FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE STRATFORD CLUB. I ~ ANNUAL MEETING. Nearly forty members of the Stratford Club gathered at the annual meeting on Friday night. Mr. R. Masters, M.P. (president), occupied the chair. New members were elected as follows: W. Brown, E. Mace, A. Vaughan, C. Johnson, G. Faul, S. Cathro, H. Sleep, W. Webster, «. Dudding, J. Fitzgerald, W. Boon, R. Pattinson. The annual report stated: —From the point of view of the gaune, the season was very successful. Your club entered a team in each grade of the competition, four teams in all; also teams were entered by Midhirst, Toko, and Strathmore as branches of this club, and the Stratford District High School also entered teams in the third and fourth grades. This means 135 playing footballers from this district taking part in the Rugby Union competitions, which is an increase of 45 players. The seniors were third in the A Grade competition. Toko won the Central Junior competition, being defeated in the final. The Third and Fourth Grade teams won the Central competitions and were also defeated in the final. The result must be very gratifying to the players and should act as an incentive to the coming year’s players. The scheme proposed by Mr. McLeod and carried into force last season by the Rugby Union, effected a great improvement In the standard of play, and the result must have been very pleasing to the officials. The Springboks match showed clearly that Taranaki still maintains its position as one of the leading provinces, and that football is fast regaining the ground lost during the war. Unfortunately the balance-sheet shows a small loss on the year’s working.

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said the Club was to be congratulated on the standard of football, and although they were not successful In winning the cup, the juniors had done | well. As to the balance-sheet, he pointed j out that there were special circumstances ‘ which accounted for the position. The financial condition of the Club was on quite a different footing from last season. It would have been better if all the members had paid their subscriptions. The gross takings at Stratford amounted to £165, of which Stratford received £6 ss. He was pleased to note that the interest in the game would appear to be very promising. The chairman mentioned that Mr. Furrie, the new headmaster at Stratford School, was following in the footsteps of Mr. F. Tyrer, be was pleased to say, and had written showing his interest in the game, and promising the sum of £1 Is towards the fund.— (Applause.) During the past year, the work of the various officers had been carried out very satisfactorily, and on behalf of the club he expressed sincere thanks for same to the office-bearers, and hoped the duties would oe carried out in the coming season in the same pleasant manner. Thanks were also due to th< selector, the secretary, and the delegates to the Union, who had taken very great interest in the duties of their respective positions, also to the Press.—(Applause.) The motion was seconded by Mr. R. F. Harkness. The motion for the adoption was then put forward and carried. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. R. Masters, M.P.; vice-pre-sidents, Messrs. L. Furrie. F. Tyrer, C. Jackson, Huston, and T. C. Fookes; club-captain, Mr. C. Gray; delegates to the Taranaki Union, senior, Mr. R. F. Harkness; junior, Mr. C. Jackson; secretary, Mr. R. Wood; committee, Messrs. R. Tyrer, Harold Masters, C. Clark, D. J. Malone, and J. Davey. Mr. Ryan moved that the Club be allowed through appointees to make suggestions to the Union's selector of those players whose claim should be considered as Taranaki reps. Sei ended by Mr. Jackson. The motion was carried. The chairman imoved as a recommendation to the Union that the North-South match be re-instated. Seconded by Mr.' McCullough, and carried. Mr. Jackson spoke eulogistlcally of Mr. Malpne's services as sole selector. He moved that the Club support the principle of a sole selector. Seconded by Mr. Ryan and carIt was agreed to enter a team in each A motion was moved that the ton. members’ subscription be 5s (without privileges). An amendment that it be 10s 6d, half to go to the Union, was carried. The playing member’s subscription was fixed at 2s 6d. It was resolved that it be a recommendation to the committee that the first practice be held in the first week in April. Selectors were appointed as follows -.Senior, Mr. R. F. Harkness; junior, Mr. C. Jackson; thirds, Mr. A. J. Davey; fourths, Mr. Harold Masters. Mr. Masters promised two medals again to Toko, and also two medals to Midhirst. Donations to the Stratford Club have been promised as follows: Messrs. R. Masters (2), C. Jackson, F. D. Gaffaney (.medals). L. Furrie (£1 is), and A. Thompson (football). The position of the Midhirst and Toko teams in regard to refund of expenses from the Union was discussed at length, and the delegates present were advised to send in their claims to the Stratford Club, which would forward same to the Union. An application from the Cardiff Club recently formed, for affiliation under Stratford, was left to the committee, who decided at a later meeting not to place any obstacle in the way. but to lend all the assistance possible, and to allow the club to enter a junior teajn under the Stratford Club, subject to the Union’s approval regarding the grounds and other matters. Mr. Masters donated two gold medals far the year on conditions the committee should decide. Mr. S. Huston donated £5 to the funds. Position of the ohura. During his visit to Ohura last week. Mr. J. McLeod (chairman of the New Zealand and Taranaki Rugby Unions) made Inquiries in reference to the position of Ohura football. At present Ohura play under the Taumanmui sub-union, but Mr. Healy said Ohura was not at all satisfied with this arrangement, and were, in fact, desirous of linking up as a sub-union of the TaranaJci Btigby Union. Mr. McLeod said his union was quite willing that this should be done. It will be remembered that towards the end of last season the Ohura reps, paid a visit to Taranaki, where they played Taranaki B and several club teams. Mr. McLeod promised that a teaun from Taranaki would repay this visit. Mr. Healy pointed out the expense involved in sending a team away. As there was practically no gate money the settlers themselves had to finance the tour. Nothing definite was done in the matter at the time, but there is reason to believe that Ohura will eventually link up as a sub-union of Taranaki GATE MONEY. “Junior” writes from Urenui: —I notice in your columns that the football clubs of the surrounding districts are having their annual meetings or are giving notice of same, whien are signs of the coming season. I would like to bring under the clubs’ notice what I think a most unsatisfactory procedure, viz., the collaring of clubs’ gate moneye by the Union. I believe they should enter a strong protest against this and keep it in mind when selecting their delegate for the union. I believe the Union paid part expenses for senior teams, but what about the juniors? The gates of the latter went the same way. Why should this little bit go to pay for the seniors, or perhaps help make up the Union’s fund in anticipation of a visiting team, like the Springboks or the coming Frenchmen? We look to the junior teams for our coming players, so encourage thean to play, and let their gates go to help them play. I hope clubs will make a stand on this matter and look after their juniors better in future. FRENCH TEAM'S TOUR. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright London, March 12. The Australian Press Association learns that f> -ench team definitely leaves in May and ■•. nuns in October. The team plays a mini- : 01 twenty matches, the majority being ■> Zealand. Seventy-four players have •**» mated for 28 places.