FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 232, 29 March 1912, Page 7

FOOTBALL

THE ASSOCIATION GAME j NEW PLYMOUTH* CLUB'S ANNUAL > MEETING. | The tenth annual meeting of the New Plymouth Association Football Club was held in the club rooms on Wednesday evening. Mr. J. Clark was in tiie chair. In his annual report, the secretary (Mr. B. Gwillim) remarked that the committee was pleased to be in a position to state that the past season had been a fairly successful one. Out of eight matches played the club had won six and lost two In the final for the Julian Cup, New Plymouth was defeated by Manaia by two goals to one. In September the club sent a team to Auckland and after an evenly contested game suffered defeat by one goal to nil. If possible it is the intention of the committee to arrange a similar trip this season to some other district. The balance-sheet showed that the season commenced with a deficit of £5 Is lid, most of which was now wiped off. The balance of as- ■ sets over liabilities was now £4O. ' The report added that the thanks of the club were due to the local press for its able reports of the game, and concluded by suggesting that the schools be approached with a view to fostering the game amongst the boys. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—President, Dr. E. A. Walker; vice-presidents, Drs. Blacldey, and Fookes, Rev. Colvile, Messrs. W. Lints, C. W. Waldock, J. Bennett, W. H. Fletcher, S. Paul, J. Sweet, J. J. Ar-

thur, Johnston Bros, and J. Hoskins; management committee, Messrs W. Goddard, J. Clark, E. A. Elliott and 11. Hedley; hon. secretary, Mr. B. Gwillim; hon. treasurer, Mr. H. Hedley; club captain, Mr. J. Clark; hon. auditors: Messrs J. Holmes and J. Cousins; delegates to Taranaki Football Association, Messrs J. Clark and B. Gwillim. It was resolved to endeavor to arrange a match with the Waitara Club on Easter Monday. ,

The secretary was instructed to apply to the Western Park Board for the use of the Tukapa ground during the coming season.

The annual subscription was fixed at the same as last year.

THE DECLINE OF RUGBY. To the Editor. ■Sir, —Kindly allow me to reply to the statements made at the annual meeting of the Stratford Football Club, and recorded in the Stratford page of the "Daily News." Mr. Dan Malone- stated that the Northern Union people told the players as as an inducement that they would be able to. "cut a pot of money up amongst players." This is absolutely untrue. The Northern Union authorities do not make this statement. What the Northern Union allows players is tea shillings per day whilst the team is on tour, all travelling and hotel expenses, besides finding representative players their uniforms and insurance. As. regards his remarks re turning'sport into a living, it spoils the whole thing. The rules of the Northern Union state that a .player must have legitimate employment and do not allow men to live on the game. Mr. Malone should know that any game is good, and as a supporter of the Rugby Union he should fight fair and not by misstatements and innuendo. We don't keep players in our game, and if Mr, Malone is so anxious about that part of the business why does he not stop club ■Supporters under the Taranaki Rugby Union from keeping players ? Also, how is it that two Northern Union players were allowed last year to play in the Urenui-Mokau competition under the Rugby Union? Is the Union frightened to take action? Mr. Malone says that Rugby lias gone back. It has not gone hack; it is the vast superiority of the Northern Union game that makes the Rugby Union game appear to Jiave done so. Mr. Malone's great popularity amongst Rugby Union players should, I suppose, have nothing to do with it. He draws players' attention to the Rugby Union losses, year after year, but how is it that the Northern Union can send their players away, paying them ; ten shillings per day and all expenses and come out on the right side of the ledger ? This is a problem for the players to solve.—l am, etc., T. P. SMITH, < : Hon. Sec. Taranaki Northern Rugby League.