FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 45, 18 March 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

' (STAR CLUB. i ANNUAL MEETING. < The annual meeting of the Star loot- ,j ball CM) wna held in the Town Hall ■ last night. The president (Mr. E. Duck* , rill) was in the chair, and there was a large attendance. 1 ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report as follows was read : —'"The committee regret that tile dub during *the past season was not so successful financially or on the held of ' play as had been the case in past years, it is some slight consolation, however, to know that the nun-success was rather owing to bad luck than to bad management. The misfortune in losing so many player,* during the season, especially tne senior captain |*ur Ryan) undoubtedly had a depressing ell'eec upon inose who wen* left to do battle for the club. In spite of this, however, the iirst junior team were successful in winning the

Carbine Shield, a fact of which the club might justly feel proud, more especially as the team had to beat the winners of o'f the Northern Championship to attain this honour. Their success was to a very great extent due to the excellent training done during the season in the room ! st» kindly lent for the purpose i>y Mr Whittle, to whom the thanks 01 uie club are due. The committee recommend that this room again be procured if possible for the coming season and that members go in for a systematic course of training, as it is only by such a course that they can hope to attain success. Reference to the balance-sheet will show that although we have a credit balance ;G2 IDs Id mere are outstanding accounts amounting to £7 13s tid. it is as well, however, to point out that of this amount .CJ Ss (id is an old account, which for some reason has been outstanding since 1905, and besides this there was an old account amounting to 175 los Oil paid oil' at the beginning of the season. The receipt for the season amounted to £52 Us 3d. The expenditure for several reasons was very heavy indeed, mainly, however, owing to the committee deciding to pay half the train fare* of the second juniors and also half the team's insurance. The committee regret that although the club only decided to pay half the insurance fees some of the players failed to pay their share, and' consequently in such cases the whole of C nc» amount had to be paid by the club. There is every reason to believe that tnis difficulty will lo a very great extent be removed dur-1 ing the coming season, as it is under- 1 stood that the N.Z.R.U. are likely to , commence an' accident insurance fund which wilil enable clulw to insure thei* players at a very low premium. The question of railway fares was another big item and the committee are sorry to say t'lkit some of the players .in tliiscunTicction too did not treat the club with much consideration. It is hoped that a saving might'be effected in future by arranging that cadi player buy his own ticket .and that in the c'aso of the juuioiv where the club pays half fares, by giving notice of motion to the Taranaki Rugby Union to have the northern district divided into two districts for the second junior teams and thus re;luce the travelling expenses considerably. Your committee while regretting that some of the members went over to the professionals last year congratulate the club that the loss is not a serious one, as amongst the number there are none of our young players, upon whom the future success of the uub depends. Unfortunately for the club the annual social was not the financial success that

previous socials have been, but the reason is easily explained and under the circumstances the social committee are -to he heartily congratulated that they did notf lose money on the undertaking. The poor attendance is accounted for by the fact that the Sports Ground Committee held a large public ball just previous to our social and the Hospital ball came immediately after. Under the circumstance* it could not reasonably he expected that much would be made out of the social. Although very little was made it did not in any way lessen the work of the ladies' committee. who tinder the guidance of IMrs Dockrill were responsible to a great ex-

tent for the success of the function socially. To these ladies the club is becoming more indebted each year. The sincere thanks of the club are due to the ladies who have always so ably assisted in all our functions and also to all ■those mho 'have assisted the club in any way during the past season. A word of praise is also due to the local press for their careful reports of all matches and other matters relative, to football. In conclusion the committee wish to impress upon the members the great necessity of getting into form in the early part of the season and bv careful training to remain lit right through. They would also like each player to remember that it is <uilv by working together and attaining combination that a team can hope to be successful." The chairman, in moving its adoption, expressed the hope that members would act up to the good advice received dining tiie ensuing year. The first junior team could not come (Hit much better than they had done and lie hoped •their record during the coining season

would be us good The chairman drew attention to the balance-sheet, on which train fares was a big item, .lie thought that if a man was a " sport" lie would make an effort

to pay his own train fare. Tt was an insult to look to tile club for assistance. The cluli had last season paid the fares

of the second juniors, as they were only boys and did not earn much, but lie thought tlie seniors should be able to pay their fares. Mr. Clarke thought the warning should lie given to seniors, as they ivere the culprits. The report and 'balance-sheet were adopted. IX'SUItAXOE. Mr. Fryberg brought up the question of insurance. 'Last season a member hail belli injiu'eil ad Mi'd received no insurance, and had not had his doctor's fee paid. The secretary said that' the member had not gone on the insurance, and was a'lile to work. lie, with another member of the management committee, had seen the member and told him thai if funds permitted the doctor's lull \Vould be paid. Tlie ■member was to lilame and liUd 110 oau'se for complaint.

