NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9090, 15 May 1908, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

WELLINGTON, May 14.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union this evening the following officers were elected:— Patron, His Excellency the Governor; President, Mr G. F. C. Campbell; Vino-presidents, Messrs A. E. Devore (Auckland), Jas. Colvin (Buller), D. Kelly (Bush District), G. 11. Mason, (Canterbury), F. Logan (Hawkc's Bay), J. J. Mclntyre (Hormvhenua), W. H. Maclean (Manawatu), A. R. Thomson (Marlborough), Dr. Andrew (Nelson), J. Hutchinson (Otago), W. Miller (Poverty Bay), F. F. Watson (South Canterbury*, C. Todd (Southland), F. T. Bellringer Taranaki), W. C. Buchanan (Wairarapa), W. Empson (Wanganui), T. M. Wilford, M.P. (Wellington), D. McKay (West Coast); Hon. Treasurer, Mr N. Galbraith; Management Committee, Messrs G. Dixon, H. Kelly, A. Laurenson, E. Wylie, R. M. Isaacs, J. H. A. Laughton, F. G. Wallburton; Appeal Commitee, Messrs J. Hutchinson, F. H. Campbell and J. McCalloway; Hon. Auditor, Mr Oscar Kember. Mr Dixon moved on behalf of the Management Committee that rule 7 of the Ranfurly Shield regulations be deleted, and the following substi tuted: —"In all challenge matches for the shield (as distinguished from an ordinary match) declared to be a challenge match under rule 2, the New Zealand Rugby Union shall, if requested by either the challenging or challenged union, appoint the referee. The challenging union shall be entitled so far as the proceeds of that particular match will allow (atter payment of all actual ground charges, gatekeepers' wages, advertising and other incidental expenses .of the match) to reasonable expenses of transit only incurred by the challenging union in playing the match, any balance of such proceeds shall belong to the union challenged," the words "of transit" were cutout, and the remainder of tbe resolution being adopted. Mr Hutchinson moved, on behalf of the Otago Union, that it be an instruction to the Committee of Management to consider carefully the rules of tho game with a view to their improvement where possible, and that the suggestion of the committee be circulated among the affiliated unions for their consideration prior to their being forwarded to the English Union for adoption. Mr Wilford, in seconding the motion, gave it as his opinion that within the next two years the only game played in the dominion would be that under Northern Union rules—not under a professional code, but under an amateur code.

A long discussion took place, various delegates urging that tco much attention should not be paid to gates or the quastion of pleasing spectators.

It was resolved "That the affiliated unions and referees associations be requested to submit to the Management Committee suggestions for the improvement of the game within two months, and that the proposals of the Management Committee and the suggestions be forwarded to the English Rugby Union as soon as convenient with a request that they may be dealt with before next season.

A lengthy discussion'took place on the question of professionalism, but a number of suggestions submitted on behalf of the Wellington Rubgy Union were rejected.

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