RUGBY PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 April 1939, Page 3

RUGBY PARLIAMENT

Mr J. F. Thompson, the President of the Union, who presided, said that the report and balance sheet certainly did not provide an exhilarating or hopeful page in the history of Wairarapa football. Many people were saying that the game was in the doldrums but he had been interested in Rugby long enough to know that that was not correct. There must be a silver lining in the Rugby cloud.- Considerable enthusiasm had been shown at recent club meetings, while our primary schools had achieve prominence against other provinces and aWirarapa College was setting a high standard. Those, with the success of the juniors last year, were factors portending to the success of the game in the future. Many gloomy prospects were heard but they were not warranted. There was no question that the game was going through an evolution. The heavy type of forward was now a thing of

the past. Why, he did not know, but apparently they did not breed them any more. Rugby, however, had progressed to a faster and more open game. To a large extent the failure in the past had been due to a lack of physical fitness. The Carterton club was one of the few that really did train and provided the public with the type of football that did not weary them. Last year Wairarapa won no representative matches and had experienced a very poor season. It was up to the players to train and keep fit. They had to play football that would attract the public because without pub-? lie support they could not carry on. It

was to be hoped that the game would steadily come back into its own in the Wairarapa. Since the last annual meeting some stalwarts of football in the Wairarapa had passed to their long rest. Among them were Mr J. Workman, of,Greytown, an old representative player and a splendid forward; Mr C. Sievers, of Martinborough, a former senior repre? sentative; Mr Quentin Donald, of Featherston, whose name was legend throughout the Wairarapa; Mrs R. Cooper, of Gladstone, who had always taken an interest in the game; and Mr iJ. Maguire, whose name went back to the dawn of Rugby history in the Wairarapa. He was one of the men who truly laid the foundations of the game in the district. DECREASED REVENUE.

The treasurer, Mr H. A. McPhee, said that a loss of £46 9s lid was made on last year's activities. With the decreased revenue, it had been necessary to make economies wherever possible

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA UNION Considerable Optimism Shown SEASON TO OPEN ON APRIL 29. (“Times-Age” Special.) An underlining note of optimism for the future and of increased keenness prevailed at the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Rugby Union, held at Carterton on Saturday night. It was one of the quietest meetings in years, few contentious matters arising. Delegates, however, appeared to realise that the standard of play last season fell well below par, and they were quietly determined to do all possible to effect an improvement this year. It was decided to open the season on April 29 with a seven-aside tournament. Mr K. Reid, the ex-All Black hooker, was elected senior sole selector in place of Mr E. McKenzie, who declined re-election.

Opinions were divided on a remit from the Old Boys’ club urging that players whose teams had a bye should be admitted free to other matches. Mr N. G. Raynor said it was not fair that if a player had a bye or was injured he could not have a look at a game.

Mr E. Selby said that the men who provide the sport should be allowed to watch the games. The secretary, Mr E. McKenzie, said that injured players were already enjoying that privilege although the matter might have been over-looked. Mr P. Lynch said the players did not mind paying the shilling, but it was

the principle that they objected to. Because of the charge he knew of some footballers who played golf when their teams had a bye. If they did that for a few Saturdays they would say “to the deuce” with football. Tne Union should not be too hungry. “If a man cannot afford to pay a shilling there is something wrong with him,” observed Mr B. Saunders, who added, “Fifty, per cent of our members are not financial. If they have not a shilling for the game then let them go

and play golf or look for mushrooms.” Mr H. J. McKenzie said the trouble with modern youth was that they did not like physical exercise. There were quite a number whose only real exercise was rolling cigarettes. Many players would be better occupied playing golf or picking mushrooms than sitting

in the grandstand smoking cigarettes. Mr F. Morton disagreed with Mr McKenzie and said it would be much better for a player to watch other teams in action and learn something than be out picking mushrooms. The motion was amended to read that it be a recommendation to the management committee that injured players and those having a bye be admitted free provided they were financial members of their clubs. In that form it was carried by a margin of one vote.

SOLE SELECTOR APPOINTED. There was some discussion as to whether there should be a sole selector or a committee of three, Mr E. B. Booth said that apart from Mr McKenzie, who declined the position, there had been sole selectors who had not been a success. He was in favour of having a committee of three. Mr S. Henson said Mr K. Reid had made a great success of the juniors and there was no reason why he should not carry on in Mr McKenzie's footsteps and do a good job of work.

