FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 258, 22 March 1913, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

TvUCI'.Y UNION RE POUT. •Dip.annual report to bo submittal by the management eommittee of the Taranaki Rugby Union to the annual meeting •of delegates at Stratford on Friday evening next, states that the season 1912, while not as successful as anticipated from tlio financial standpoint, was nevertheless strenuous and enjoyable for players aid public. No fewer •than nine representative names were played, eight being home matches, while a specially arranged game also eventuated 'with Wellington. Of the nine represent I'ive game;, l-hose against Wanganui (2), Moiiawatu, Wellington. Canterbury and South [slam! teams were won. end against d: 120. Auckland and Wairarapa. lost. Tl>e friendly game with Wellington was also lost. The Ranfuriy Shield ehr.Mcng.-i game was lost- by the narrowest of margins after a Very keen struggle. Financial.—]n common with sister unions, the season was not a good erip financially, the weather on the o;-ct»ion of the majority of matches militating against large attendances. standing the comparatively small average gates, and the increasing of playing these matches, the debit balance of £2l at the commencement of the season had been reduced to .1:7. Wliile players as a rule were not unmindful of the lion-buoyant state of the Union's finances, the fact that the travelling expenses of players in rep. matches, selectors and the committee amounted to £l4O for home matches alone, and the cost of entertaining visiting teams to

£4O, should serve to show one of the disabilities the Taranaki Union labors under, compared with the metropolitan unions, whose players were placed 011 the field at the cost of virtually a tram fare. The touring account (to Auckland and 'Wanganui) absorbed £ll7. There was a possibility that this season a proposal would be forthcoming from Auckland in the direction of improving the financial positions of the respective unions and Wellington.

Club football.—The standard of plav during the past, season showed 110 evidences of deterioration, although in the northern division clubs suffered severely from the divided holiday and other local reasons. Unfortunately two old-estab-lished clubs (Eltliam and Inglewood) found it impossible to put senior teams in the field, hut it was hoped that this season thev would resume their senior status. There was a. noticeable absence of rough play during the. season, and the eommittee had fewer eases of this misdemeanor to deal with than for some years past.

School football.—lt had been hoped, had the finances permitted, to have instituted a comprehensive scheme of graded school football embracing the whole of the province. The encouragement of tlie'Rugbv game in the schools is of the most vital importance, and it is recommended tint the incoming committee go fully into the question with a view to devising some means whereby the various clubs may be induced to take an active interest in the schools within their several districts.

Half-holiday.—An effort was being made to bring about uniformity in the matter of the half-holiday in the province, wherein no fewer than three separate days were observed. There was more than a reasonable possibility that Xew Plymouth, Waitara, Inglewood. Stratford. 'Eltham and Hawera would take a poll on the question next month, and it was to be hoped that footballers, as a body, would make their votes felt on the question. Representative teams.—The past season made henry demands on the time of representative players, and it will be well to consider the advisability of regularly placing an A and B team on the field, the former to play only, sav. Auckland. Wellington, Wanganui, Canterbury and Otago, and the Ti team to play the other unions with which the I nion had enff.ngenn nts. T.v this means there would he greater inducement for players to excel ill club games, more ■players would retain their form till the conclusion of the season, and the public would be benefited in witnessing a more even standard of play in the representative matches. Gates suffered when a "soft thing'' was anticipated.

('lab championships.—The provincial championships were won as' follows: First grade, Waimnte; second grade. Waimate: third grade. Clifton. Old players.—D-.iring the season it was decided to revise the roll of honor, and to issue lion, life members' tickets to

all past players who had represented the province on the field, and to those who had been prominent in the management of the Union in past years. A life membership carried with it the privileges of the Union and they were sure this recognition of the services of old players had the endorsement of Rngby followers of to-day. Alt'. Bayly Scholarship.—The 1012 Scholarship was won by Master Ernest Coutts, of the Stratford District High School. fn conclusion, the committee had to thank the press for the prominence given to the game, the Referees' Association for its assistance and co-operation, and playrrs for the worthy manner in which ther upheld the good name of Taranaki football. OKATO CLUB.

