Piako Rugby Union.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43081, 13 April 1907, Page 2

Piako Rugby Union.

ANNUAL MEETING. -

The annual meeting of the Piako Rugby Union was held in the Waihou Hotel last night, over twenty members being present. Mr W. Lennard was voted to the Chair until Mr R. W. Johnson’s arrival. Minutes of the last general meeting were read by the secretary, Mr James Rooney, and 'confirmed. The secretary ihen read the annual report for tho year ending March 3lst, 1907, which showed that during the year the Rep. team played three matches, one at Thames, one at To Aroha and alsq journeyed to Rotorua, and ’ although not successful, put up good games The season was an expensive one, but there i still a balance of £1 2s 7d in hand. Th I thanks of the Union are due to Messrs Lewi j Magill and Bygrave, for their generou donations towards the Caps. The balance- , sheet for the year ending March 31st, 1907, was then read in detail, showing main par- ! ticulars as follows: — Receipts. £ s d Balance from 1905 14 0 Gate money from matches... ... 6 6 0 Balance from social for presentation of Caps 2 0 0 Subscriptions, etc 43 11 3 Balance in hand 1 1 2 7 Total a £53 13 10 Expenditures for advertising, railway fijres, brakes, referees, insurance, affiliation fee, fete., £52 1 Is 3d. The report from the auditor (Mr W. R. Johnson) stated that he was as yet unable to sign the balance-sheet as items amounting to £l3 10s 4d had not yet been substantiated byreceipts. It appears that the bulk of thiß amount was for fares to Rotorua, and a few small items that were satisfactorily explained. Mr Johnson explained that it was of course his duty to report on the accounts as he found them, but he had not the least doubt that they were quite correct. He considered that an effort should be made to secure local referees, to reduce the expense for referees, which during the last season amounted to £5 ss. The Chairman explained that when it was necessary to purchase the Caps last season, it was found that the funds were £8 10s short of the amount required. Mr Lewis very kindly contributed £4 5s towards the deficiency, and Messrs Magill and Bygrave had donated the balance. Special votes of thanks were accordingly passed to these gentlemen, with loud acclamation. ‘

Mi J. T. Spargo (and otheu) did not consider this charge for referees excessive. Mr Rooney said it was generally more satisfactory to get a referee from outeide. Mr Rice thought that five guineas was extremely cheap for referees’ services for the season, considering the abuse which he had to put up with from the public. A voice: Mr Rice must be speaking from experiem e.—(Laughter). A hearty vote of thanks was also unanimously passed to the officers who had acted during the past season. Officers for the coming season were elected as follows: —Patron: W. H. Herrie3, Esq., M.H.R.; president, Mr O. F. Pilling. On the motion of Mr R. G. Lewis, seconded by Mr W. Lennard, it was resolved that the number of vice-presidents be increased to six. The following were accordingly unanimously elected as vice-presidents : Dr Seville, Messrs H. Magill, R. L. Somers, T. Gavin, J. A. Granger and Major Clifford. Mr Lewis pointed out that it would be a great advantage to elect treasurer and secretary both residing in the same township. It was agreed that this was a good idea. After some difficulty in getting somebody to act as honorary secretary, Mr D. Hickey, of Morrinsville. was enthusiastically elected to that office.

Mr J. Ganley, of Morrinsville, was elected honorary treasurer. Mr Spargo thought it would be a good thing to get an opinion on the matter stated in the by-laws “ that the treasurer and secretary are ex-officio delegates to the general committee. ’ ’ As three delegates were allowed from each club, there would, therefore, with the addition of the treasurer and secretary, be five delegates and consequently, votes, from one of the clubs.

It was agreed that this did not appear quite fair.

It was resolved that a committee be formed to draw up fresh by-laws. On the motion of Mr Spargo, it was resolved that the committee to revise the bylaws consist of three—one member from each club.

Mr W. Lennard proposed that all delegates should be non-players. Mr Spargo said the matter had been discussed before, and it had been decided that it was difficult to get sufficient non-players who took enough interest in the game. He was afraid the move would not prove an unqualified success.

It was said that a delegate would then b 9 barred from playing. Mr Rooney moved amendment that it be optional whether delegates be players or nonplayepa. The amendment was carried by eleven votes to nine. The expense of caps being discussed, Mr Borrie suggested that some less expensive method of recognition be brought into force. Mr Lewis proposed that the Clubs play for a cup, and he promised to contribute a guinea towards it. This announcement was received with great applause. Mr Simpson moved amendment that the clubs play for caps. The motion was subsequently carried, only three voting against. It was proposed by Mr Lewis that any club winning the cup three years in succes* sion be entitled to keep it. Mr Borrie moved amendment that the cup be retained by a club winning it two years in succession, or three years at intervals. Mr Lewis’ motion was carried.

On the motion of Mr MoKee it was resolved that the Juniors should also compete for a cup on the same conditions as the Seniors. When Mr St George stated that he wou d contribute. a guinea towards badges for the winning teams, all who were present loudly applauded. The general meeting tyas then closed, with a vote of thanks to the chair. MEETING OF DELEGATES.

The meeting of delegates was then held, Mr R. W. Johnson being voted to the chair. The committee ■ for the revision of the bylaw's was elected as follows :—Messrs R. W. Johnson (Waihou), D. Hickey (Morrinsville), R. G. Lewis (Te Aroha). It was resolved that the committee to revise the by-laws meet at Waihou Hotel, on Tuesday next, 16th inst. The matter of ascertaining the prices of cups, to submit to a subsequent meeting, was left in Mr Lewis’ hands. Mr Lewis said he found it impossible to get a team together in Te Aroha, unless the boundaries were altered. It was not a matter of weakness on Te Aroha’s part, and unless more men came into the district, a team could not be got within the present boundaries. Mr Lewis xqentioned a number of players who had recently left the district or given up playing. Mr Rice said he had heard rumours of a team being forxned at Waitoa, It was said that if Waitoa organised a club, it would be necessary to alter the boundaries. Mr Timmins thought there was a likelihood of Waihou forming a union of their own, in case of a Waitoa club commencing. Mr Rice said he thought the trouble had arisen through ,Te Aroha club not having a general meeting. The Chairman said he thought the matter could be left over until the by-laws were revised, which would soon be done. Mr Rice said he had heard that the Mokau, Putaruru, and Wardville clubs would probably approach the Piako Union with a view j io Joining, when the Union would then .have | a wider scope,” Thp fact‘that Waihou had 1 won on tbs season’s 'during 'fhe last

five years, showed that the strength was concentrated too much in one place. The Chairman thought that as a matter of sport, the equalising of the teams would increase interest in the game. Mr James Rooney and Mr Spargo attended as a deputation, and stated that in an inter’ view with Mr Bush, he learnt the Union affiliated with the Goldfield Union, that matches could be arranged with Paeroa and other teams, and gate-money could thus b °Mr Spargo mentioned an omission that had been made at the general meeting. He asked the delegates to appoint two auditors. Messrs Rice and Rooney were accordingly appointed. that t hr ee delegates, Messrs Rooney, Lewis, and Timmins, be sent to the meeting of the Goldfields Union at Karangahake, om Thursday next to gather information. . Mr Lewis was appointed selector for the coming season. On the motion of Mr Simpson, it was resolved that the first match be played on Saturday, May 4th. . * “ A vote of thanks to the chair.and to Mr Magill for the use of the room, closed the proceedings.