FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 259, 12 April 1915, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI RUGBY UNION. At the annual meeting of. the Tar: uaki Rugby Union on Friday night \i- ! following delegates were present:--Messrs Jas. McLcod and H. J. MymV, i (representing the Tukapa Club), J. S., McKay and D. Ryan (Wainiate), A. j Lees (Okaiawa), James Garcia (Okato), E. Nalder and \V. Cowper (Hawera), W. B. Fcaron and F. Mills (Kaponga*, It. Masters and E. Jackson (Stratford). T. Buchanan (Clifton), J. A. Hansen and A. Dure (Eltham), W. Roeh (Referees' Association), and P. Skoglund (secretary), Messrs J. Gillick and J. F. Moirison, from the Eastern Sub-Union, also attended the meeting. The Star, Ing'.ewood, and Opunakc Clubs were not lepresented. Mr. J. McLeod was voted to the cha'/, in the unavoidable absence of Mr. F. T. Bellringer, from whom an apology was received. THE CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. The chairman stated that the minutes had been burnt in the fire, and these were accordingly taken as read. He warmly welcomed the Eltham Club delegates to the meeting, and also the- icpresentatives for the Eastern Sub-Union. In moving the adoption of the report (already published), the chairman stated that at the beginning of last season the financial prospects looked brighter th.'.n ever before, and they looked like end'ng the season with a substantial credit balance with which to undertake the Southern tour this year. When t,he war broke out, the Union was in credit, with a number of keen and interesting matches to play, but unfortunately after the outbreak of hostilities tliese, with one exception, resulted in a loss, and the Union had to face a Southern toiir this season with a debit of £64, as against £66 the previous year. Under the circumstances, it would be admitted that they had done as well as possible. From the viewpoint of the game itself, the season had been a successful one, though they had lost the shield to Wellington. Still, he W.-.S of opinion that they would have lost it to Auckland ihe following week, owing to the inroads the war made on their team, and it was just as well that the shield should go, round. Possibly Taranaki would be able to regain it this year. The B team had proved its value, as several of its members had afterwards distinguished themselves in the A team. He referred to the fine response made by footballers throughout the Empire to their country's call and said that the Taranaki Rugby Union should bo proud of the resnonse made by its members. Regarding the prospects of the game this season, he did not think that they should be pessimistic on account of having lu?t so many players. Rather should tbiy rndeavor to encourage younger players to take an interest in the game. He did not think so many respresentahve matches should be played. Mr. Buchanan, in seconding, congratulated the committee on the satisfactory position, considering the adverse season. He was pleased that no pessimistic note had been struck. He also thought younger players should be encouraged, and pointed out that this was a unique opportunity for juniors, as Taranaki would be to a large extent dependent on them this season. One item that he commented on was the small charge of .£2 5s for gatekeepers, and he considered that these men, who never got into the limelight, were deserving of thanks.

THE UNION'S .FINANCES. Mr. Skogland referred to the heavy items for travelling expenses and board for teams to take part in home matches. During the past ten years he iiad struggled *to put the Union on a sound financial position, and once or twice ho had succeeded in coming out with a credit balance. Since the advent of I he motor car the expenses had gone up considerably. He pointed out that expenses worked up to £59 Is fid. He saw by notice of motion that it .v.is proposed to pay further expenses next year in play-off matches. lie thought that it was time the clubs tried to give the Union a leg-up as far as the finances were concerned. All through the sea.-on clubs paid their own travelling expenses, and he did not see why they should be unwilling to do the same when the honor of the championship of the province was at stake. Mr. Buchanan pointed out that tne gates at club matches went to the clubs,' those at play-off matches to the union. The chairman remarked that the Ha-i wera Club had notified its willingness j to assist the union. (Applause,) Mr. Mynott referred to the Tukapa juniors' expenses in the play-off matches. When paying the expenses, the club understood they would be repaid, but ike union paid the seniors' expenses, and said there was not enough money for the juniors. Mr. fiarcia thought one or two of the Tukapa junior matches were in the nature of cup ties, and not play-off match's. He favored paying the expenses of juniors and second seniors in preference io seniors, as the younger players needed encouragement. J Mr. A. Lees considered the juniors were as much entitled to expenses as the seniors. He favored pooling the gate.;. Mr. Masters agreed that the juniors had the prior claim. He favored wiuing out the whole payment of expenses. If the clubs could not pay members should do so themselves. Mr. Buchanan considered that if three finals were played the union would bo able to pay the expenses of both seniors and juniors. The question of the issue of complimentary tickets evoked slight discussion, some delegates stating that the.