LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 68, 19 March 1924, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. QUESTION OF RESERVE GRADE. There was a big attendance at the fourteenth annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby League last evening, when the chairman, Mr. W. J. Hamill. presided. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. A review of the year was published in the Stab of Thursday last. The season was a prosperous one, despite adverse circumstances, there being a profit of £1205 on the year's work. The election of officers resulted in the return to offlce of all offlcials, except that Mr. Millard will take Mr. A. E. Powell's place as Press steward. Mr. J. MeUin-»s was added to the list of vice-presidents. The committee of management is as fo l - -lows: Messrs. C. Brockliss, R. Doble X Culpan. W. Davidson. H. Lipscoinbe G Yardley, T. Fielding, C. Adamsoa and W Murray. The establishment of a reserve grafle -was advocated by Mr. J. Carlaw, who said it would be as great a success in Auckland as it was in Sydney. If a reserve grafle were introduced, the best juniors wonld graduate to it, and teams of senior standard which were excluded from the senior competition could be included. Seven teams were sufficient in the senior competition. Limitation of the number of teams meant better results. If reserve grade teams played " curtain raisers" an improvement would be seen in the attendance. One speaker contended that the establishment of a reserve grade would tend to push the juniors further in the background. It was decided that the establishment of a reserve grade be a recommendation to the management committee. Another suggestion which met witli stip-* port was that the number of senior teams be increased. It was pointed out that there was not a senior team cast of Queen Street. Mangere and Ellerslie could provide good senior teams. It was resol/ed that the committee give this matter consideration. There was a discussion concerning the advisability of playing a senior game ou No. 1 ground at Cajlaw Park each Saturday at 1.30 p.m., and selected teams from the various junior grades on Xo. 2 ground. Ivo Captains of the respective successful teams in the 1923 competitions were presented with their cap? and orders for caps for members of the teams. The senior and second grades were won by City, third by Ponsonby, fourth Devonport, fifth Richmond. 6A Ponsonby. 6B Athletics. The senior cadets championship was won by Ponsonby, and City won the knock-out competition for the fifth grade. ; Mr. Hayward presented a handsome rima shield, inlaid with jarrah, for competition by third "grade teams. In thanking Mr. Hayward for his valuable trophy, the chairman stated that the league was fortunate ia possessing an abundance of cups and trophies. , An appeal to the league to support the Rev_ Jasper Calder In his campaign for funds for the establishment of a home for destitute men was made by Mr. G. Ponder. All knew that Mr. Calder was deserving of assistance in the work he carried out among the poor of the city. The city missloner helped hundreds of destitute men every year. I In reply, the chairman promised that an 'application by Mr. Calder would receive every consideration by the committee. (Applanse.) The "league had always helped deserving charities, donations to varions causes having totalled £2300. Much could be done when. Carlaw Park was free of debt.