FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20829, 12 April 1933, Page 15

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. CANTERBURY UNION. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union met last evening. Present: Messrs A. E. McPhail (in the chair), V. L. Jensen, H. E. Davis, J. K. Moloney, A. Thompson, W. C. Dalley, M. Leadbetter, D. I. Macdonald, A. Duggan, S. Hollander, E. V. Phillips, R. Masters, A. I. Cottrell, L. F. Thomson, and W. Maxwell, and Dr. W .S. Seed. A letter was received from the Domains Board in reply ,to the union's request for a reduction in ground rents and in the fees charged for marking out the grounds. The letter said that the general question of ground rents would be considered when the boards estimates were being prepared and stated that it was not considered that tlie fee of 25s for marking out the grounds was excessive. The New Zealand Rugby Union wrote that the date of the annual meeting had been altered to May 11 on account of the municipal elections. The meeting will be held in Wellington. Unemployment relief workers at Burwood and Bottle Lake wrote that they had formed a team, and they asked for the gift of a football. The chairman remarked that the union had already promised to give eight balls for relief workers' teams as soon as a properly constituted controlling body was formed. The matron of the Rannerdale Home wrote to thank the union for the 15 complimentary passes presented for patients in the home. . Mr J. A. Fletcher wrote thanking the union for reappointing him resident delegate in Wellington to the New Zealand Rugby Union. The nomination by the Merivale Club of Mr J. Donaldson as manager of the team to travel to Dunedin at Easter was approved. The University Football Council wrote accepting the union's terms for the use of Lancaster Park on June 3 and Junt 7, and thanking the union for its generous treatment and its willingness to assist by controlling the gates. Mr A. Thompson reported on the primary schoolboys'matches on Saturdays for boys who were unable to play in the primary schools' competition on Friday. He suggested that all matches should be played on Lancaster Park, that balls and jerseys be provided by the union, and that the boys from the various schools be allocated to the senior open clubs to be formed into teams. The report was adopted. A preliminary match will be played on April 29, while the first match of the competition will be played on May 6 On April 29, also, boys will be weighed, to see that they come below the limit of 8 stone 7 pounds. DRAW FOR SATURDAY. Friendly Rugby matches will be played in Christchurch on Saturday as follows: — High School Old Boys v. Timaru Old Boys, at Lancaster Park Oval, at 3 p.m. University v. Lincoln College, at Lancaster Park South, at 3 p.m. Albion v. Pleasant Point (South Canterbury), either on Lancaster Park Oval, at 1.30 p.m., or on Lancaster Park West, at 3 p.m. Linwcod v. Athletic, at the Show Grounds, at 1.30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

ELLESMERE SUB-UNION. Mr M. D. Ryan presided at the annual meeting of the Ellesmere Rugby Sub-Union, held at Leeston on Monday evening. .There were delegates present from all the district clubs. j The report submitted by the hon. secretary. Mr G. A. H. Atkinson, stated that the union had a credit balance of £ll6 Is, the profit from last season being £l2 12s. The officers elected were: President, Mr M. D. Ryan; vice-president, Mr W. S. McLaughlin; treasurer, Mr H. Gardiner; hon. secretary, Mr G. A. H. Atkinson; executive and referees' appointments committee, the president, vice-president, Dr. Weston, and Messrs F. J. Miller and H. D. Jones; suspension committee, Messrs W. S. McLaughlin, W. McLachlan, and H. D. Jones; postponement committee, Dr. Weston and Messrs F. Chamberlain and A. Carroll; first grade selectors, Messrs F. J. Miller, H. D. Jones, and J. W. Calder; second grade selectors, Dr. Weston and Mr T. G. Harper; third grade selector, Mr W. McLachlan; delegates to Canterbury Rugby Union, the president and Messrs R. T. McMillan, and W. Hopley, and Dr. Weston; delegates to sub-unions' conference, Messrs Ryan and McMillan; rules com-

