SOCCER CODE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1930, Page 16

SOCCER CODE.

AUCKLAND AFFAIRS.

SETTI/ING DOWN TO WORK.

SEASON OPENS APRIL 20,

All the administrative bodies of the Auckland Football Association have now made a start for the season, and last evening the annual meetings of the Minor, Junior and Senior Divisions were held, and the Control Board subsequently met and elected their chairman, while the Referees' Association held a meeting to make further preparations for the season. All the meetings were largely attended, and there was an unmistakable keenness for the opening of the season. Qn the recommendation of the Senior Division Committee it was subsequently agreed that entries should close on April 15 at noon, and that the season should open on Saturday, April 26. Mr. Don Millar presided at the meeting of the Senior Division Committee and referred to the success of their first year of office. He instanced several much needed alterations to the rules which had emanated from the committee, and also expressed gratification at the very harmonious relations that had existed between the club delegates. The election of office-bearers resultod as follows: —Chairman, Mr. Millar; deputy chairman, Mr. F. Hankins; hon. secretary, Mr. A. E. Insley; delegates to the Control Board, Messrs. Millar and Curran; grounds committee, Mr. N. Anderson. Minor Division. There was a large attendance of delegates to the annual meeting of the Minor Division Committee. The annual report showed a-very flourishing state of affairs from a playing point of view. The season was a record one in the history of the code in the youngest grade in competitions, and the standard of play, There were 90 teams under the jurisdiction of the committee, and the games j played numbered 781. The season was ' notable for the inauguration of the Secondary Schools' championship of New Zealand, which was contested in Auckland, and in which the local team won the Skerrett Cup. In the national primary school competition Auckland, while performing with much credit at the tournament at Wellington, failod to return with the Webster Shield. The outstanding event looming ahead was the tour of the first schoolboy Soccer "All Blacks," which had been agreed to under a scheme devised and sponsored by Mr. R. P. Harrison, Belmont, who had been appointed sole selector for New Zealand, and manager of the tour. The project is being eagerly anticipated, and the enthusiastic committee of the Minor Division is working wholeheartedly on its behalf. The following were elected to the committee: School delegates, Messrs. Hogwood, Harrison, Martin, Taybourne, Allen; clubs, Messrs. Adams, Ballantyne, Beswick, Check, Walker; delegates to Control Board, Messrs. Ballantyne and Harrison. Sympathetic reference was made to the absence of the indefatigable secretary, Mr, R. M. Beswick, who is in hospital as the result of an accident. Mr. Beswick was re-elected secretary with acclamation. Appreciation of the valuable services of Mr. G. T. Lee to the code were placed on record, he being unable to take office this season. A correction in the annual report, which stated that Belmont had won the seventh rrrade championship, whereas North Shore wcro the winners, was noted. Junior Division. At the meeting of the Junior Division, Mr. R. Wood, Swanson, was re-elected chairman, with the following office-1 bearers: Deputy chairman, Mr. Tyson; secretary, Mr. W. K. Holdsworth; delegate to the Control Board, Mr. Blacktop; committee, Messrs. A. G. Blacktop, Holdsworth, R. Bodley, Tyson, Holgate and McClusky. Control Board. Subsequent to the meetings of the divisions the Control Board, as newly constituted, met. Mr. A. Menzies was elected chairman for the eighth successive season. Mr. G. Ballantyne was elected deputy chairman; Mr. A, J. Hyder, dolegate to the N.Z.F.A.; Mr. J. Ball delegate on the Minor Division committee. The election of sub-com-mittees was hold over till next week. The president of the A.F.A., Mr. Ernest Dayis, wrote from* Monte Carlo wishing the association a successful season. Glen Innes and the United A.F.C. wrote applying for affiliation with the A.F.A. The applications were held over, deputations being invited to wait on the Control Board.

Mr. H. Reason wrote stating.,that he woulcl be leaving the district, and a motion of appreciation of his services for the past thirteen seasons was carried.

BLANDFORD PARK.

PREPARATION FOR SOCCER.

Any anxiety as to Blandford Park being in readiness for the qommeneement of Soccer after the broadsiding season, was dispelled after a statement last evening by Mr, A. Menzies, chairman of the Control Board. He said that the A.F.A. had met the Stadium Company this week, when the matter of the alterations at the park was fully discussed. So far as the association was concerned, everything was entirely satisfactory and the' work, which had already started, would be pushed on immediately after next Monday evening's broadsiding. The races next week were being held on behalf of the A.F.A., and the Stadium Company had met them in a really sports ing spirit. The work at the grounds was to be done to the satisfaction of the association's surveyor.

REFEREES' MEETING. QUESTION OF GRADING. - ' The very difficult question of the grading of referees was discussed last liight at a meeting of the Referees' Association, Mr. A. N. Hankins presiding. After a long, and at times lively, discussion, the meeting approved the principle of grading, and agreed to inaugurate a scheme this season. Reference was made to the formation of the Junior Referees' Association, and .the lines along which it should work wcie debated. Mr. A. J. Gaily was elected chairman of the new body, and Mr. P. R. Wilson hon. secretary. The chairman welcomed several new members, and matters for the opening of the season were advanced apace. ONEHUNGA CLUB. ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Onehunga Athletic Football Club was held last evening, and the large attendance augurs well for a very successful season. Mr. A. Jackson presided in the absence of Mr. A. E. Insley. Officebearers were elected as follow: —President, Mr. Insley; vice-chairman, Mr. W. Tegg; secretary pro. tem., Mr. A» Jackson; management committee, Messrs. F. Porteous, Thorpe, McNicliol, McGaffncy, J. Randall, and the club captain; selectors, Messrs. Jackson, Porteous and Randall, with team managers and captains; hon. auditor, Mr. Tegg; trainer and club manager, Mr. S. Dale.. It was stated that the club membership was in a flourishing condition, and it is hoped to put several teams in the field. Matters in connection with the ground at Wajkaraka Park were discussed, and it was agreed to form a working bee there on Saturday afternoon to effect several improvements. The financial position of the club _ was considered satisfactory. An enthusiastic meeting closed with the usual votes of thanks, and a social hour followed, the catering being in the hands of Mr. Griffin. The club has signed practically all the seniors of last season, and is in negotiation with several new and promising exponents of the code. PROPOSED SCHOOLBOYS' TOUR. TROUBLE IN AUSTRALIA. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The council of the New Zealand Football Association met this evening. . . A letter from the Australian Association offered dates for the tour in Australia by the New Zealand primary schools team between May 24 and July 4. A reply is to be sent stating that the dates are unacceptable, as the tour must be arranged f9r the New Zealand school holidays in August, The Australian Association's letter also referred to trouble with newly-formed associations 'in Australia, and asked the New Zealand Association to support them in opposing the efforts to subvert the proper authority. The chairman, Mr. F, Campbell, said the prospects of the tour were not very bright. The Australian people should get together for the good of the game. It would be uinviso to send a New Zealand team unless the differences were settled, The New Zealand Association would proceed tentatively with the arrangements, but he suggested that Australia be informed that unless a definite reply was received by April 25, the tour would be called off.