FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 75, 2 April 1904, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE ENGLISH TEAM FOR TIIE COLON CES, iPcv Press Association.) LONDON, March M. The Rugby football team sails by the Onmw, It consists of nineteen members, including several international players. NEW ZEALAND ItUGBY UNION, j WELLINGTON, March 01, i The manuigvmcut committee of the I New Zealand Kugby I'nion this ev- ' cuing decided that the \nion cannot 1 see its way clear to send a New Zealand learn U> Australia to meet the Englishmen. Negotiations are still proceeding with the New South Wales I'nion in respect to terms ottered by the c olonial union for the visitors to extend their tour 1 to New Zealand. The terms ottered in the first instance were a minimum guarantee of £uuu, together with 75 per cent, of the mitt proceeds of not less than live matches. Subsequently the minimum guarantee was in creased to £75(1. The colonial executive has now decided that the terms bo vuried in me direction of offering to guarantee the expenses of the visitors from the date of departure from Sydney till their return, New South Wales to receive half the nett profits of thu tour in this colony.

TARANAKI IU : GBY I'M ON, ANNUAL MEETING. Tho annual general meeting of delegates was held in the Stratford Hotel on Thursday evening. There were present Messrs Hellringer and Stocker, (Star), Buchanan (Clifton) Spurdle (liiglewood), Standish and Stohr (Tukapa), iiunler fllaweru), | .Jury and Sullivan (Okaiawa), Clarke (Opunake), Kivell (Stratford), Slattery and Christie (Waimate), and McLeod (Elthum). Mr Bellringcr was voted to the chair. The report and balance-sheet were read. Mr Hellringer, in moving the adoption of the report, referred to the heavy expenditure incurred during the previous season, hut considering tho tour made by the rep. team, the Union could not complain of the position. The ensuingyear should be a prosperous one, as the only travelling expenditure to bo incurred was the Auckland tour. Five unions would visit this yetir, and the end of the season should show a substantial credit balance. Mr Spurdle seconded the motion. Messrs Stohr and Jury drew attention to the cost of jprseys and though that at the conclusion of the season all rep. jerseys should be returned. Mr Kivell thought a rep. player should be entitled to retain his jerser. Tho report and balance-sheet were adopted. Kaponga applied for a district, Messrs Guy and O'Connell representing the applicants. Mr O'Connell slated that they would have some seventy players, twenty-one of whom would be seniors.

Mr Clarke moved that Kaponga ne admitted, and Mr Standish seconded pro forma. Messrs Buchanan, Bellringer, Slattpry and Jury opposed the application, on the ground that the players mentioned could play for the Okaiawa team, and that it would be inadvisable to seriously crij>ple any team. The application was refused. The deputation then asked that a new club he allowed to be formed in Waimate district.

The application was refused on the ground that Waimate was not strong enough to run two senior teams.

On the motion of Messrs Kivell and Stocker the J'atea Cub was granted afliliat ion and will play in the liawcra district. On the motion of Messrs Buchanan and Clarke Stratford was appointed the headquarters of the Union. The following officers were appointed for thi! ensuing season President, Mr A. Ilayley ; secretary and treasurer, Mr 0. 11, Arndt ; management conimittei, norther • division, Messrs Buchanan, Bellringer, and Spurdle ; southern division, Messrs Slattery, Jury and Clarke; delegate to New Zealand Kugby Union, Mr C. IT. Arndt ; auditors, Messrs W. Webster and J\ Thompson, iMr Buchanan moved his notice of motion making an nlteralion in rule si'conded by Mr Bellringer and carried. On i\w. motion of Mr Jury ni, amendment was mode to rule • —That in the play-oIY between the winners of the northern and southern divisions nn oulside referee be appointed—Messrs Bellringer, Kivell and Spurdle ami the secretary opposed the motion on the ground that it would lead to friction with the Referees' Association. A letter in reference to the appointment of a lteferees' Controlling Association was referred to the local lieferees' Association. The matter of an Insurance scheme was referred to the management committee . ; Mr Standish gave notice of mo- i Uon for next annual meeting, 1 ■' That every club have a representative on the management committee." Mr Kivell gave notice of motioa for next annual meeting That New Plymouth be divided into two districts." ! A vote of thanks and a bonus of 1 £.lO 10s was accorded the secretary I Mr Jury donated a gold medal for the best forward in the rep. team, and Mr Slattery one for the best back, for which hearty votes of thanks were passed. Votes of thanks were accorded to the referees and press, and one to the chairman, the meeting then terminating.

The new rule adopted by the Tnranaki Kugby Union relating to the appointment of the rcforeo for the play-olf between the northern and southern divisions is causing a certain amount of friction with the Referees Association, and a meeting of the latter body will probably he held on Easter Monday to discuss the situation.