ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1927, Page 11

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Auckland Football Association was held in the Y.M.C.A. last night. Mr. Ernest Davis, president, presiding over a large and representative attendance. The president briefly moved the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet previously published in the "Star."* Mr. H. S. W. King seconded. He expressed the hope that the ensuing season would be a successful and profitable one. _ Mr. P. Andrew asked on behalf of the North Shore Club for information regarding the Chatham Cup finances. The Shore Committee, he said, had advocated the publication of a working account showing the financial results of the season so far as the A.F.A. was concerned.

Mr. A. Menzies. chairman of the manaeement committee, said the receipts for <*hnthnm Cup matches at Auckland amounted t<> V2SI. which did not account for the tinal match at Wellington.

Mr. Andrew asked what the association made out of the trophy matches"; Mr. Menzies said the amount netted was £224 13/. which, of course, did not represent clear profit. The association, as a matter of fact, might be better off with club matches.

Mr. Andrew: The Chatham* Cup competition last year cost os nearlv £50 because we got into the final.

Mr. G. West. North Shore, also recommended that the .iceounts be set out so as to show the actual position of the association In regard to the competition.

Mr. F. M. Ritchie referred to the honoraria to officials and suggested that the secretary of the J.M.C. should be recognised. Mr. Menzies paid a tribute to the selfsacrificing efforts of Mr. Beswick (secretary to the J.M.C.) and said the management committee would be pleased to consider any recommendation from the J.M.C. The motion of the chairman was then carried unanimously.

In reply to a question by Mr. Andrew, the secretary (Mr. L. C. H. Dawson) said junior football last season cost the association £ 100 17 /it.

RULES AMENDED. Amendments to rules and constitution were carried to alter the management committee from nine to twelve members (nine to be elected at the annual general meeting, one appointed by the Referees' Association, and two by the J.M.C).

The J.M.C. is now to consist of five members elected by club delegates and five by school delegates, a member from the management committee of the A.F.A., in addition to which the J.M.C. may add to their number not more than three members.

Various other amendments in the nature of machinery clauses in the constitution of the J.M.C. were carried without discussion.

A debate took place on the ace of players in tie third grade. The J.M.C. recommended that no player over 21 shall ineligible for the third grade, while the Onehunga Club had a remit that the age insubstituted by weight limit.

Mr. F. M. Ritchie moved that the third grade be run in two divisions, one for players, age unrestricted, and the other for players under 21 years of age on January 1.

Mr. Andrew moved an amendment that the age of the third B grade have a limit of 20. which was lost on the voices. Mr. Ritchie's motion was carried.

Mr. Andrew moved an amendment to a proposal that a team playing an unregistered player should forfeit the match or matches in which the player took part. He considered that a team should be penalised for one match only. Mr. J. Low. Referees' Asosciation. said that was the custom all over Britain.

Mr. Ritchie said the J.M.C. pnt forward the amendment to the rule as the result of last season's experience. On a show of hands the amendment to the rule as proposed was carried.

Ago limits for other grades wore proposed as follows; —Fourtii grade. IS years; fifth grade. 10 rears; sixth grade. 14 years, except for the coal keeper. The age limit principle was adopted.

Remits from the Onehunga Club were forwarded to the management for consideration : That an insurance scheme for players be discussed: that the second grade be "run in one section only ; that knock-out matches be played inter-mixed with competition games and that the promotion and relegation system be adopted in regard to the second and senior grades.

Thistle forwarded a remit that a limit of twenty vice-presidents bo allowed to eacl cluh. That vice-presidents' foes be on« guinea per season, clubs to retain 17/6 and balance of 3/6 to go to the A.F.A., or that body may submit for consideration the por tion of each fee which it may deem is a fair percentage to be retained by the clubs : that vice-presidents shall, upon the payment of their guinea, receive a pass or "ticket entitling them to admission to all clul matches, where usual admission payment ii made—i.e., Blandford Park. Domain, etc. This was rejected as impracticable, Mr Menzies stating that it would mean that 1000 people could be admitted to all the A.F.A. matches free, A Thistle remit that no active mombe: of a club be eligible for nomination to th< A.F.A. management committee was passed aa a recommendation Jo the incoming management. Office bearers were elected as follows :— Patron. his Excellency the GovernorGeneral. Sir Charles Fergusson: president. Mr. Ernest Davis; vice-presidents. Messrs J. F. W. Dickson : A. E. Ford. H. S. W King, H. R. Mackenzie, Geo. McMillan. A J. Parker, J. Warnock. Commodore S. T C P. Swabey, D.S.C., the Mayor of Auckland. Mr W. J. Jordan. M.P.. Hon. solicitor (Mr. S. Cren), hon. surgeon (Dr. Neil Mo DotigaU), hon. auditor (Mr. K_ Wallacet. Delegate to New Zealand Council was left to the incoming officers. Management Committee: Messrs. F. H. Baker. J. Campbell. J. M. Downie, A. Fraser. H. Gribhlc. a. V Hanklns, R. Harrison. A. Menzies, H. Reason. In reply to n question. Mr. Menzies said he was almost certain that in future the New Zealand Council would pay the expenses of travelling teaius in the Chatham Cnp as in the English FA. Cup. The president eulogised the onerous labours they had carried out last year and the time and patience they had expended on the association's affairs. Mr. Davis said that, as in previous years. he had decided to donate a set of" gold medals for the winners of the senior championship. This intimation was received with acclamation. The meeting decided to send a letter of hearty congratulation and best wishes to Mr. C. Dacre on the occasion of hi« tour of Britain with the New Zealand cricketers. It was agreed that a similar letter of good wishes be sent to Mr. J. Kissock. captain of last season's rep. team, who sails next week for America, and to Mr. K. Banister, who is visiting England. A rote of thanks to the chairman con-c-!ih!<hl an enthusiastic meotins.