NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 116, 15 May 1908, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. SHIELD REGULATIONS AMENDED. A LENGTHY MEETING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The annual meeting of the delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union took place this afternoon and evening, the following being present:—Auckland, Messrs. G. H. Dixon, D. Gallagher, F. S. Murray, C. V. Langsford, and M. J. Sheahan; Buller, Messrs. H. Kelly, Lynch, and M. Scanlon; Bush districts, Mr. E. Darley; Canterbury, Messrs. W. G. Garrard, G. H. Mason, ' and F. G. Wallburton -, Hawke's Bay, Messrs. F. Laws, W. J. McGrath, L. Sievers, E. P. Smyrk, and D. D. Weir; Horowhenua, Mr. J. G. Hankins; Manawatu, Messrs. F. Pirani and A. N. Gibbons; Nelson, Mr. A. G. Shrimpton; Otago, Messrs. J. Hutchison, R. M. Isaac, and A. Laurenson; Poverty Bay, Mr. C. Lusk; South Canterbury, Messrs. W. Drake and E. Wylie; Southland, Messrs. J. S. McGrath,*T. D. Lennie, J. Laughton, and J. A. McKay; Taranaki, Messrs. N. Galbraith, G. Fache, and A. Humphries; Wairarapa, Messrs. A. B. Charters and H. F. O'Leary; Wanganui, Messrs. I. Hyams, G. H. Pownall, and L. Craig; Wellington, Messrs. E. Hales, I. A. Hunter, J. Lynskey, H. Mclntyre, H. Roberts, and T. M. Wilford, M.P.; West Coast, Messrs. G. Clark, W. Perry, and i Dr. J. W. Mcßrearty.

A sympathetic resolution was adopted concerning the death of Mr. Alfred Bayly, late president of the union. On the motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet being put, Mr. Pirani asked what information had been brought before the Management Committee with regard to the conduct of the last New Zealand team in Australia. Intimation was made that nothing was before the committee except the manager's report, which made nothing but complimentary reference to the team.

With respect to the grant of £200 made for fostering football in the public schools, Mr. Hunter said he was opposed to the spending of £44 in the purchase of trophies, which was really the underlying principle of professionalism.

Mr Hunter moved, "That rule 35 be struck out." The rule gives the Management Committee power to enter into an arrangement with the. Xew Zealand Football Association, or with any other amateur sports body, or association, whereby the disqualification of any such body or association and union respectively shall be mutually recognised and enforced after notice has been sent to affiliated unions of any such arrangement, all disqualifications reported to the union by any such body or association, and communicated by the union* to an affiliated union, shall be observed as if the same were a disqualification imposed under rule No. 34.

After discussion the motion "was carried by 24 votes to 15.

The following officers were elected:— Patron, his Excellency the Governor; president, Mr G. F. C. Campbell; vicepresidents. Messrs A. E. Devore (Auckland), .Tas. Colvin (Buller), D. Kelly (bush districts), G. H. Mason (Canterbury), F. Logan (Hawke's Bay), JMclntyre (Horowhenua), W. H. McLean (Manawatu). A. Rl Thomson (Marlborough), Dr Andrews (Nelson), J. Hutchinson (Otago), W. Miller (Poverty Bay). F. G.Watson (South Canterbury), C.'Todd (Southland), F. T. Bell-ringer

(Taranaki), W. C. Buchanan (Wairarapa), W. Empson (Wanganui), T. M. Wilford. M.P. (Wellington), D. McKay

(West Coast) ; hon. treasurer, Mr IV. Galbraith; Management Committee, Messrs O. Dixon, H. Kelly, A. Laurenson, E. Wylie, R. M. Isaacs, J. H. A. La ugh ton. F. G. Wallburton; Appeal Council, Messrs. J. Hutchinson, F. H. Campbell, J. M. C. Galloway; hon. auditor, Mr Oscar Kember.

Mr Dixon moved, on behalf of the Management Committee, "That rule 7 of tho Ranfurly ?Shield regulations be deleted, and'the following substituted:—'ln all challenge matches for the shield (as

distinguished from an ordinary match declared to he a challenge match under rule 2), the New Zealand Rugby Union shall, if requested by either challenging or the challenged union, appoint the referee. The challenging union shall be entitled, so far as the proceeds of that particular match will allow (after payment of all actual ground charges, gatekeepers' wages, advertising, and other incidental expenses of the match), to reasonable expense 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 cut out, the. remainder of the clause being adopted. Mr Hutchinson moved, on behalf of tbe Otago Union, "That it be an instruction to the Committee of Management to consider carefully the rules of the game, with a view to their improvement where

possible, and that tlie suggestion of the committee be circulated among affiliated unions for their consideration prior to their being forwarded to the English Union for adoption." Mr Wilford seconded the motion, and a long discussion took place, various delegates urging that too much attention should not be paid to the gates or the question 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 Rugby Union were rejected.

THREE TESTS SUGGESTED. WELLINGTON, this day. The conference of delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union carried, by 26 votes to 12, a resolution in favour of substituting test matches at Dunedin and Auckland for those against the North and South Island teams on June 26 and July 25 respectively. Mr. Dixon said the question of getting leave would be very troublesome. The. Conference also requested the Union to consider a general scheme of insurance for players, and defeated a motion to abandon the North v. South match this year. The Conference also voted £200 to fostering football in public schools. Aiter considerable discussion, the final distribution of profits from the British tour was left to the Management Com-

mittee, as was also the question of distributing profits from other matches, on loans to the affiliated unions -was loot The proposal not to charge interest by a large majority.