ELECTION" OF OI'FICUIiS. The eileetion of ollik'ers for the ensuing . V( " ar resulted .a.s follows: —President. Mr. K iDoekrill (re-elected) l : vice-pres'idents, Hillone, P. .MW'lVride. 1). lV,iwu»rden. -T. Arthur, A. Latlner. Dr. Pookes (all reelected). and .Mr. if. .1. 11. Okev. !M.l\; clul) captain. Mr. H. Pike l , senior delegate, Mr. A. L Humphries: junior delegate, Mr. .1. Cliu'ke; secretary aiirl treasurer, Mr. .T. Clarke: auditor. Mr. 11. Stacker; jnjina<reinent committee/ Messrs L. Hill. O. Fi vl>erg\ L. ltyan. M. M<d\o'v. T. Hopkins. Arthur Pearce, and H. Kvans; senior tselcctors, Messrs L. Pyan, L. llill. and d. Clarke; junior seleetor. Mr L. Humphries. - NKAV I\l EMBKUS. The follo\vhi«; new menihers avcim! elected:-- A. Wilson. E. Bristol. (J. AViixulev. Jerry, Somervilte, Jiurrows. H. Peak. A. Neilsun, U. Walsh, 1. Hulilot. W. Art'liur, Julian. AV. Iluse, W. Hatte:i, IT. Shearer. 1». Ivennedv. Tre.ssider and H. Clarke. (iENEIiAL. It was d-'L-iiled that the Star Club •rive "notice of motion to the Taranaki Rugby Union to divide the northern division into two divisions for second junior teams only, the one division to include the Star, Tukapa. and Clifton teams, and the other to include ln«rle■\vood, Stratford and Klthain teams. The winning teams in these divisions to play off to decide tiie Northern Championship.

The sec re tar.v of the Kecrcatiuu Sports Cround Committee wrote asking if the dub wou'ld noiniiiaU l teams for the seven-a-sidc tournament to be held on the Sports ({round ou April 2!) th. — l;eft to the management committee.

The chairman notilicd that before leaving New Plymouth Mr. F. lliehards had given tlie use of his paddock for practice. This was very thoughtful on his part, and lie proposed that the cordial appreciation of the club be placed on the minutes.—Carried. 'Votes of thanks were accorded to tne ladies, the IMerees' Association, retiring oil'ieers and the Press.

The opening day was left to the management committee. A vote of thanks to the chairman eon eluded the meeting.

The annual meeting of the Tukapa Club will be held on the 25th inst.

At the Star Club's meeting Inst night -Mr. A. Humpliries intimated that he would not havo a great deal of time for football this season, as Ins time was fully occupied. The annual conference of New Zealand referees lakes 'place in New Plymouth abuiil the middle of April. * PATEA CLUB. The animal general meeting of the Pa-ten Football Club was held last Friday. Tim Italawce-slioet, showing a, oredtfc b!alau ( e l eof £IQ Qs, was read and adopted*

I The report referred to the success achieved by the Club on the football field (hiring the past season, the seniors being runners up for tlie southern division, the juniors being third, whilst the third A's won the Taranaki Championship. The finaueialnspeet was regarded as very satisfactory , the Club having a credit balance of iMO lis after having purchased gymnastic material and paid for fencing the ground. The Club had a record membership, the number of financial members being 5)4. The report was adopted. Five new members were elected. The following officers were elected : president, -Mr. G. V. Pearce, M.P.; vicepmadents, Messrs. W. C. Cargill, 11. 0. Clarke, J>. T. Bennett, A. Pearce ; Secretary, Mr E. Hamerton ; Treasurer, Mr G. Beamish ; Captain, Mr C. Sheahan ; vice-Captain, Mr C. Bourke ; Delegate to Union, Mr W. C. Cargill : Management Committee, -Messrs C. Sheahan, T. Sheahan, R. Hamerton, 11. Palmer, F. ' Thomassen, A. Baxter: .Selection Com--1 niittee, Messrs ('. Sheahan, C. Bourke, li. HamerLon ; Auditor, Mr Cargill ; Or- ; ganisers, Mr C. Sheahan (seniors) ; Mr ' W. Fowler (Alton) ;Mr W. Willis .. (Thirds).