-.e had been issued indiscriminately, the Wellington match at Stratford' bM'.ig specially mentioned. The chairman pointed out that meiibers of the management committee issued official tickets, which were cheeked and numbered. Had these been produced, it would have been seen that there was little ground for complaint. It was decided that two vice-presi-dents be added to the officials (one fnun each district), and that the management committee be increased to eleven, the vice-presidents to be ex officio members thereof. It was decided that the president be elected annually .-lUoniatcly from the Northern and Southern division. I QUESTION OF BOUNDARIES. Messrs fiillick and Morrison, rejive-seufi-p:; the Eastern Sub-Union, brmuiht un Ui- u'-estieti or l-mml-ii-io*. : n„l ~4. nl ;!-.(■ '(lie l m „ndarv anvnied by !W„. ,) !,..::i.- h,-t v.:, r i-houM he :i;r»d jo.! Tie v pi.jut,-.,l net ihiit if en-ne within th-- hsiVs of Stratford, but tint to i!.,-K-h- Toko <*wiisbip meant tliet "ic l,..vnd-:r>- must fine,, f.iirlv c!n--e to S<'-:'!fol-d. If the hound-re \v;=s e>ev, ,] ii would menu thai the 'IV-o Club v.ould be seriouslv ieeoniiiH.dcd. end would not bo able to outer a team. Tliev

also asked that a hard and fast rule should be made preventing players from playing for a district outside their own boundaries. If players from the Sub'Jnion district were allowed to play for ■tratford, it would throt&e the Sub- • ■ Jnion, which had been given the as-air I nee that it would receive every suppoi i l'om the Taranaki Rugby Union. * Stratford Club representatives, w'r.l i vipathising with the Toko Club, ask." I nt the question should be deferred t § ' Diablo their club to discuss the matter ' They pointed out that their district w.isj now the smallest, and they would want extra territory elsewhere. It was according decided that the management committee would meet on Wedne;j,i:.y evening next to arrange the boundaries. At the same time the question of revising the boundaries of the districts in the Southern Division, as brought forward by Okaiawa Club, will bo discussed, and a report submitted to ? meeting of delegates. REFEREES. Mr. Buchanan brought up the question of referees. He stated that the Clifton Club had recommended two men to the association for membership, but that no acknowledgment had been received from the association. It was stated that this was a matter tor the Northern Division Committee. The secretary, who was present, stated that he did not remember bavin* -.•- eeived any communication " The chairman stated that there Iwel evidently been some •misiinderstandbv.-. Referees were only too scarce, and tl, e y should be glad to welcome any men coming forward. In f act , ]le \ ™ ■ every club would be represented. GENERAL. The chairman asked club secretaries to-endeavor to obtain as many honoivrv members for the union as possible Sacral old players had expressed their <Vsire to help the union.in this wav a!-' if each club only received ten it'would tlm " kS WOIC aCCO, ' dC(I tlle »- tiring officers. Mr A. Loo thanked the delegates fathe honor that they had done him „ electing h,m president. He would Z bS? thoiTf i V' , .° «f foeball though ho admitted that he had a mrd task to follow in the footatepVof fos predecessor (Mr. F. T . Bellringe," He expressed-his pleasure at the Z<l of football ,n the Eastern District a also at the revival of the Eltham Club MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE \ MEETING. I At the sub seqm , nt meeting of ti.e Management Committee, Mr Jas Me' Mr tT r" aPPoi,,tod d«>«niian' and' Mr. I. Buchanan representative of th« I EEFEREES^ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Referees' Association was hold at Stratford „'„ being the following notice of motion l,v w n "T ,0r * n M < ' on,mittpo ' whM » ™» «ir-j ned: That the appointment of referees for pay-off matches should be made alternately by the northern and southern committees. In the event of the eppointmg committee being unable to a ■) point a referee for any match, thev wiil< give the non-appointing committee three days' notice." 1