N.Z. RUGBY UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 103, 3 May 1935, Page 12

N.Z. RUGBY UNION.

JUBILEE CONGRATULATIONS.

OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR,

REMITS TO IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

(By TelegapU.—'Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day

It was decidcd at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union yesterday to send through the English Rugby Union congratulations to His Majesty the King on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee. The King and members of the Royal Family, said the mover, had always taken ii keen and personal interest in the wellbeing of New Zealand's footballers in the Home country.

The ofHcers elected were:—Patron, the Governor-General; president, Mr. D. M. Stuart (Otago); vice-presidents, Hon. <J. McLeod (Taranaki), Dr. W. S. Seed (Canterburv), Rev. Father Riordan (Horowhenua), and Messrs. K. S. Williams, M P. (East Coast), L. ,J. Brake (North Auckland), H. Frost (Auckland), G. P. Lindsay (Thames Valley), L. I owell (Waikato). J. A. Guinness (Bay Plenty), J. Quirk (Wanganui), M. DSmith (Hawkes Bay), R. J. Smith (Bush Districts), J. L. Donovan (Wairarapa), W. F. Hornig (Wellington). A. M. Oneley (Manawatu), M. McKenzie (Manborough), R. J. Eyre (Nelson), A. S. Parker (Poverty Bay), K. J. Holyoake, M.P. (Golden Bay. Motueka). A. G. Colvin (Buller), T. O'Donnell (West Coast), A. G. Knowlcs (South Canterbury), J. B. VVootton (Otago), H. S. Strong (Southland), L. V. Carmine (King Country), J. C. C. McLoughlan (Ashburton), A. Gilchrist (North Otago).

The management committee appointed is:—Messrs. S. S. Dean, T. A. Fletcher, W. J. Wallace, A. C. Kitto. F. T. Glasgow, E. S. Hylton and A. McDonald. Hon. treasurer: Mr. H. >S. Leitli. Appeal council: Messrs. F. H. Campbell, J. S. Hutchison and F. 11. Sincoclt. Auditor: Mr. O. Kember.

The Canterbury proposal to increase the New Zealand selection committee from four to six was lost. Delegates considered remits to be sent forward to the Imperial Rugby Conference in London this year. ]t was decided that the following should be submitted 011 behalf of New Zealand:— That an Empire Rugby Football Council should be constituted with equal representation for each of the contributing Rugby football unions of the Empire, such representatives to be residents of the respective unions; that meetings of the said council be held at intervals of not less than four years; that such meetings he held alternatively in London and at the headquarters of each of the constituent unions. Such council shall have the power to amend or add to laws of the game, and to arrange programmes of international tours. That the New Zealand Union be given full power to enable it to allow any of its constituent local unions to modify any laws of the game for local competitions, provided that the laws regarding professionalism are strictly observed and the suggested modifications are approved by the New Zealand Union. That it shall be permissible for the referee to put the ball into the scrummage. . That the method of scoring be revised to provide that three points shall be scored for a try, five points for a goal from a try, two points for a goal from a free kick or penalty kick, and three points for a dropped goal otherwise obtained. That the amended rule regarding kicking into touch be bought into operation again.' That the advantage rule in line-out ana from the kick off should be introduced.

Tt is also suggested thnt law 17 be deleted (playing ball with foot after tackle) and consequential amendments to the same law, and that when a scrummage is formed if any player advances beyond a lino drawn through the centre of the scrummage, and parallel with the goal line, before the ball comes out of such scrummage, a penalty kick be awarded.

The New Zealand Rugby Football Union has given its approval to three front row men in the scrummage, as asked by tlie Rugby Football Union, and having given it fair trial in all matches played ««dei its jurisdiction during the past three years, is of opinion that three men in the front row makes lntcrpretationofthc law more difficult for players to gnc effect to and more difficult for referees to deal with, and suggests that a trial of a two front row scrummage for the f>ame period as New Zealand lias played the three front row scrummage, this to consist of seven players and the extra man now played in the scrum to be played as an extra back.