mittee, Messrs R. Bruce and H. D. Jones, and the secretary; trustees, the secretary and treasurer; auditor, Mr R. G. Power. An application was received from the Irwell Club for permission to enter second and third grade teams in the event of it being found impossible to raise a first grade team. After much discussion it was agreed that the club should be asked to do its best to field a first grade team. A recommendation was made by the United Club that competition games should be continued when representative matches were played out of the district. It was agreed that representative fixtures should be spread over a period so that club football would not be affected by three of these matches in succession, as happened last season. The V/aihora Club applied for permission to change its centre from Waihora Park to Suckling's Corner, Tai Tapu. It was explained that no antagonism to the Lincoln Club was intended, but that Waihora wished to consolidate its position. It was decided that the centres should remain as at present. The Canterbury Rugby Union advised that it had made a rebate to subunions of half the fees payable. A challenge from the Malvern SubUnion for a match for the Southbridge Shield was forwarded through the Canterbury Rugby Union. The challenge was received and will be dealt with at the sub-unions' conference. The application of A. Rennie, of Izwell, for reinstatement from second to third grade was granted. It was decided that the competitions should begin on April 29. SCHOOLBOY RUGBY. PLAY FOR OUTSIDE CLUBS. DISCUSSION BY UNION. The playing of boys in school matches on Wednesdays and in club matches on Saturdays was discussed last evening by the Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union, when a report on the secondary schools' competition was presented by Mr M. Leadbetter. Mr Leadbetter said the question had been discussed by a meeting of school sports masters and later by a meeting of headmasters. Both meetings had considered that one match a week was enough for most boy players. In cases where a parent definitely wanted a boy to play in club matches on Saturdays the headmasters would be willing to consider giving the boy leave to play twice a week, but in general they did not approve of a boy playing in more than one match a week. The so-called "burning-out" of young players, Mr Leadbetter added, was thought to be caused by too frequent matches in their school-days. Mr Leadbetter continued that it had recently been discovered that a number of schools were not, in spite of the constitution under which the secondary schools' competition was played, affiliated to the union. "The headmaster of a school is in an excellent position to judge the capabilities of the average boy under his care," said the chairman, Mr A. E. McPhail. "It does not seem reasonable to me that a growing boy should be able to play two matches a week." Mr Leadbetter said that the whole position of the secondary schools' competition was complicated. The control of it was delegated by the committee to the school sports master, but it was definitely under the control of the union according to the constitution. The chairman said it would be advisable for the non-affiliated schools to apply for affiliation. The union would then be able to control them and give leave in exceptional circumstances for boys to play twice in a week, the exceptional circumstances being special permission granted by the headmaster and parents. Mr Leadbetter added that it was not considered desirable that a big body of secondary school boys should play on Saturdays. In a few cases boys might be wanted to fill up places in a team, but if many played the object of the Wednesday competition would be defeated.. Mr H. E. Davis suggested that when a club wanted a boy it should get the permission of the boy's headmaster. Mr Leadbetter remarked that he understood the headmasters were going to ask for this. On the motion of Dr. W. S. Seed it was decided to circularise clubs, outlining the headmasters' point of view and suggesting that it was not advisable for boys to play in more than one match a week, but that if clubs wished to include boy players in their teams they should first ask permission from the headmaster of the boy concerned. On the question of affiliation it was decided to ask the West Christchurch District High School and the Technical High School to apply for affiliation.

