914, Page 5

"The Kick-Off.”

shoulu .mb he left, entirely to the Rugby Union, but every delegate should return to his district and interest himself in the matter. Last year the Okaiawr. thirds had to pay their’ own expenses for a tie match at . Hawera and later on played the final play-off in Stratford. They incurred much expense iu hiring a motor lorry but only claimed expenses as if they had travelled by train. He thought the expenses of teams in all grades should be pooled. If there was no money for seniors’ travelling expenses then they should suffer in the same manner as the other grades. Mr Skoglund said that he and Mr Masters were placed in a somewhat queer position by returns not being given in promptly. It had been said that the same procedure had been followed in previous years. That was so, but previously returns of matches had always been given in in time to get them into the balance-sheet. Full details of tours were always available at the annual meeting. Delegates would notice an omission in the bal-ance-sheet—the’ 10 per cent, of club gates. “ He had now received details of this, the total amount being about £lO. As the amount levied when the scheme come into force was £l6 it seemed to indicate that the public interest in football was falling off. At present there was no more than £3O of outstanding liabilities. On the credit side of the balance-sheet appeared sums representing the personal expenses of Messrs McLeod and Masters on tours they managed. Mr Buchanan said the reduced gate receipts were probably accounted for by residents finding it cheaper to become honorary members than to pay admission for every match. NOTICES OP MOTION. Mr Buchanan, moved the notice of motion that one or more auditors be appointed in place of two auditors.— Carried.

Mr Jackson moved that the Hon. treasurer be a member of the committee. He thought it was desirable that the treasurer should have a voice in the affairs of the Union. As the position was at present, their treasurer was a mere figurehead. In other Unions the treasurer had a voice, and especially should this be the case now with Taranaki in view of the auditor’s report. Seconded by Mr Garcia.

Mr McLeod moved an amendment that the committed consist of the president, secretary, bon. treasurer, and -four delegates from the northern and three from southern. This would not r alter the membership of ' the, Union.; There was a northern delegate for the pianagemenf of Saturday ■football, but just at the moment it was not likely there would be any Thursday football. Now, there .were 16 Saturday teams and only two,Thursday teams. It was unreasonable to his mind that three delegates should represent two clubs, and only one for .Saturday, and it was unreasonable i Saturday should have equal representation.

Mr Humphries, in seconding, said he did not see any reason why there should be delegates to represent Saturday and Thursday. Members on the management should represent all the teams in the Union. There should bo no distinction. It was well the matter had cropped up as later on such a position would lead to complications.

Mr Lees; speaking to the amendment, said he agreed with it to a certain extent, but ho would support it more heartily if the motion was for four in each division. They ought to have equal divisions and all should do their best,; as was the case before Saturday football began. Mr McLeod agreed with Mr Lees’ suggestion. There was no idea in giving the northern division the balance of power on the committee. The position arose through Opunake, which had represented the western district, dropping out, and the delegate being given to Saturday football.

Mr Buchanan, in his remarks, said at the time a delegate was proposed for Saturday football, it was laughed at but now the position appeared tp have become wholly Saturday. Mr Meuli suggested having three delegates for each division as the expenses would not be so heavy. Mr McLeod smiled, and pointed out that the members never got any expenses.

The Chairman said that as the rule read at present there was no Saturday football, and it had no meaning at all, no definition being given. There was sure to be trouble later on. There should be a definition of some description. The amendment w r as then put to the meeting and lost by a large majority., Mr Meuli moved another amendment that the representatives of each division be three.

This was seconded by Mr Webster, and carried.

