FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. THE STAR CLUB. 4 ANNUAL MEETING, At the annual meeting of the Star Football Club last night there was an attendance of about twenty-five members. In the absence of the president (Mr. E. Whittle), Mr. A. L. Humphries was voted to the chair. THE PAST SEASON. The second annual report presented by the committee congratulated members on the financial position, the club having a credit balance of £52 13s Bd. Liabilities were nil. It was a sorry plight for the club at the beginning of last season (the report stated), when the seniors could not take their place on the field on two occasions owing to sickness and other causes. By the seniors not fulfilling their engagements the juniors were put in an awkward position. Some members of the executive seemed to lack interest in the affairs of the club, and several who ha/L terp elected did not attend the meetings. The dub finished the season with a total of 184 members. The report extended congratulations to all players for the good fights they put up in again winning the Carbine Shield and to the fourth grade team in winning the competition; also to the following, who won medals:—Senior medal (presented by Mr. J. ‘.Hoskin), Mr. R. Spence; first juniors (Mr. Bertrand’s medal), Mr. H. J. Patterson; second juniors (Mr. A. L. Humphries’ medal), Mr. "W. Deane; fourth grade (Mr. W. Crockett’s medal), Mr. W. Kinlock.

Thanks were expressed to the donors of medals, the ladies and committee who helped to make the ball a success, the smoke concert committee, the Referees’ Association, the Press, and all who helped during the year. The committee impressed upon members the importance of interesting themselves in the management of the affairs during the coming year, and ,hoped all would rally round to uphold the past reputation which the club had earned. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows: —Patron, Mr. E. Dockrill; president, Mr. S. J. Smith; vice-presidents, Messrs. S. G. Smith, M.P., L. Hoffmann, G. W. Palmer, A. Page, F. Rickards, A. Ladner, J. Avery, J. Arthur; club captain, Mr. R. Spence; vice-captain, Mr. A. Richards; auditor, Mr. E. L Humphries; joint secretaries, Messrs. P. Tunbridge and P. Slims; delegates to union, Messrs. A. Spence and G. Bertrand; executive, Messrs, W. Hargreaves, H. ' Patterson, W. Deane, H. McGahey, Pollock, T. Hopkins, and G. Bertrand. COMING PROSPECTS. In connection with the nomination of teams, the meeting discussed prospects for the coming season, and the opinion was expressed by members that much would on the halfholiday question. It was pointed out that if the Saturday half-holiday was carried, It would not take effect until Jprobably the end of June. It was eventually decided to enter senior, second junior and fourth -grade teams in the Saturday competitions. The club will not be competing in the Thursday division. A letter was read from the president of the Rugby Union (Mr. J. McLeod) putting forward a proposal to classify all senior teams in the province in twe divisions, as A and B teams, in order that competitors would be more evenly matched, thus providing a better display for the public and helping forward the game.

The chairman said it appeared that something had to be done to improve football in Taranaki. The Saturday half-holiday, when adopted, might result <in a considerable improvement, but there was still ./something lacking. In former days, when the game in the province was probably at its best, such a system as mentioned by the chairman of the Rugby Union was in vogue, teams travelling right throughout the province. Another suggestion which might be made was that the lowest team in the A grade, at the end of the season, be transferred to the B grade, and the highest fifteen in the B section promoted to the senior division. This would probably result in keen competition, in addition to which there would be the factor that the teams, as graded, would be more evenly matched, and the public would support a good fought out match. Mr. W. Crockett said h 6 thought a protest should be made against the union accepting further nominations of senior teams, as the (number was becoming too large. The chairman said there was no doubt that the excessive number of senior teams had a tendency to kill football. The delegates to the annual meeting of the union, to be held on Monday night, were instructed to support the proposals put forward by Mr. McLeod. GENERAL. The opening day was fixed for the first Saturday in April. Subscriptions were fixed at 2s 6d for players and 5s for honorary members. The matter of insuring players was left to the executive to deal with. The retiring president (Mr. E. Whittle), who did not seek re-election, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his past services to the club, and regret was expressed that circumstances prevented him from again accepting the position. The secretary was voted an honorarium of £5 ss, and the assistant secretary received £2 2s. A vote of thanks was accorded to outgoIng officers, the ladies committee, and the Press. ASSOCIATION GAME. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, March 14. The Association football match between England and Wales was drawn with no score on either side.