Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 230, 27 March 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

I Stratford, Tuesday. 1 IS RUGBY IN DANGER? MUCH DEPENDS UPON CLUB MANAGEMENT. "Rugby has gone back, and greatly." This isn't the opinion of a tyro at the l game. The words arc those of Mr. Dan J. Malone, an old rep. player, treasurer of the Taranaki Rugby Union, and its selector last season. He said this at the Stratford P.C. meeting on Monday night, and explained that this was his opinion after having seen a good deal of I representative football last year and for many previous years. The remarks fell when he was complimenting last year's committee for the excellent management of the club's affairs, and said he hoped the committee would do as well this year. Good club management, he said, was most important, and "unless something is done, Rugby, whilst it will not go to the wall, "will certainly lose the proud place it has occupied in the past. There is strong opposition from the professional game, he said, and if clubs are well managed this will go a long way to retain the status of Rugby. The Stratford Football Club has always been/ a strong supporter of the Rugby Union, and I hope it will continue to be." Mr. R. H. Cameron, one of the most enthusiastic Rugby veterans in Taranaki, was inclined to concur. It rested with the management committees to decide whether Rugby was to hold pride of place, or whether the Northern Union professional game was to take the lead. jThe Rugby Unions would have to encourage the young players more, and he suggested that juniors' travelling expenses should be paid, for many of the young fellows, he felt, could' hardly i afford to bear the expenses themselves. The Stratford Club was the most expensive club* in the union in this re-1

spect, for so many matches entailed the' loss of a whole day. If the club was "to hold up its end of the stick" the young players must be encouraged. The Northern Union people were holding out the shining penny, and no doubt it was very tempting, but to his way of thinking there was no sport in a game for which a man had to be paid. Mr. E. Young said there had been a j time when this club played the thirddhi time when this club paid the third grade j players' expenses, but the lads formed ■ a clique and declined to be moved up ; into the next grade, as this would involve the loss of travelling expenses. Mr. Cameron: Put them out! Then followed a discussion on the question of the payment of juniors' travelling expenses by the club, and the failure of the Rugby Union to pay the expenses of juniors in play-off j matches. ' ; Mr. Malone said there was this matter < to consider—the Taranaki Rugby Union j hadn't the money to pay these expenses. J This year there was a debit balance, j Some might criticise the extent of the tour last season, but they had to have i rep. teams, and rep. teams must tour to gain experience. He had a word for the young fellows. "The Northern Union people tell you as an inducement that they'll be able to cut up a pot of money amongst players. Look at the Taranaki Rugby Union balance-sheets for the past twenty years, and you'll, see it' has taken the union all its time to make j ends meet; and it wouldn't have been able to do that, either, but for the assistance of some good sports who were ready every now and again to put their hands in their pockets to help the union when it came to sending teams on tour. Where are they going to get the money to cut up? That's what I would like to know. They'll give you one game, and that's the end of you. You just stand down for the rest of your lives. When you turn sport into a means of living, it spoils the whole thing. Mr. R. G. Harkness agreed that a man who wanted paying to play a game was of no good to anyone. At the same time the unions, by adopting insurance schemes and the like, could have prevented the professional game from getting a hold in New Zealand.

A HATFUL OF TROPHIES. Some discussion took place concerning the presentation of medals, and the utility thereof. It was mentioned that last year a medal presented for the best man in the second junior fifteen had been given to the next best, owing to the best mat having earned a similar trophy in 'the previous season; and that in the seniors the medal for the Lest back had been given to a certain player whilst another member of the back division had been chosen to represent New Zealand, the reason for passing him over being, apparently, that he had gained quite. enough medals. Mr. D. J. Malone ventured the opinion that medals should be confined to the junior teams. Juniors were apt to place more value upon them, and the trophies stimulated them to greater efforts, but in the seniors a "star" player might get a "hatful" of medals. The older players were content to secure rs a reward a place in the representative team. This seemed to be the opinion of the majority of those present. j .STRATFORD FOOTBALL CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. At Monday night's meeting of the Stratford Football Club, the chairman, Mr. R. IT. Cameron, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, briefly reviewed the past season, and congratulated the club on its record. Referring to the excellent conduct of the players, Mr. Cameron said that a few years ago rowdyism amongst footballers in some parts of the Dominion was «o pronounced that the public took the matter up, and they were beginning to think that it was time that football was put a stop to. Had all clubs behaved as the Stratford men did last year, and in all previous years for that matter, there would never have been any ground for complaint. In answer to Mr. Malone, it was stated that no teams' travelling expenses were \ paid by the club last year. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following new members wen; elected:—F. Davis. (!. W. llodsrers. R. Whittington, C. Smith. .T. Staples. N. Jennings, T. Marshall, W. Roche, C. E. I James, Sharp. R. Fearoii, YF. Stewart. [ Officers were elected as published yesterday. ' 1 The official opening was fixed for April 18th, and it was intimated that 1 members could get into practice right I away. The committee will probably ar-