As the substantive motion —with the addition “that the northern and southern division clubs be those deemed to be so by the management committee”—it was carried with one dissentient. > , THE HEADQUARTERS. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr McLeod, the headquarters of the Union will remain at Stratford. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT. Mr Buchanan moved that Mr Bellringer bo .re-elected president. Mr Lees said he had no wish to cast any reflection upon the president, who had proved very able and a good man in the position, but he (the speaker) considered the position should “go round the province.” Unfortunately,

Mr' Lees thought, the rules did nob allow of tjxe election of vice-president's. He had intended moving in that direction this year, hut ho had left the matter too late. He would propose for the position of president, Mr Alex. Hunter, who had done a lot for football. Mr Lees sab, he took this course as a matter of principle. The Chairman said he quite agreed with Mr Lees, and in fact had prc- | viously suggested it. On ‘ previous occasions he stated he had no wish to [retain the position. I Mr Buchanan said the committee of f management had considered the appointment of vicerpresidents, hut were too late to have the matter discussed this year. Their idea was that one vice-president should ho appointed from the north, and one fiom the south.

The matter of the consent of Mr Hunter to take the position was questioned, and Mr Lees agreed to withdraw his amendment now that he had heard the opinion of the meeting and on condition that next year some move in this direction he made. Mr Bellringer’s nomination was then put to the meeting and was carried unanimously. ELECTION OF SECRETARY. Concerning the election of secietavy, Mr McLeod said he had been instructed by his Club to move that the position be a paid one, and that the Union call for applications for the position. On looking into the rides, however, he found that thej did not .allow of it, as they distinctly state the position shall he an Honorary one. The motion was ruled out of ordex.

Mr Buchanan moved that Mr Skoglund be re-elected. The duties of the position were very onerous, and the Union got a lot of work done for which they did not pay. Only those on /the Management Committee could fo'/m any idea of the amount of woik attached to the position. Another thing in connection therewith was the fact that the secretary was blamed for everything that went wrong. Occasionally they had to shake him up. Speaking as one connected with the Union for sixteen years, Mr Buchanan said Mr Skoglund was the best secretary they had had. The motion was seconded by Mr McLeod, who referred to their secretary’s recent illness, and expressed pleasure that he had been restored to good health again. ~ "The motion was carried.' The usual remuneration, 20 guineas, for the position was also; agreed s to. TREASURER RE-ELECTED.

Mr R-. ..Masters wa,s , unanimously re-elected treasurer. msf . ‘ nIz'.UNION DELEGATES. ‘ i, ■" (: ;! : ( . 1 Mr M. ‘ J. ’ Crohibie aiid’ ‘the Chairman of 1 thei Management Committee were re-elected delegates to the New Zealand Union. , REFEREES. Mr Humphries complained of the appointment of referees in some cases last year./ One team had on two occasions to play with a substitute referee picked up on . the,.ground, the picked man not being present. If they had a Referees’ Association, then they should see that a referee, attended. Mr Buchanan said/ the, .matter had been discussed by a meeting of the Association last week ,and a meeting is to be held in, New, Plymouth to make better arrangements. - The trouble was that they had not enough, .referees and they should like a little more help from the country, hut arrangements would be better this year. Mr Skoglund, in returning thanks for his election, said in regard to the appointment of referees last year,, the matches were arranged from week to week, and he did not know sometimes what the matches were until he read of them in the papers. He resented the remark that he had to be “shaken up.” Last season, as the delegates knew, he had been ill, and could not attend to the duties as he would wish. He never required to he “shaken up,” but was blamed for matters over which he had no, control. VOTES OF THANKS. Mr Lees moVed a vote of thanks to retiring officers, and paid a tribute to fiis associates on the late management committee.—Carried.

SATURDAY v. THURSDAY

Mr Mynott asked if it were definite that Clifton would be playing Saturday.