ASSOCIATION. MEETING OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Management Committee of the Canterbury Football Association was held last evening. There were present Messrs L. F. Foote (in the chair), P. L. Davies, H. Smyth, J. A. Robb, C. E. Keys, B. O. Priddis, T. M. Rutter, W. Morley, G. R. Towart, H. Weatherhead, H. W. Wilkins, J. Randle, J. Jones, and J. E. Foote (honorary secretary). A letter was received from the Canterbury Relief Workers' Association asking' the association to forward an appeal for financial assistance to the New Zealand Football Association. It was decided to accede to the request. The Boys' Division recommended that the ages for sixth grade players be 14>i years on April 1, and 16 years for the fifth grade. Opposition was expressed by some members to this recommendation on the ground that already some of the teams had been entered. In answer it was said that the Boys' Division considered that this difficulty could be overcome for this season by providing for applications for dispensation to be made in cases where boys in teams already entered were more than the age limit. Mr Towart then moved as an amendment that the ages be as follows: —Sixth grade, 14 years; fifth grade, 16£ years; fourth grade, 19 years. The amendment was carried. A delegate from the Sumner Club asked the association to reinstate four senior grade players as junior players for the club, stating that if this could not be done it would be difficult for the club to continue. It was decided to refer the matter to the classification committee for its report. Equipment at English Park. H. C. Urhvin, Limited, wrote offering to purchase certain of the electrical equipment at English Park. It was resolved to reply that since the equipment was essential in the event of the park being let for any evening meetings, the association considered that it would be inadvisable to sell any of these assets. Reference was made by the chairman to the financial position of the association. There was a minute on the books, he said, to the effect that registrations of players could not be received if a club was unfinancial, and there was a number of unfinancial clubs. To abide by this minute would mean the finish of Association football in Christchurch. He suggested therefore that it would be advisable to set? up a sub-committee to go into each club's financial position and to bring down a report to the association. In the meantime he suggested that registrations be accepted from all clubs. It was decided to adopt this suggestion, and Messrs Rutter and Jones were appointed, a sub-committee. Playing Grounds. A letter was read front the Christchurch Domains Board asking for payment at once or a guarantee of payment of the rent of two grounds in Hagley Park rented to the association. Mr Robb said that he had already, on behalf of the Western Club, given a guarantee to the board that the rent would be paid. Mr Davies then said that he would guarantee the payment of the rent for the other ground. Appreciation ol their actions was expressed by the chairman. It was reported that the City Council had agreed to allow the association until May 31 to pay the rent for the four grounds in the suburbs. The resignation of Mr J. E. Foote from the ofnee of honorary secretary was accepted. It was decicfed to place on record appreciation of Mr Foote's work. Mr R. B. Bunt agreed to fill the vacant position temporarily. It was decided to fix Tuesday, April 18, as the closing date for registration of players. Matches for Saturday were arranged as follows: 1.30 p.m.—Thistle (Christchurch) v. Northern (Dunedin), at English Park. 3 p.m. —Technical (Dunedin) v. Technical (Christchurch;, 1 at English Park. Friendly Matches. 3 p.m.—Linwood v. Woolston, at Linwood Park. Nomads v. St. Albans, at Richmond Park. N.Z. TEAM'S TOUR OF AUSTRALIA. ITINERARY ALTERED. SYDNEY. April 10. The itinerary of the New Zealand Association football team in Australia has been brought forward a week as the team will arrive earlier than was expected. The first match, will be played on the Sydney Cx-icket Ground on April 20. Two games will also be played on the Newcastle Show Ground.

NEW ZEALAND * COUNCIL. NORTH V. SOUTH MATCH. (I'ItESS ASSOCIATION T-ELEG-RA.U.) WELLINGTON, April 11. The council of the New Zealand Football Association to-night authorised by Mr H. L. Godber, manager of the New Zealand team, to discuss with the Australian Association the question of a more frequent exchange oi visits. It was decided that there should be no trial match by the New Zealand team before its departure, in order to avoid the risk of injury. The council agreed to make a loan to the Mosgiel Football Club of £3OO to complete the purchase of a ground there, the loan to be for a period of five years at 5 A per cent., payable half-yearly. An application from the Nelson Football Association, for a grant of £25 for the purpose of providing footballs to encourage the game at the schools and an application from the Waihou relief camp for a football were deferred. The following teams have been selected to play in the North Island v. South Island game at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, on Saturday:— North Island—Quill (Auckland). Stone, Gerrard (Auckland), McLeod (Wellington), Christie (Auckland, captain), Crabbe (South Auckland), Barton, Condon, Leslie, Kershaw 'Wellington), and Kay (Auckland). Reserves: Blackie, Williamson, Hislop, and Stewart. South Island—Timkin (Westland, captain), S. Cawtheray (Canterbury) and H. Cope (Otago), J. Tiechert (Buller), A. Sutherland (Canterbury) and W. Chapman (Otago), C. Ives (Otago), D. Sutherland (Canterbury), A. Trotter (Canterbury), G. Groves (Otago), and D. G. Walker (Canterbury). Reserves: S. Taylor, A. Brown, Stenhouse (Otago), and A. Graham (Buller). The reserves in each case will replace other players in the second half of the game. At the request of the Australian Football Association it was decided that the New Zealand team should leave the Dominioa on May 16 by the Wanganella and return on June 30.