FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1921, Page 8

FOOTBALL

REORGANISING THE GAME. DISTRICT SCHEME ABOLISHED. At the annual meeting of tte Taranaki Rugby Union, Mr. Jas. McLeod, on behalf of the Tukapa Club, brought forward the the scheme outlined in the circular to clubs relative to the reorganisation of football in Taranaki. The object aimed at is the improvement of the game and the revival of interest in football. Mr. McLeod pointed out that football had not improved in Taranaki as much as had been anticipated, and one of the finest incentives to good play- was for the public to take an interest in tte game. There was no doubt that the presence of new teams from the south playing in the north and vice versa would give added From the point of view of desirability the scheuie appealed to everyone. The difficulty was in managing and financing the scheme. It was felt that it would not be fair to ask players to ttavel the extra distances entirely at their own expense. The union did not wish to encourage the thought that players were obtaining their Cootball at the expense of the union, and it expected that the union would be able to’refund clubs a portion of the expense. Every player should contribute something towards his own expenses. The scheme could not be expected to pay its own way until after June 1, when the Saturday half-holiday would come into force. He pointed out that there might be a little discontent over the question of grading clubs A and B, but he considered that even if this scheme were not adopted the union would have been faced with the question of grading players, as last year there were players in senior football who had no right to be there.

The scheme, of course, was ‘ largely dependent on the probability of tte Saturday half-holiday, for whereas in the past clubs had to fill up their senior teams with "whatever men they could get, with the Saturday half-holiday there would no doubt be keen competition for a place in the senior teams. Every club had agreed to the scheme with reservations. For instance, there was the question of honorary members’ tickets, and m this connection he thought clubs should be entitled to this money, while honorary members should have free admission to matches played on that club’s ground. The fact tlat the union was to take the gate should be no disability lo clubs, as the union's ten per cent, amounted to £l9, so that £l9O comprised the whole of the clußh' gates throughout Taranaki. This was the only union tha* did not take, the gates, and moreover, was the onlj* union that proposed to pay a portion of the expenses. Some of the bigger unions did admit players free to a? matches, but that would be impossible here, as it would take up too big a proportion of the gate. He thought it would be possible to refund clubs 75 per cent, of their travelling expenses. He finally moved : "This meeting of delegates is In favor abandoning the present divisional district scheme as applied to senior football, and that the senior teams be graded into two divisions, A and B, teams in each division to play each other, and that all details of the scheme as to grading of teams, the fixtures and financial arrangements, be left to the management committee. Continuing, Mr. McLeod said that it had been suggested by Mr. Garcia that the leading team in the B grade at the end of the season should go up into the A grade next year, the bottom team in the A grade to come down into the B grade. He thought this unlght be adopted with advantage, as it would tend to create additional interest. Mr. Wynyard seconded the motion. Something definite should be stated in regard to travelling expenses. Whatever ‘'was decided upon should be definitely stated. He believed the union should control the grounds and take the gate money, and that all country grounds should be inspected by the union and passed by them, the Idea being to improve the order of these grounds. He believed that the scheme on the face of it, had very much to commend it, and the details to which objection were made could be very easily adjusted. The scheme did not affect representative honors, any player, whether he was an A or B player beiijg eligible for representative honors. In reply to a question, Mr. Wynyard said that he did not think the fact that the union intended taking all gates would drive players over to the Northern Union code. Mr. McLeod concurred. In reply to Mr. Taylor, Mr. McLeod said : that his scheme would not affect the junior | teams, and their travelling expenses would lie paid by’the clubs as heretofore. He did not think the clubs paid the travelling expenses of the junior, teams out of gates. Replying to another question, Mr. McLefld said he did not anticipate any difficulty in the grading of the teams.' That would be done by the management committee. Mr. McLeod also stated that delegates should impress upon club secretaries tie necessity of insisting that members pay their subscriptions before they were allowed to play. Mr. Neilson asked if it was proposed to differentiate between the gates of senior and junior matches.— Mr. McLeod replied that it was not intended to differentiate at all, because it often happened that a junior match was played as a curtain raiser to a senior match. Mr. Lynsky said the Kaponga Club enthusiastically/ supported the schehie. He suggested that before two clubs were bracketed together the individual clubs should be asked to state their views on the matter. * Mr. McLeod replied that in regard to the bracketing of Okaiawa and ’Kaponga, this had been done because he understood Okaiawa might not be able to raise a team, but he had since heard that they were raising a team, and the bracketing would not be necessaiy. Mr. Taylor said it was a pity that Mr. McLeod bad not been able to visit the clubs and explain the scheme to them, because his club (Ciifton) had instructed hi<m to support the grading part of the scheme, but not the financial part. He personally supported the whole of the scheme, but had to do as he was instructed. Mr. D. J. Malone pointed out that if a universal half-holiday were carried the gatj receipts would be practically doubled, and a better standard would result. He certainly believed that players in the B grade showing any ability would have just as good a chance of getting representative honors as players in tke A grade teams. He appealed to delegates to ‘ enlist the hearty supporL-of their players for the scheme. The chairman said that the expense of carrying out the scheme, providing they had eight teams in the A grade and six in the A grade would amount to about £450. The gates at present amounted to about £2OO, and, witl? Mr. McLeod, he believed that with the introduction of the ha.'fholiday tlie gates would be doubled. He did not anticipate any trouble with the grading, but if there was that would be adjusted Tiy the management committee. Mr. McLeod, replying, thanked the delegates for the support they had given to the scheme. As regards the objections raised he did not consider them objections, but valuable suggestions towards the improving of the scheme. As regards the grading he believed that ;t was much better for a team such as’ Inglewood to play Eltham than Clifton. In other words, he wanted ti:e grades to be so arranged that it would not be possible to pick the winner at the beginning of the season. in regard to payment of travelling expenses, the basis would need to be fixed by the management committee, say all above ss. He stressed the need for the union getting more revenue, particularly as the time had come when the question of purchasing grounds should be considered*. He did not think the union should be niggardly in regard to travelling expenses, but skould ensure that the players travelled in comfort to the matches. He thanked the delegates for the reception accorded to his scheme, and expressed thQ opinion that the details could be adjusted by the new (management committee. The resolution was then put to the meeting

aud carried unanimously. WAIMATE CLUB. The annual meeting of the Wainiftte Football Club was held on Friday night.. Mr. J. S. McKay was in the chair. The chairman proposed a vote of condolence to Mrs. \V. D. Powdrell in the loss of I:er husband. The deceased, was an old member of the Waimate Football Club. The motion was carried in silence, all present standing. The election of officers resulted: —Patron, Mr. A. G. Bennett; president, Mr. J. S. McKay ; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. Kirk, E. Massey, A. H. Christie, 11. Vine, E. T. Burke, D. J. Hughes, G. Meuli, J. Daley; secretary and treasurer, Mr. T. W. Bridge; delegates to union, Messrs. J. S. McKay and W.. Badley ; (management committee, Messrs. W. Bourke, G. Ryan, W. Badley, and 11. Vine; selection committee, Messrs. J. Christie and G. Meuli. It was decided that two delegates attend the meeting at Hawera as to the new scheme for working the district. It was also resolved that it be a recommendation to the management committee to arrange a friendly match with Kaponga as as jnwiiile.