Mr Buchanan explained that the Club had decided so, as they were sure of matches every Saturday,- in place of standing down every third Thursday. \

Mr McLeod pointed out that if Clifton played Saturday it would leave only Stratford and Tivkapa in the Thursday competition, and he thought if the management committee interviewed the Clifton Club and pointed out that in the interests of football they should play Thursday they would accede to the request. Mr De Launay asked why was Inglewood forced to play Saturday when Clifton were to be asked to play Thursday when they wanted to play Saturday.—ln a short discussion, it was pointed out that Inglewood last year could only put juniors for Thursday, and at a meeting (at which M r De Launay was not present) the Club had decided to play Saturday, with the result that they won the competition. Mr De Launay moved that it be a recommendation to the management committee to interview the Clifton Club with regard to their play-

ing day.—Agreed to.

TARANAKI RUGBY UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Union was hold in the Borough

Council Chambers last night. The following delegates were present: Inglewood Messrs De Launay and Smith, Okato, Mr Garcia;, Tukapa, Messrs McLeod and Mynott; Star, Messrs Humphries and Stocker; Rovers, Mr Webster; Clifton, Mr Buchanan; Stratford, Messrs R. Masters and E. Jackson; Hawera, Mr Copeland; Okai. awa, Messrs Lees and Crowley; Kaponga, Messrs Moore and Mills; Wairaate, 'Messrs McKay and Meuli; Moturoa, Mr C. W. Williams; Referees’ Association, Mr F. Spurclle. The President (Mr F. T. Bellringer) occupied the chair.

A NEW CLUB. The Moturoa Club was affiliated to the Union.

REPORT BY THE AUDITOR. In connection with the balancesheet the auditor presented the following report:—l have completed the audit of the Union’s books for the year ended the 28th ultimo, and have certified to the balance-sheet in terms of my certificate and my further report contained herein. I have to draw the attention of delegates to the most unsatisfactory system under which certain items of the Union’s expenditure are controlled. In particular, I have to point out that no returns have been furnished to the secretary by the various managers responsible for either of the two matches against Auckland, at New Plymouth, or for the tour of the “B” team. With reference to the match against Auckland played at Auckland, only some £l7 4s 6d out of £BO advanced by the Union has been accounted for. 'ln view of the above facts disclosed, it is quite impossible for me to state what sums are still due to the Union on account of these events, and the statement of assets and liabilities appearing in the balance-sheet is therefore necessarily incomplete. It should be hardly necessary for me to point out that, as such a large proportion of the Union’s income and expenditure is received and disbursed by otner persons than the permanent Secretary or treasurer it is imperative, in order that these officers may be able to perform their work expeditiously and efficiently, that the strictest possible supervision and records should be maintained in all financial matters by the manager in charge of a tour or match. lam strongly of opinion that, in the cases of all matches played in Taranaki, only , petty disbursements should be made by the manager or person in charge. The whole of the gate-receipts (less such petty expenses) should be remitted to the Union’s treasurer or 'secretary, together with all accounts for payment. There is no possible justification for the present system of leaving the control of the takings, and the making of all payments, in the hands of the various managers who are, from time to time, in charge of teams. It is an obviously proper principle that such matters should be attended “to by as few officials as possible, and the proper officials are the secretary and treasurer. With regard to teams on tour, the above suggestions could not be carried out in their entirety, but each manager on tour should be supplied with suitably printed “skeleton” balance-sheet form on which he should record all receipts taken and payments made by him. Vouchers for all payments, except for train and steamer fares, should be attached to the balancesheet and forwarded, together with a cheque for any balance in hand, to the Union secretary immediately upon the conclusion of the tour. The Union should throw the whole of the responsibility for this procedure upon the manager and let him definitely understand what is expected of him. Unless a strong hand is taken in these and cognate matters the affairs of the Union must always remain in an unsatisfactory and unbusinesslike condition. I should be glad if the Union would advise me in due course of its intentions with regard to the various recommendations that I have made herein, , as, should I be re-ap-pointed auditor, it would he impossible for me to carry out my duties with satisfaction to cither the Union or myself unless some improvement upon the present methods is adopted, and, if no alteration should be deemed to be necessary, I must tender my resignation as auditor. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The President moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The motion was seconded by Mr J. McLeod, chairman of the Management Cammittee. He said that the season had been successful except for I the tour of the B team and the Union i knew that a profit could not be made from that tour. In reference to the auditor’s report, he said, he desifed that delegates should have the fullest i information thereon. He agreed i with the report. He took the whole ofj the blame for thfe late returns of Ithe Auckland tour. The Auckland tour actually .cost £94 19s Gd. His ! return could not be put in before the balance-sheet was prepared. The statement regarding the B match with Auckland was also supplied very late by the Auckland Union. Despite repeated applications by himself and the secretary and a visit by himself to Auckland the statement could not be procured. The only • fault to be found was the failure to put in re-

