THE LEAGUE CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 82, 7 April 1927, Page 14

THE LEAGUE CODE.

A RECORD YEAR. A.BJL. ANNUAL MEETHCC-. SEASON OPENS APRIL 30. Six vears ago the balance-sheet of the Auckland Rugby League read: As*ots i4O, liabilities £70. The balance-sheet presented at the annual meeting last night showed an astonishing change, the C i»et? bein; set down at no less than >. ?. This happy result, the chairman (Mr. W. J. Hanimill), in moving the adoption of the report and bal-ance-sheet, pointed out. was a sufficient proof of the progress of the code. He felt tha. he visits to Auckland of managers of Otago, Canterbury and South Auckland Leagues could only result in bringing into closer touch the interests of the League game throughout the Dominion. The visitors had all been loud in their praise of the treatment they and the teams had received and the true sporting spirit shown, not only by officials and players, but also by the public. He felt that the enjoyable visits to Auckland would still further cement the friendliness which had existed between A.R.L. and other branches of the Leacrue.

The balance-sheet was one that he had great pleasure in presenting. The gate receipts for the season were £4216, which did not include gates for matches put on by the New Zealand Council. "Contrast the position to-day with what it was six years ago and you can see what has been accomplished since the League secured a ground of its own and, by giving the public clean, bright football of the highest standard." He referred to the insurance scheme which the League claimed to be the originator of, and said that, during the season, the sum of £407

had been paid to injured players. There was no better way of using a portion of the profits than by recognising the claims of players who had been injured in providing the sport which pleased the public. The thanks of the A.B.L. were due to the honorary physicians, St. John Ambulance Association, selectors, donors, and others who had assisted the code. In seconding the adoption oi the report Mr. E. Phelan paid a high tribute to Mr. J. Carlaw, to whom, he said, was due the credit of making the first move to secure Carlaw Park for the League. Xo man had worked harder to put the code on the high plane it occupied in Auckland to-day. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. .' The chairman, touching upon, primary schools football, said that a meeting , would be held shortly to go into the question. A deputation which waited upon the Assistant Masters' Association had been informed there was no objection to any form of sport being played in the schools, so long as it \ras good, clean sport. The League hoped to t»e ebie to supply football of that kind. The death of Sir Arthur Myers, president of the AJLL., was referred to and a vote of condolence passed, the members standing. Votes of thanks were accorded the chairman (Mr. Hammill), the secretary (Mr. I. Cuipan) and treasurer (Mr. F. Ellis). The numerous shields, cups and caps won last season were presented bv Mr. J. Carlaw. The election of officers resulted a3 follows:—Patron, Mr. James Carlaw; vicepatron, Mr. John Endean; president, Mr. George Baildon; vice-presidents, Messrs G. McMillan, O. Blackwood, S. Brierly, H. Grange, C. Way, W. Wallace. S. R. Benson, C. H. Drysdale. E. J. Phelan, A E. Powell, A. Laird, H. R Mackenzie, J. A. Lee, and R. H. Wood; management committee, Messrs. C. J. Stanley (Ponsonby), W. Davidson (City), W. Deere (Marist Old Boys), T. Fielding (Richmond), A. Brown (Athletic), J. J. Sullivan (Xewton), E. Fox (Devonport), Butler (Kingsland), J. Clarke (Otahuhu), J. Wyatt (Ellerslie), P. Stewart (Northcote), H. Lipscombe (Mangere) and J Barry (Parnell).

Appreciation of the services of Messrs. R. Doble (Devonport), B. Longbottom (Ponscnbv) and W. Hoxford (Ringsland), members of the retiring committee, was recorded in a vote of thanks.

The management committee met subsequently.

The election of officers resulted as fol-lows-.—Chairman, Mr. W. J. Hammill; deputy-chairman, Mr. E. J. Phelan; secretary, Mr. I. Culpan; treasurer, Mr. F. Eliis; delegates to the New Zealand Council, Messrs. C. A. Snedden, E. Stallworthy; ground superintendent, Mr. Geo. Rhodes; uniform steward, Mr. C. Adamson; honorary physicians, Dr. Tracy Inglis, Dr. Hardie Neil, Dr. Pezaro, Dr. Gwynne; finance committee. Messrs. A. Brown, W. Mincham and F. Ellis; insurance committee, Messrs. J. J. Sullivan, E. Fox, A. J. Stanley; advertising committee, Messrs. I. Culpan, T. Feildin", W. J. Davidson. "

It was decided to opn the season on April 30, with a game between the Auckland members of the New Zealand team and a local thirteen.

Nominations for the senior competition will close on April 20.