* * * * * From Our Resident Reporter. * * <s> * Office: No. 3, York Chambers, Stratford. * * «j» ************* *** + **********<t><iiif.*

range for matches with an outside club on that day. Mr. ]). J. Malone advocated the formation of a gymnasium in connection with the club. ''Gym" work was a fine thing for the players, and tended to keep the teams together. He thought that if suitable premises were secured by the club they would be able to get an instructor, and outside members would be glad to join at a fair rate of subscription. Mr.' Malone trusted the committee would seriously consider the matter.—Other members concurred ,and it was suggested that the club should use its funds in the erection of a suitable building on, 1 say, a municipal reserve, which the Borl ough Council would doubtless lease at a low rental.—The following gentlemen were elected a committee to make enquiries and report to a future meeting of the club on the question of erecting and equipping a gymnasium:—Messrs. B. H. Cameron, J. Thomas, R. Masters, R. G. Harkness, D. J. Malone, E. Jackson, and the secretary. Mr. E. Masters mentioned that the duties of the Territorials under the new defence scheme would possibly interfere with the members' football, and, upon it being mentioned that Captain Lampeu was always willing to smooth over difficulties of this kind, Messrs. Malone and Skoglund were deputed to interview him in the matter. Votes of thanks were accorded Mrs. i H. Richmond, Messrs. C. Jaekson, T. C. Fookes, and Mullen and Marshall for donations of medals. Mr. {.'. Jackson again donated a gold medal for the best player in the third division, > Mr. Young said he had been authorised by Mr. T. C. Fookes to make an offer | of a guinea on his behalf towards a trophy for the man doing the most solid preparation in the club. Mrs-. Richmond had also promised a medal for this season on the same lines as last year's. Mr. C. E. James and Mr. H. J. Thomp-1 ! son offered footballs this year.—Votes j of thanks were accorded the donors. I

On the motion of Messrs. J. H. Thomp- j son and B. Fearon, it was decided to place on the minutes the members' appreciation of the services rendered to the club by Mr. R. N. Melville, a senior player for years past, and Mr. R. D. Brown, the former secretary, both of whom would be absent this season. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the outgoing committee for the successful management of the club's affairs, and to the club's delegates on the Rugby Union. BOROUGH VALUATIONS. j The assessments of values of properties in the borough have now been issued J by the Valuation Department. Since | the previous valuation, about seven I years ago, land in Broadway L.s been J raised in value from £3O in days "i to -£GO a foot frontage to-day. In the] outlying portions of the borough the j increase is about. 10 per cent., and in many cases less. J STRATFORD POULTRY SHOW. | Mr. C. Downey, secretary of the Stratford Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society, has received intimation from the North Island 'Poultry Association that the White and Barred Plymouth Rock j championships have been allotted to the local show, to be held on 3rd and 4th July. The local association is especially liberal in its allotment of special prizes. They are to be given for best laying strain in white and black, and colored birds; best table bird, three similar classes; best Minorca, Langshan, Whiter Leghorn, Brown Leghorn, best Barred and best White Rock; best Orpington, each color; best Wyandotte, each color; best black, white and colored birds in the show. '. STRATFORD ELECTORATE. If there was one returning officer more than another who had cause to feel proud of the satisfactory manner in which the polls at the numerous pollingboots were taken, Mr. F. Bird, registrar of electors and returning 'officer for the Stratford district, was that man. Not a hitch occurred in any single instance; in fact the promptitude with which the returns were forwarded to the head centre from long distances after the polls closed was a matter for comment, and Mr. Bird received many congratulations locally and from other parts of the Dominion, on having put up a record. Registrars of electors have a very great responsibility thrust upon them, and unless they observe the law most minutely are likely to bring a hornet's nest about their ears; indeed, and the very observance of the law apparently causes the same result. It is some months since the general election was held, yet there is still linrest in some quarters in Stratford, I believe, over what is termed Mr. Bird's wrongful striking names off the roll. In a conversation with Mr. Bird the other day, I asked him what the fuss was about, and he replied that in several cases where he had good reason to beI lieve certain persons had left the district, he sent out the usual notices, and these notices coming back unclaimed compelled him under the electoral law to strike their names off the roll. Had he failed to do so he would have acted illegally, and having done so he has incurred the ill-will of a certain section of the community. Those who know are satisfied that the Registrar of Electors for Stratford carried 'out his duties in the most capable and upright manner, and those who are endeavoring to impeach him are beating the wind.