turns. In reference to the system of supervision -suggested by the auditor, it was now being followed as far as possible. The present method wag' to fix up financial matters after each match. The auditor desired all moneys to go through the treasurer of the Union, the present scheme being for the Union’s local representative to settle all accounts. The present scheme had been in operation for many years. The recommendation made was only a business proposition and nobody could say that the auditor was not suggesting something which should be for the benefit of the Union. The idea was to put all moneys through the treasurer. It was the ideal "method, but whether it could work out in practice he did not know. The auditor’s report was largely brought about by the laxness of him--self and Mr Garcia in failing to supjply returns.' If there had not been this failure the report would probably not have been made. , It was perhaps just as well that tne report had been made. He agreed with the recommendation, but did not think the financial result at the end of the year would he different. The gates last year had been very fair. There was a loss of £34 on the Auck-land-Taranaki B match, hut oh other matches there was a handsome profit. On the whole, the Union had held its own except for the B tour. The Management Committee had only one opinion about the B tour. They, held that it would be good for football in the province, and personally he hoped that -the tour would be coiir tinned, 'i -Interest. in ; fj had been well sustained. Since the close of the season Taranaki had lost one of its 'best players in the person of Tamil. He (the speaker) was' well acquainted, with Tamu, and he was a great man, both on and off the field. He was game as a pebble to the end. They could give the Maoris credit that the representatives of the race who played in Taranaki football were the best of men.

Mr Buchanan said he had seen foothall for many years and he could conscientiously say that there never was a better conducted team than the Taranaki team which played in Auckland in 1913. The proprietor of the hotel at which they stayed in Auckland said he had never had a better team in the house. They were almost as pleased with this compliment as with winning the Ranfurly Shield. The Auckland people were good sports and he thought that they were glad, seeing that they had to lose tho Shield, that Taranaki had won it. Mr Garcia said he took all blame for laxness in putting in returns regarding the B tour. He thought the auditor’s report would do a good deal of good. The B tour had been made rather too late in the season, but he thought the tour would do football a lot of good. Many of the members of the B team had never previously been out of Taranaki, - but at every town they stayed he had been complimented on their conduct. It had been a pleasure to manage the team. He hoped the tour would be elaborated this season, and he expected it to form a- means of providing stand-by members for the A team.

Mr Lees said he regretted that tha balance-sheet had gone forth as it had. There were certainly difficulties to be encountered through the bulk of the Union’s work having to ho done by an executive, but h© did not see why the returns of tours should not he presented in a more up-to-date manner than at present. It appeared that in the past tours had been entered on the, balance-sheet in a lump sum. He thought the cost of the tours should bo given in detail as was done with other matches. Then members would get a good insight into the inner workings of the Union. He agreed with Mr Garciathat the B tour was made too late. Ho knew many men who would bar® gone on tour had the team gonffl. away earlier. If it went away eaW her it would be possible to pick tHC best players for the A team’s later matches. He hoped tha new committee would benefit by the previous committee’s mistakes. Last year there had been only two selectors, but for the coming season there should bo three. He thought that rather much was being made of representative football. This was to the detriment of football in that the younger players were not sufficiently encouraged. Much had been done in Taranaki for school football, but be hoped that still more would bo done. Tha encouragement of school football