FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 42, 15 March 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI RUGBr ONION. I The annual meeting of delegates takes' place in the Stratford Hotel, Stratford, on Friday, March 20th,- at 7.30 p.m. Notice-, of motion must reach the secretary by l'Jtii inst. The annual report and balance-sheet states that the committee has pleasure in congratulating delegates on the position attaineed by the representative team last season. Of seven ordinary matches played our representatives won six, losing only to Auckland, at Auckland. The matches won were against the Anglo-Welsh team, Wanganui, Otago, South Canterbury, Manawatu, and Wellington. A special visit was made to Wellington, hut as a very weak team was sent it was not successful. Provincial Championships.—Senior Di.vision: Okato, Tukapa, and Waimate, the winners in their respective districts, played off, Waimate being successful. Junior Division: Opunake, Tukapa, and .Waimate were left in the final, Tukapa being successful. Second Junior Division: Eltham and Patea were left ia the final, Patea being successful. Finance—The balance-sheet shows a surplus of assets over liabilities of £57. It was anticipated at the beginning of the season that your committee would at this meeting be able to present ai balance-sheet showing a record credit balance; however, bad weather was experienced for both of our most important home matches, namely, Otago and Wellington, and the gate receipts did not realise more than half of what was expected. It is also thought that playing the Anglo-Welsh match so early in the season affected the attendance at subsequent matches. Western Districts.—Last season marked the inauguration of a Western district, and results have proved that the forming of this district was a step in the right direction. Ahool Football.—Last year four school "Be in progress, namely, three primary sohorl competitions and one district ■high school competition. As the schools are-a training ground for our future representatives, the committee has done its best to encourage these competitions, and the thanks of the Union arc due to the teachers who so ably conducted them.'

Professionalism—The committee regrets that professionalism has found its way into Taranaki, lint hopes that the movement will not attain to any larger proportions than it did last season. Tiie players taking part have been disqualified. Alteration of the Laws of the Game.— A- meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union is being held on the 18th inst., to consider the advisableness of adopting certain alterations in the laws of the game, and the results will be known in time for the annnal meeting. N.Z. Representatives.—Three Taranaki players, viz., McssT9. Hnnter, Cam.eron, and Coleman, earned New Zealand representative honours last year, and H. Mynott played for North Island against the South Island. Our local representatives had an arduous and trying season last year, and the committee wishes to thank them for their loyalty to the Union and the manner in which they enabled the Union to carry out its engagements. The Eltham Club, seconded by the Star Club, has given notice of motion that the following rule be added to Bules for Cup Contests: "In the case of a club entering two teams in the same grade, players may not be transferred from one team to the other without the sanction of the Union."

It is* now stated that the profits on the British football tour amounted to only about £9oo—a result which is considered somewhat disappointing. Although some months have elapsed .since the tour was concluded, the New South Wales and Queensland Unions linve not yet made a final settlement of accounts with the New Zealand Union.