The annral meeting of the Okato I'oothall Club was held oil Wednesday evening. Mr. 11. T. l'ooker presiding over an attendance of 20 members. The bal-i'nee-sheet, showed receipts to have been fl.'i ISs .Id. anil expenditure £!) (is Kd. leaving a credit balance of £(i lis Oil. which was considered very satisfactory. Officers were elected :'.s follows:—Patron Mr. .1. Putt (re-elected); President. Mr. li. T .Hooker (re-elected): Vice-Presi-dents. Messrs. .1. S. Fox. AV. IF. Hawkins. S. A. Dailcv, \Y. Hibberd. .T. M. Bothery, I) .Green wav. A. .1. I lie ha ids and llev. Addcnbrooke; delegate to the Taninaki l'ligby Union. Mr. .Jas. Garcia (re-eh-ct-cd): Secretary. Mr. ,1. ],. I'ower (reelected): Selectors. Messrs. K. I.arsni. F. Mahine and L. Carey: .Mr.nagelUVllt l'milli)i|ie». Me-s:-s. 1!. ('. Lir-eii.

■I. i.. Power. The annual subscription !!:;cil for F-s-hiniav. SiUli inst.. a nil lite Mi!-oil v !!' he o;: ; !!" 1 the followhf?' < ti • urdav with a match squint Kcni Olcaio. 'lhe club will oilier a team tor the Salnrday co-ainct il ion. and 1< wll lie (lie charge |'<,r a.!iiiis>ioii to all maN lies. Messrs. Hooker and Malone vneroiody donated jrohl medals, tlie former for ihe most improved forward. mil th" latter l'oa ih» most improved hack daring (lie cnniiiv season. Votes o! ihankfor pa-t so rviees were areorded 'N'essr-. Putt. I iire-itiem ). .las. (hircia Idebar it"), •I. 1,. Power (siH-retiiry). and the I'iv**.

T!ia annua! meeting of the Tarvaaki liefer .\-soeiation wi" be lieol ai Stratford, r7 oViork on I'lidae cvi><iii<</. Two ftotices of motion to li- considered are as follows: (|) Thai the president iit the asso-iation be the iiresident (for the tile., lieinu'l of th" Tarauaki llupb ' Union: (2i lhai the delegate to the annual meetiiv; and eoilfrrenee of the X'ew Z'alaie! !li-.'eries" A-m iai:i t iou be a;ialtenea'elv iioui eaeh o'v'siotl. The ai'itua! Imhiiiee-lieet of the Tarauaki' A--oci '' ion - s a credit l.ala>i"of, £lO 17s r.d, ;tII i:i:pi'v)\ ( uieut of 1JCd on last vear.

Clubs arc now beginning to get busy in tin; Mattel 1 of holding their annual meetings. Tliev will need to be, if delegates arc to be appointed in time for the annual meeting of the Union next week. It is pleasing to chronicle that Eltha.ni. who were in such parlous straits last year that a senior fifteen could not be put in the field, are early with their annual meeting, and was a'well-attended one, too. This augurs well for the prospects of the club for the forthcoming season, and wo. hope that the magpies may be seen out again in their pristine strength.

Mr. Xuttall. who presided over the meeting, remarked that it was gratifying to see so many present. They luid had a heavy struggle during the past season, hut looked forward this year to entering a team in each grade.' The balance-sheet showed receipts to be £3l As lid. expenditure £3O 4s lid, leaving a balance in hand of £1- ss. Assets were valued at £1.5 ss. About twenty new members were elected, and among the officers chosen were Mr. C. Ford secretary and Mr. IT. A. Xuttal president. It was reported that Mangatoki players would support the club strongly. The season will be opened on April 3 with a seven-a-side tournament.

At a football meeting in Wellington the other night, reference was made by one speaker to the question of reinstating those players who have forsaken the Rugby ranks for the League game, and are now desirous of again becoming amateurs. He said lie was strongly in favor of the Union taking a leaf "out of the AVellingtnn Athletic Association's book. This body got over the difficulty bv reinstating the applicants, on condition that they "stood down" for a term. When a young fellow made a false step, an older man would take him by the arm and put him on the right track again. He would like to see the Union adopting a "paterfamilias'' attitude, and do likewise. It was his intention to move for consideration of the matter at the annual meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union.