RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 113, 22 February 1941, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE QUESTION. UNIONS’ OPINION DESIRED. i (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, February 21. The advisability of suspending the annual conference of the New Zealand Rugby Union during war-time, because of the need to conserve funds, and because of the expense involved jn such a meeting, was discussed at the meeting of the executive of the council of the union. It was decided to ask Rugby unions throughout New Zealand if they were agreeable to such suspension or whether they would agree to the conference being attended by one delegate only from each union, the expenses involved to be mot by the respective uifions. , The unions are to be asked to forward their views not later than April 2. In the meantime the tentative date of-the annual conference was fixed at May 1. /‘Under the present circumstances it seems to be a big expense in bi'inging delegates to the annual conference” said Mr J. Prendeville. “It seems to mp that we could carry on without the conference and hold the election of officers by postal ballot. During the last war, annual conferences were held, but in those days there were fewer unions and fewer delegates. To-day thre are about 80 delegates. The total cost of sending delegates to the conference, and the other incidentals incurred, would probably amount to about £SOO. The chairman (Mr S. S l . Dean) favoured seeking an expression of opinion from unions. Mr I). M. Spedding thought it desirable to hold the conference if possible. Football was likely to be in the doldrums during the coming year, because of the war, and he felt that the New Zealand Union ought to dp all ir. its power to help the game along. He suggested that the New Zealand Union should pay half the cost of sending delegates, the unions to pay the other half. The chairman: I have been oil this union for 21 or 22 years now, and this year has been, I think, the easiest year we have ever had. There has been less business to deal with than in all my experience. There has been simply nothing vital to discuss.

! REGIONAL TRIAL MATCHES. WELLINGTON, February 21. By a decision to-day, the New Zealand Rugby Union Council will recommend a reversion to the regional system for trial matches in future. There was considerable discussion as to whether or not an annual' meeting should be held this year, in view of fin uncial and other circumstances, and unions are to he circularised' for. their views. „ • ' The executive was empowered to draft a rule to clarify the position regarding the residential qualification of members of the Armed Forces engaging in matches. SELECTING OVERSEAS TEAMS WELLINGTON, February 21. A reversion tO‘ the system in operation before the All Blacks’ English tour ini 1924, where regional trial matches were held in various parts of the Dominion, was favoured by the council of 'the New Zealand Rugby Union at a meeting to-day. It was decided to recommend to the union that .if and when any major tour took plac - * the regional trial matches system as carried out in 1924 i should be the basis of selection for teams travelling overseas. Members of the council, expressed the view that the existing system ol a week’s trials in Wellington, culminating in the North versus South Island match, was inclined to be hard on players and that regional trials woi.d give greater satisfaction. Under the 1924 system, a series of. matches was played in yayious par's of the Dominion, teams being chosen by selectors appointed! to represent the groups of unions concerned. From the selectors acting in these trials the New Zealand Rugby Union’s executive appointed a selector for each island, who, together with l the sole New Zealand selector, cliose teams to represent the North and South Islands. The sole selector devoted his time to seeing the trial matches played throughout New Zealand. The players selected for the trial matches were only those who were available for final selection for the trip to England. .