FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 60, 5 April 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY INSURANCE SCHEME. Among other questions which will come up for consideration at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union is a proposal to inaugurate an accident insurance scheme embracing all players under the jurisdiction of flee governing body. Messrs A. L. Humphries and W. C. Car- , gill (of the Tarauaki Union),.who were appointed to frame recommendations in connection with the proposed scheme, , recommended that each union shall insure at least fifteen players from each of ifo clubs. All representatives in provincial, North and South Island, am. New Zealand tuan/i must be tasurci.. The proposed subscription is 3s lid per member per season. No player shall participate in the benefits of the fund until his subscription has been received. The claims must relate only to injuries received in matches untler the jurisdiction of the union. Unless a player- wuo changes from one district to another procures his clearance from the union under which he was playing at the time he was insured his claim shall not be allowed. Incapacitated players shall receive 30s per week whilst unable to follow their usual occupation, providing that euch time did not exceed twelve weeks. If an injured player shall play football within eight days of the accident or shall receive his customary wages he shall not be entitled to_ participate in the fund. Should an injured plaver be unable to work at the end of twelve weeks he shall receive 10s per week for an additional six weeks, and if still incapacitated his case shall be dealt with as the union deem fit. If a player Is totally disabled ior life he shall receive a further sum of £IOO. In the case of a player being killed or dying within six months as the direct outcome of an accident sustained in a match, his executors shall receive £l2l. Claims Bhall not 1* entertained in cases where (he effect of injury does not continue for seven days'. In order to participate in the benefits of the scheme the player must report the accident within 90 hours of it® occurrence. Power shall be Inverted in the union to appoint a doctor to attend an injured player drawing on the funds. The union shall subsidise the fund, if necessary, to the extent ot £250 per annum. If with the subsidy the fund proves inadequate each union shall be responsible to the extent of a turther 10s per team. It was further recommended that all claims be made through the secretary of the local union. According to the sub-coramitee, the establishment ot any scheme which would provide for the maintenance of players meeting with -accidents would not only cut away the ground from that section ol The community which supported the payment of players, because amateurism Sid not provide for them when mishaps occurred, hut would overcome the objections of many young men who would willingly play, but, in the absence of insurance, were not prepared to take the risk. It was essential from a financial and working standpoinfthat any scheme which was adopted must be applicable to large and small, to city and country unions alike. Under the existing system I in the larger centres doctors' attendance was provided for, but that would be impossible in the country unions. Therefore, the subcommittee (t advisable to increase the amount oi the "payment to injured players and the period over which they were to extend, and further to provide a substantial sum in case oi total disablement or death. Any conclusion as to the average number of accidents was largely guesswork. It was felt that the amount of the proposed contributions would fully provide for all claims. "We hope/' added the subcommittee, "that the unions would regard the recommendations not so much as a definite scheme, but as a suggestion to fill a long-needed want."

RAHOTU FOOTBALL CLUB. The adjourned annual meeting of the » Rahotu Football Club wa6 held on Saturday evening. The report showed that the inauguration of the Western District had been successful, and although Rahotu had not won the championship, they had always been a hard J team to beat. The balance-sheet showed a debit balance of about £4. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Officers were elected as follows:—Patron, Mr. A. W. Hood; president, Mr. Jas. Garcia; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. Taylor, J. F. Phillips, T. J. Smith, A. Cramer, W. Harvey, T. P. Hughson, A. Baker, J. Leng, W. Willoughby, A. GHhooley, E. O'Meara, H. Kitchingman, H. Phillips, A. E. Phillips, S. J. Candish, and D. Pen warden; secretary and treasurer, Mr. 6. WiUoughbyj assistant secretary, Mr. A. Rayncr; committee, "Messrs. H. Baker, J. Rothery, L. Billings, B. Orr, A. W. Phillips, and L. Harrison, with the secretary and assistant secretary ex officio; eluß captain, Mr. A. W Phillips; selection committee, Messrs A. W. Phillips. J. Rotherv, and H. Martin for the first match, and after that the captain, vicecaptain, and secretary be the selection committee. The captain and vice-captain will be selected by the teams at the first match. The subscription was fixed at os. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Chapman for the use of his paddock last season. It was decided to hold a "social" in aid 01 the club's funds shortly.

Writes a London correspondent:—New Zealand had a very able representative in the English Rugby team last Saturday in the person of Dr. A. C. Palmer, of' London Hospital, who played wing three-quarter for England against Ireland, and had a large share in the victory of his side. Another New Zealander, L. B. Stringer, of Guy's Hospital, was taken over to Dublin by the English team as a reserve man, but his services were not called upon. Palmer scored two tries and kicked a goal. He ran with splendid resolution, and his fine speed enabled him to hold Deane, his Irish vis-a-vis, completely in check. 11's first international was a pronounced success, and showed that he should have received his cap earlier. England played up really well in this match, and defeated Ireland on Irish soil for the first time in fourteen years, the score being 11 points to 5. A. S. Hcale, the -New Zealand half-back, has not yet won his England cap, although good judges declare there is not a better half in the kingdom. But apparently England, with an independence which need not be gain,'|aid, shrinks from relying too much mi outside talent. Otherwise I fancy both Stringer and Heale would have been in the international team long ago.