TAIHAPE RUGBY SUB-UNION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3461, 15 April 1920, Page 5

TAIHAPE RUGBY SUB-UNION.

FORMATIO'N OF MAIN TRUNK RUGBY UNOIN DISCUSSED.

A special meeting of the _Taihapej Rugby Sub-Union was held last night. 1 There was a ‘good attendance of local‘ clubs, presided over -by Mr S. _Reid. The secretary read a letter from the Pirate Football Club, advocating. the formation -of a Main Trunk Rugby Union, and stating that this step was eminently desirable in the interests of the game, as Wanganui Rugby Union was not taking the interest in this end of the district it should. ‘ Letters sent to the Rangitikei, Rua- j pehu and King Country Sub-Unions, inviting them to send delegates to the meeting to discuss the question of forming a. Main Trunk Rugby Union afiiliated direct with the New Zealand Rugby Union were read. Some discussion took place, during which it transpired that the feeling of those present was decidedly in favour of forming a separate Union. Mr J.gßyan was in favour of the idea. If the Union Was: formed it could challenge . for the Ranfurly Shield, and arrange for visits of Wellington, Taranaki, and other representatives_

It was pointed out that it wasl rather late in the season to get the, new football district created, as the? New Zealand Rugy Union’s meeting,‘ before which the application would go, would not meet until May 28th. Mr Kelsall said‘ they could get it for next year, if not for this year. Mr W. J. Munro moved: That the Taihape Sub-Union decides to secede from the Wanganui Rugby Union, and that the co-operation of Ruapehu, Rangitikei, and King Country SubUnions be requested to form a Main Trunk Rugby Union. with headquarters in Taihape, and that application for afliliation direct to the New Zea~ Aland Rugby Union be made. ' Seconded by Mr Ryan, and carried. Mr G. Wrightson then took the chair, and the following delegates attended the meeting':—King Country Sub-Union: Messrs Canton and Moran; Ruapehu: Mr E. V. Dye; Rangitikei: Messrs S. Hunt, R. ‘A. Carey, and A. Terry. ,

The chairman cordially welcomed the delegates onbehalf of the local union, and said they had assembled to R discuss‘ the formation of a Main! Trunk Rugby Union. " Taihape for! some years had felt that severance; from Wanganui was desirable in the] best interests of the game. Notwith-i standing the fact that this part of the I territory had as good players as Wanganui, they were seldom, if ever, pick- 7 ed for representative matches. It was quite time they broke’ away, and he was given to understand Wangan'ui' would make no obsiection. Mr Moran (King Country) said his district was in the Auckland Union; they wanted to get nearer home. and be able to have a Union of their own. So far as his centre was concerned,! Taihape should be the headquarters} of the new Main Trunk Union. He] was afraid the new Union could not be fixed up for this year, but they could make provision to have the Union an accomplished fact next year. Mr Canton (King Country) said he and his fellow delegate had come to the meeting with a free hand. The time had arrived when they should form a Main Trunk Rugby Union. They must loolg to the futunre of ‘football; there was no such thing as standing still——it must be either progression or retrogression, and to pro-; gress they must have the change in-i ,dicated. The district had some of _ tlie finest footballers in the Dominion, what was wanted was to bring them out and encourage them, and this could only be done by having the ‘ governing body nearek hbme. -Hel was entirely in favour of a Main’ Trunk Union, with its headquarters! in Taihape. He recognised the difli-N Culties in getting the Union formed this year; at least they could try to do it. The fir-st step to take was to get affiliated with the NZ. Ruglb-»y Union. He outlined several matters that should be dealt wtih "by the new Union, particularly stressing the necessity of insuring players, . Mr S. Hunt (Rangitikei) considered the ‘time had arrived for the formation of a separate Union in this district.‘ The Main Trunk had grown to such importance as to warrant it. ‘ Mr Carey (Rangitikei) said they had V to thank VVanganui ‘for nothing. So far as Rangitikei was concerned they Were prepared to throw in their lot with ‘the Main "Trunk Union. Ml‘ Terry (Rangitikei) endorsed the remarks of his co-delegates, saying they should endeavour to get the Union established this year, ~ M"_ Dye (Ruapchu) said his subunionwas unanimously in favour of A Withdrawing from Wanganui and forming a Main Trunk Union, and the sooner the better, J M . _Mr .3935 S‘l_idAWhen« the Union was V . rug rep, teams ‘who were passing

._thl‘ough. Taih-ape to drog ~ off here and play a match. Ml’ Wrightsonz whTß3"_wholehc:l.rtcdly in favour of the Main Trunk Union, thought it would be almost impossible to form it this year. He gave an instance of the preliminarx steps that‘ would have 1:0 be taken, and these could not .be completed. until they were well in the football season. They should coencentrate 't.hc'n~ vfiforts to carry the project througlf 101' next

year. Mr Canton then moved: That" mis meeting Of d.elLb\.Les I‘epresL*n.ing King Country; Ruapehu, 'fL‘aihape_, and Bangitikefl Sub-Unions, respectfully ask the New Zealand Rugby Union to declare this it separate Union, to be called the Main Trunk Union, with headquarters at Taihape, with direct representation on the New Zcaland Rugby Union. ‘Also to point out that the Main Trunk District has grown to tsuch an extent that this step is ieminently desirable in the interests of } football. Seconded by Mr Moran, and carried

by ucclamation. Some discussion. took place on the best method of giving the earliest efiect to the fornmtion of the Union, and it was decided that {L copy of the application to the N.Z.R.U. should be forwarded to Wanganui and Auckland Unions, asking these bodies to kindly assist. and facilitate the fox-nla.tion of

the new Union. - A special committee, consisting of Messrs Wrightson, Ryan, Kelsall, Reid, Bennett, and Munro, be formed to take all necessary steps to carry into eifect ‘at the earliest possible moment the wishes of the meeting in "the forma-i tion of the new Union. Mr Kelsall was appointed secretary to the com-‘ mittee. _ A s. A geinei-all discussion ensued, the most important topfe dealt with being the insurance of players against accident. The meeting was unanimously of opinion that some schemeshould be initiated, and this will probably be one of the first matters dealt with by the new Union when formed. ‘ Mr Canton moved a vote of. thanks to the chair. and the Taihape-ites for the hearty manner in which the visit» ing delegates had been received. This was carried with applause. , Mr Wrights-on sai(_i they would’ leave ‘nothing undone to further the aims 3 of the meeting. 1 The meeting then adjourned.