FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 257, 28 March 1914, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

r ; YUAXAKi I;. Ci'.Y i'NION". ANNUAL MICKi'INC. ■Tlir unniial'meeting" ul the Taian'.va Rugby t'nion whs In-1.1 at. Stratford Ust night, when there were present: Messrs 3?. T. 'Bellriugcr (president), in the chair, P. Skoghnfiil '(secretary), R. Masters (treasurer), and Lite fc;i:.nv : .ig delegates: Messrs Jan. McLcod and 11. .1. Mynolt (Tukapa), A. L. Humphries and IT. Stoeker-iStar), W. D. Webster (Rovers), C. W. Williams (Moturoa), Jas. Oareia (Olcato), T. Buchanan (Clifton), L. Je Launay and A. Smith (Inglewood), E. Jackson and E. Masters (Stratford), I. S. McKay and CI. Meuli (Waimatc), .1, Crowley and. A. Lees (Ol:aiaw;a), F. IT. Moore anil E. Lees (Kaponga), W. D. Cowper (Ifawcra) and V. Spnrdle (Referees' Association). Eltham and Opunake were not represented. The Moturoa Club was affiliated.

The president formally moved the adoption of the report and balancesheet. This was seconded by Mr. Jas. MeLeod (chairman of the management committee), who stated that the Union had gone back by about £so,just about what the 15. team's matches had cost. This was very satisfactory, especially when one considered that besides the two Ifawcra matches, there was oniy one home match, and it was a very heavy travelling year. No one expected that the B team would pay, as it was all a question of outlay, and he thought that the money was well expended in sending the B team away. Interest in football was well sustained, and the rep. team, particularly in Auckland, Covered itself with glory. He also referred;to tlie'loss sustained by the death of Tamil, who never lost heart and was as "game as a pebble," to the end. '

Mr. A. Lees regretted that the tours' finances were not shown more ill detail. He agreed that the B team had been sent away too late in the season. The incoming committee should-'endeavor, to got three selectors. They were mak'ing too much of representative football to the detriment of the younger players, and he thought thai the delegates should go back to their respective clubs and try and work up a competition among the schools. He also suggested that in future the gates of all play-offs, seniors, juniors and thirds, should be pooled and the expenses paid pro rata. At present the thirds had to suffer in the matter of travelling expenses. Mr. P. Skoglund said l'ie 10 per cent., of the club gates realised £lO. About four years ago it amounted to £l6, which' showed that the public interest in club football was, at all events, not increasing. They had, he said, had many worse years. Only about £3O was now outstanding. The report and balancC-sheet were then adopted. The notice of motion by the Stratford Club to include the lion, treasurer on the management committee was brought forward. It was pointed out that the present rule provided for three members from the southern, three from the northern, and one from the Saturday division. In the Saturday division there were six clubs, and only two in the Thursday division, so that the position was anomalous. After an amendment had been lost to the effect that there should be four representatives from each division, it was resolved that the management committee consist of the president, secretary, treasurer, and three delegates from the north and three from the south.

The headquarters will remain at Stratford. Ollicers were elected as follows:—President. Mr. F. T. Bellriiiger; lion, secretary, Mr. P. Skogluml: lion, treasurer, Mr. K. Masters; delegates to tlu N.'/.R.U., Mr. M. J. Croinbie and the chairman of the incoming committee; auditor, Mr. A. Coleman j management committee, Messrs Jas. Oareia, Jas. MeLeod, A. L. Humphries (northern), A. Lees. F. 11. Moore and J. S. McKay (southern).

The secretary was voted the usual honorarium.

On the motion of Mr. Buchanan, it was resolved that notice of any amendment or alteration in the by-laws of the Union, together with the name of the proposer, must be given in writing to the lion, secretary at least fourteen clear days before the Union meeting, no such alteration to take, place unless all affiliated clubs have received at least seven days' clear notice. Mr. E. Jackson regretted that the Union had not seen fit to play a representative match at Stratford last year. He thought the gates at New Plymouth and Hawera suffered thereby, because the sport-loving Stratford public had not been educated up to representative football.

Mr. A. L. Humphries brought up a question of referees appointed to third junior matches not fulfilling their engagements, and outside men being appointed to fill the gap.

Mr. Buchanan stated that the trouble was that there were not enough referees. Every club should endeavor to bring forward a referee. He pointed out that the Keferccs' Association intended to hold a meeting at New Plymouth to infuse fresh life into the Association.

Hearty votes of thanks were accorded the retiring officers. Mr. -las. MeLeod introduced the question of raising funds to deffay the medical expenses of the late representative player, Tamil.

Mr. Meuli stated that the Waimate Club had £2B in hand towards the fund. A collection was taken up in the room towards that object. Mr. 11. J. Mynott asked whether it was correct that Clifton intended playing Saturday football. If so, he said, it would kill Thursday. football. Mr. JSucbanan said "that the Clifton dub had decided to throw in its lot with Saturday football, because with only three loams competing Ihcy would only play two ThurHa.Ns "out of three, whereas with six clubs playinc on Saturday they would get football every week. On the motion of Mr. de Launav. it was resolved to recommend the management committee to endeavor to get Clifton to play on Thursday. The management committee was re-1

commended to instruct the referees to enforce the rule compcll-jig players to 'play in their proper chit/ uniforms. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. At a subsequent meeting of the management committee, Mr. Jas. McLeoil Was re-elected chairman. Providing that the Eltham Club do not enter a team, it was resolved that Eltham players should be allowed during the coming season to play for any club •bordering the present Eltham district. It was resolved that the northern members interview the Clifton Club re playing on Thursday. The Moturoa Club was granted the colors all white, Mr. R. Masters was appointed the Union's representative on the management committee. Messrs A. Lees, the chairman and secretary were appointed an executive, j The next meeting will be held on Fn. | day, April-18.

TAUAXAKJ REFEREES' ASSOCIATION. •The annual meeting' of the Referees' Association was held at Stratford last evening, when there were present: Mssrs E. T. Bjellringer (president of the Association)., in the clrdir; T. Buchanan ■ (chairman of the executive), A. Lees, J. S. McKay, F. Spurdle and the secretary 1 (Mr. C. 11. Potts). The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of &ii 12s. Officers, were elected as follows: President, the president of the T.R.U.; secretary, Mr. C. IT. Potts; delegates to T.K.U., Mr. F. Spurdle. The secretary was voted an honorarium of, ,£3 ,3s. The president, secretary and chairman, of ,the I .executive will convene a meeting, in .^ew : Plymouth to endeavor to create, nipr-c' interest. It wtip resolved to ask the Union to supply an pfMciaj list of matches instead of ,the Association having to rely on the newspapers. ,'.,'''