Mr C. Gray said that if a man was not good enough to be a sole selector he was not good enough to be one of three.

Mr Reid, who was appointed sole selector, said there was plenty of good material among the juniors. If he could do half as good as Mr McKenzie he would be well satisfied.

Mr Thompson said that the rules of the Union were badly in need of an overhaul. At present they were very sketchy, and left little room for a fair interpretation as to their meaning. Mr H. J. McKenzie said that about ten years ago the Union had the rules revised and simplified. Since then however, the clubs had had them amended until they had become a cross-word puzzle. Once the rules were fixed they should not be altered for ten years.

A voice: “Don’t you believe in improvements?”

Mr McKenzie: “That is the trouble,, they have not been improved.” It was decided to recommend the management to have the rules revised.

It was stated that the three Masterton clubs intended holding a football carnival in the park on April 22, to raise funds to have Memorial Park flood-lighted. The president gave an assurance that the management committee would do all it could to assist the clubs. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Patron. Mr W. H. Booth; president, Mr J. F. Thompson; vice-presidents, Messrs C. Smith, ,T. Donald. Q. Donald, E. B. Booth, J. B. Jury. G. D. Wilson, S. Gilman. W. G. Lamb and G .A Vincent; delegates to New Zealand Rugby Union, Messrs E. McKenzie and E. B. Booth; secretary, Mr E. McKenzie: treasurer, Mr H. A. McPhee; sole selectors, senior. Mr K. Reid; junior, Mr G. Udy; auditor, Mr H. M. B. Trapp: management committee, Messrs K. Fairbrother, M. Parker, C. Gray, E. B. Booth. L. Pearson, S. Henson, K. Reid, H. Benge and V. Welch (primary schools). It was decided to open' the season with a seven-a-side tournament for senior and junior grades on April 29. The usual home and home representative matches are to be played against Hawke’s Bay on dates to be arranged by the management committee. A I'rccommendation was passed to the rnanagement committee that prim-

and for the ensuing year it would be necessary to keep expenses down to the lowest possible amount. Receipts last year from club and representative matched showed a decrease of £260 Is 6d. A loss of £7 Os 6d was made in the Accident Insurance Fund as compared with a profit of £2l 18s 4d the previous year. During the past ten years the loss in the fund amounted to £222 18s. Claims and medical expenses paid totalled £865 3s 6d. In an endeavour to augment the funds of the union, the committee had run ’an Art Union which resulted in a profit of £37 10s 9d. It was unfortunate that they were unable to make a start until late in the season but thanks were due to all who assisted in the effort. The liabilities of the Union were £llO5 19s lid, these having been reduced by £366 18s lid during the year. The assets totalled! £2002 14s 4d. 1

ary school teams be allowed to enter the union’s competitions on such terms and conditions as they thought fit. In order to encourage interest in the game it was decided to issue passes to primary schoolboys playing Rugby. Supporting an application by the Featherston Football Club for affiliation, Mr H. Benge said that he understood that the union had experienced some trouble with the Featherston Club in the past. He could assure the meeting, however, that it was all new blood in the club now. A most enthusiastic meeting had been held, and it was proposed to enter two teams in the comoetitions.

The secretary, Mr E. McKenzie, said that during his association with the union he had never had any trouble with the Featherston Club or any other club for that matter. If they would only play better football it would be all right.

It was decided to grant the club affiliation, Mr Thompson congratulating those concerned on the revival of the club and wishing them every success during the season. It was stated that Featherston would probably enter a junior and a third grade team.

After some discussion it was decided that a subsidiary competition, along the lines cf the Redmond Cup, be held this year for third and other lower grade teams. The opinion was expressed that players became disgruntled and lost interest when the competitions finished so early. A recommendation was passed to the incoming committee that there be no restrictions this season on the number of teams entering for the senior competition.

REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAMME. During a discussion on the representative programme for the season, Mr Reid urged that every effort should be made to maintain contact with outside unions. He said it would be a retrograde step for the union not to repay the visits it owed. He moved that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee that the union continue to carry out its usual representative programme and repay the visits it owed.

Mr McPhee: “I say quite definitely that we cannot carry that out. The question of finance comes into it. We definitely cannot tour the South Island this season.”

It was agreed that the management committee give the matter consideration.

In thanking delegates for their attendance, Mr Thompson said that the interest taken augured well for the success of the season.

Votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing officials for their services during the past season.