GENERAL NEWS. That grapes, under glass, can be successfully grown in Stratford is amplv demonstrated by the splendid yields obtained by Mr. IJ. McK. Morison at his nursery. There are also a number of other settlers—both town and country——who have their vineries, which are more than compensating the owners for the time and trouble spent upon them. Of those J may mention Mr. J. W. Boon, on the East road, who lias had some splendid bunches of luscious black grapes this season, although the vines are comparatively young. Even now, after cutting freely, there are bunches of ripe fruit hanging, some of which would nearly reach two pounds in weight. Needless to saw T sampled them, and thev were of the finest flavor. Away back in the bygone ages, when Stratford was a sort of Ncver-Never country, it was fashionable, or usual, or customary, to ulant posts on road corners, not that they were expected to grow, of course, but to warn neople in the most polite* manner possible that they must not ride or drive round the corners in too close proximity to the fences, this precaution being necessary for the protection, of foot-passengers,

who, like the customers of the subterraneous barber, seldom or never came. As time went on, and telegraph or telephone services were extended, these poles were made to serve the purpose | absve-mentioned and aforesaid. Most of | the old oorner-posts have long ago disappeared—removed, probably, by, some I neighbor whose firewood heap was in I need of replenishing. But one remainsone, at least. It rears its objectionable I head near the middle of the footway at I the corner of Regan Street and Brecon lUad. Any stranger wandering in that 1 direction needs to keep his eyes about him if he's wandering by night, else he'll have a collision when he least expects it. From time to time our sapient borough councillors discuss coolly and collectively, or heatedly and spasmodically, whether or not river shingle makes good roads. Opinions are divided, unmistakably so. There can be no two opinions, however, as to whether or not round river stones are comfortable as ingredients of the loose surface of a footpath. ' Stones weighing about'fifteen and a half ounces, even when closely surrounded by fine gravel, are apt to make pedestrians anything but sweet tempered when these young boulders are used on footpaths for gravel. There are one or two footpaths in the borough where the footpaths are made of this stuff, and a rake or a napping l hammer would make an improvement. If these stones were thrown on to the roadway they'd make food for another debate. The order for the McLaren steam road roller and Morrison scarifier for the Stratford Borough Council has been cabled to England. The strikes at Home may cause delay in delivery. ( The Stratford Muncipal Brass Band will play at the Toko sports on Thuiedav. Mr. A. Cliff, the North Taranaki Hunt Club's huntsman, accompanied bv the local committee, visited Ngaere and Midhirst to-day with a view of inspecting and securing the permission to hunt over properties in those localities. In every case the farmers and landowners were most courteous, and permission was obtained to hunt over about a thousand acres -of splendid land at Ngaere and a similar area of good hunting country on the Beaconsfield road. '. Mr. J. F. Batey, formerly manager of the Stratford dairy factory, has sold his farm at Waipuku. Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P.. has presented to the Egmont Club an enlarged and framed photograph of last year's Taranaki representatives, f Mr. F. Gooch's little bov was run over on Sunday, but was not seriously injured. Swift retribution! On Sunday a man hit a horse with a rail or something similar. The horse kicked out, and the man's not feeling well now.

BOILER MAKER ATTACKED. "While working in the Government service as boiler maker," writes Mr. J W Watkins, Pelichet Bay, Dunedin, N.Z., "I developed a liver complaint and was often gripped with severe pains across the body. Nothing gave me any relief until a chemist at InvercargiK strongly recommended Chamberlain's Tablets. The first bottle gave me great relief and I now enjov good health." KICKED ON THE KNEE. When preparing his horses to carry people to the Bulls races, Mr. Duncan H. Stevens,' of South street, Feilding, N.Z., was kicked on the knee by one of his animals) and could not stand for hours. He states:—"l immediately applied Chamberlain's Pain Balm, with wonderful results, for the next day I was quite recovered. I am confident that I would have been unfitted for work only for this wonderful liniment. I am only too pleased to make this statement, for I know that those who work around horses are only too pleased to hear of such a valuable liniment as Chamberlain's Pain Balm." *