TARANAKI RUGBY UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1916, Page 7

TARANAKI RUGBY UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Kugby Union was held at Stratford on Thursday night. Present: Messrs •las. MeLeod (Tukapa), in the chair, T. Buchanan (Clifton), N. B. Fcaron (Kaponga), E. Nalder and J. Goodwin (Hawera), R. Masters (Stratford), J. Garcia (Okato), R. Morison (Eastern sub-Union), and P. Skoglund (secretary). ANNUAL REPORT.

The report for last season showed that while the game was kept alive and fixtures fulfilled so far as was reasonable, there was naturally lacking the usual enthusiasm for the game itself. The ranks of all the senior and first unior teams were very heavily depleted and some clubs were unable to see the season through. As could only be expected the season financially was not a flourishing one, but notwithstanding the large falling off in revenue the expenses were kept sufficiently low to enable the Union to nearly pay its way. The splendid response made by the football players of Taranaki to" the call to arms was a source of gratification to everyone who had been connected with the game of Rugby, and to the hundreds of Taranaki players now heroically upholding the honor or New Zealand on the battlefields of Europe and Asia, the Union offered its gratitude and sincere wishes for their welfare, although certain that whatever their lot, they would play the game. To the relatives of the many who had made the supreme sacrifice the Union offered its sincere sympathy. The consolation was that they, did their duty, and, "How can man die -better'/" So far as possible records of footballers who had enlisted had been made, but complete lists could only be made by club secretaries interesting themeslves personally in the matter, and it was hoped later to issue a complete roll of honor, showing the thoroughness with which footballers answered the call.

For the coming season the committee had no recommendation to make is it was extremely doubtful whether there were sufficient players left to enable any senior or first junior teams to be formed in. the various club districts. (Ecorts should, however, be made to encourage the game amongst those not yet e'Jgible for service and also in the schools.

During the past season, representative matches were played against Wellington, Auckland (2), Wanganui (2), Taranaki being successful in one match' against WangsAui.

The senior club championship was won by Hawera, the first junior by Tukapa, and second junior by Kaponga. The Bayly Scholarship was won by Webster, of New Plymouth. The holder of the second Bayly Scholarship, the late C. Crone, who laid down his life at the Dardanelles, was mentioned | in despatches for bravery worthily up- [ held the honor of the Union's scholarship to the last. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report an'd balance-sheet, remarked that the season had been a very slack one. The Union had fulfilled its engagements in representative matches as far as possible, just as the clubs had done. It had beeu difficult to make ends meet. Matches that would have produced £l2O or £l4O in oilier seasons only in one case exceeded £SO. Considering the falilng off in receipts, the financial result was satisfactory. The playing season was just what might have been expected. One might enlarge on the way in which footballers had enlisted, and all felt proud of the young fellows that had gone to the front and in some cases had laid down their lives. One felt proud at hiiving been associated with them. The men had only done their duty, just as they were expected to do. Mr. T. Buchanan, in seconding, referred to the fact that the clubs had responded well in wiping off the liability last year. Stratford, Hawera and Kaponga had given cash donations and Clifton and Waimate had also given donations.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. - ELECTION OF OFFICER& Officers were elected as follows: — President, Mr. T. Buchanan; Vice-Presi-dents, Messrs D. Malone (North), and J. D. Crowley (South); secretary, Mr. P. Skoglund (re-elected); treasurer, Mr. R. Master (re-elected); auditor, Mr. J. H. Thompson; management committee, Messrs Jas. MpLeod, T.' Buchanan, J. Garcia (North); K. Nalder, W. B. Fijiron; and a third representative from the southern end, to be elected. The Eastern sub-Union is also to be asked to appoint a representative. Delegate to the N.Z.R.U., to be appointed by the management committee. Vive-Presi-dent on N.Z.R.U., Mr. T. Buchanan.

THE COMING SEASON. The chairman said that he certainly agreed that eligibles should not be allowed to play football. It was not advisable that football should be stopped altogether, and he suggested that a competition should -be organised among senior cadets, all of whom were under IS. Four teams could possibly be raised in New Plymouth, two in Stratford, and teams could also be raised in Waitara, Inglewood, etc. Mr. Buchanan suggested that some provision should be made for lads over the age of 18, who were automatically released from the cadets.

Mr. McLeod moved that .i competition be organised for senior cadets and also lads ander 20. Mr. Buchanan seconded.

Other members were of opinion that it would be advisable to confine the competition to cadets. If "players of 19 were admitted a separate competition should be held. A competition among the cadets should be productive of considerable interest among the various companies and should also be the means of improving the game in the future.

An amendment by Messrs Masters and Nalder that the competition be confined to cadets was carried. Members of the Union will interview the Defence officers on the question of :■!■</:i ni*iiif teams

On ll' motion of Messrs Garcia and I'eit: .ci. it was resolved that the affiliatioi' lb. ur clubs should be 5s this year in-"--, -i the customary £2 2s, owing 1' «'■ .act that there will be no club

J- iva; resolved to ask the Strath|iniiii L'!ii-b to forward the Masters Shield tit.'. Union, who will hand it over t» i'l'-:>'j» last year's winners. ,•. waiter of compiling a roll of '""aor of playe»s. who have gone to the dost was left in the hands of Mr. isrcla. Owing to tne straitened financial position due to tkc effect of the, war the customary bonus was not voted to the secretary, whose- work in the interests of the gante was generally recognised. The secretary remarke/1 that he would Ggt (we-yt a bonus.