CANTERBURY UNION.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15218, 4 March 1915, Page 4

CANTERBURY UNION.

Tie Management Committee, of the Canterbury Kugby Union met yesterday. Present —Ifeesre G. 1L Mason (chairman), C. Haeell, A. McPhail, F. D. Kestoven. A. E. Byrne. C. Evans, S. F. Wileon, E. E. Cra-voshaw, F. T.- Evaas, and C. TV. Hexvey (secretary).

The Merivalo Club wrote taking exception U> certain remarks made by a vice-president of tho Union, and pointing out that the members of tho (senior team, on whom falls tho ehir, were Sβ loyal as any members -who havo gone to , the. Front, but circumstances had been against -their getting aw*y, although several had volunteered and tried haxd but without Gucoese. Tho-following members of tho Chib nad left Chnstchnrch for active eervioe:—B. Nison, E. Broenan, ML BrosnaJi, H. G. Smith, G. P. Lattimoro, B. Aebton, 'J. Sooble, W. H. Lodge, G. Ru3b, H. C. Hutst, G. Gemmell, and J. Richards.

It was pointed . oat that there was -some misapprehension, and the disenesion in qncetaon vaa not intended to convey the epirit in which it had been acoeptod. Tho; letter was received. ' •'■'.-

The Lyttelton Club -wrote etating that it ■would not enter any teame in the TTniorx's competitions during the coming season owing to the majority of tho mem bere being enin fori duty.

Mr S. Hardey, adjutant of the Citizens' Defence Corps,; wrote etatin? that it mtos desired to hold, during tho winter months, periodical battalion parades on. Saturday afternoons, but they tvere anxjous not to clash witih any of tlie Uniou'e fixtures. It was desired to get tho first or fourth Saturday in every month. ■ >

Tho chairman en.it? tho Defence authorities were the first consideration. Hβ tbiroe-ht tbal any men who . wern likely to be affected 'by Citisene-' Defence Coroe' paradee should be in tho Territorials. The corps was more for veterans. After eomo discussion, it -was decided to Bold over the vrbole emoetion of fixtures till the list of dates, for Territorial parados had feen received-' from tho Defence authoritiee. Tho Aferivalo Club wrote applying for reinstatement for ,two players -who. had participated in Leagno ma.tch.ee. It was reeolved , ■to request that tho men thenraelyes ehoTild apply for reinstatement and farnisli particulars. . . Tho Canterbury Collepe Clab wrote for•tmndinj: tho naises of fifteen plavere who had seme t<i tho Front, and the Albion Club forwarded tho names of twehre members.

Tho draft, copy of the annual report trwa read and discussed. ■ ' Some dtecusaion ensned on tho (ruestion. ol the alteration of tlw rules co:npetitioce and permits to meet ihe altered conditioue thw'eeeeen. It waa agreed thai tno idea of the complete elimination ol competitions icas.not to be entertained.. ■It ewntually ifsolved to refer the report back to tho sub-committee for draftine recommendations to th° inoomin? committee, empowering it to mafco Kudb. altcratione to the rules as might lx> found necessary. .

At tlse eaggestion of the secretary m order to cmrt«il exoensee, it vas decided to eliminate cxtranooua niat'uer irom the Union's annual handbook.'

ilr SEaeon notified bis intention of not oon-testins tio election for president ' a-t the fart&oominjr annual meeting. He said that }w» nad. eeeti twenty-five years' ecrrioe on the Union, and thought he had done hie share. At the sunfl time no wished to express his appreciation of the way in which he. had fc«es upheld by membens of w»o Union and derinc bin long connexion trith Bnpby, aad no bowed tb® jraroc would £o &h«ad «c it should do. Hβ had to thank one and all for thoir support, avid now could say. "I've £ni«aed." ■j,£ r p. T. Evaiss eajd tn»t ac tee ol nje old* colleagues on the Union bo rrs*Btted Mr decision. Whatever differeacce they m*y, hare bad amonget thenteolTw. they *G Tecognastd th© groai *mount Mr lf«ean. aao done for Raffby, aad especially in keepnsc iho amateitr spirit alive. Hβ hoped Mx ilaaon would not be lost to Rupby. Mr Maeon eaid be did -not retire vnxa any rf«vanoo trhatoveT, and tcouM ooatinae ia UTws. the sune iaterast in tiro jaaie ac ha tad in tJ» pact. , A motion, expraaeia? eympatiy with Mr l>. Corbett, a member of the Union, in his illsesij was carried.