RUGBY LEAGUE Code Had Successful Year In Canterbury

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28836, 5 March 1959, Page 12

RUGBY LEAGUE Code Had Successful Year In Canterbury

Rugby League in Canterbury should have a home of its own, a freehold property in the city where It could entertain visiting teams in a proper. manner, said the president of the Canterbury Rugby League (Mr L. G. Amos) at the annual meeting of the league last evening. Mr Amos said he envisaged something like 6000 sq ft, where the code could have its own headquarters. Mr J. Middleton (Marist) ask- # ed “if such a building was pur-‘ chased, would it be available on a rental basis to tenants?”

Mr Amos: “Most definitely, on a profit basis. Don’t forget that we are professionals.”

The chairman’s report stated there was a high degree of interest shown all. through the senior club championship, with resultant record gate takings. A most satisfactory feature of the season was the larger entry of teams in the under grade competitions.

The balance-sheet showed an excess of income over expenditure of £455 9s Bd. Club gates totalled £649

10a, ■ record lor the code tn Cantorbury. Speaking to the annual report. Mr Amos said the Canterbury Rugby League had probably had the rockiest road of any sport in the provisos, but it had done the job it set out to do, namely to provide a good sport for good sportsmen. Mr Amos added that the Magus had achieved something tn flood management, and he congratulated the board of control. The patron (Mr W. JB. Desmond) also complimented last season's oScials. The report, he said, proved that a great amount of work had been done to achieve such good results. The chairman of the outgoing board of control (Mr L. Huston) outlined the proposed representative games in the early part of the season in view of the early tour of Australia this season. Mr Huston said the New Zealand team would leave on May 23, and before that 30 players from throughout the country would take part in a training school at. Palmerston North, commencing on May 9. “Tentative arrangements had been made for Canterbury to meet West Coast at Christchurch on Saturday, April 18, and a return .match be played on Sunday, April 38. at Greymouth,” said Mr Huston. Mr Huston said negotiations with Auckland indicated that the Canterbury team would be playing Auckland at Auckland on May 2. Be said clubs would realise the loss of their top players over- these three Saturdays was in the interest of the code nationally. Mr Huston also urged that dubs try to hold their opening days before the end of March so that club football could start on the first Saturday in April. The meeting decided to start senior competition play on Saturday. April The election of officers resulted:— Patron. Mr W. E. Desmond: pres!Mr W. E Moyle; •eeretary-tnuurar, Mr J. Machirua: board of control, Jl™ ”*S M - Paht - Cl*ridge. and G. Bluey. Mr Ruston was later elected as chairman.