Dispute Over Starting Date For Rugby

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31936, 13 March 1969, Page 14

Dispute Over Starting Date For Rugby

The tranquil atmosphere which existed for most of the annual meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening was rudely shattered near the end of proceedings when delegates questioned the right of the management committee to set the opening date for the senior competition.

The announcement by the president (Mr C. H. McPhail) that the committee had fixed April 12 as the starting date this year was the signal for the start of hostilities.

While agreeing that the date was a fair one, Mr Murray (Teachers’ College) regretted that power to set it had been taken awav from the annual meeting. He was supported by Mr J. B. Cummings (Marist) who said the item was set down for decision in the order paper for the annual meeting. A union newsletter last season had intimated that club delegates who had turned down April 6 as the starting date for the 1968 competition were “naughty boys,” said Mr D. Young (Shirley). But, he said, he would still vote the same way, for he felt that summer sports should be allowed to run their full course, before players switched to Rugby. Unilateral Decision Mr J. P. J. Twomey (University) moved that the meeting view with disfavour the outgoing committee’s unilateral decision to set the opening date. Mr McPhail: Your committee has made a challenge for the Ranfurly Shield. Are you happy with that? Mr Murray: Not relevant. Mr McPhail said the committee had the power to set the opening date, and referred to “lots of trouble" which had arisen last season because the competition had not started until April 20. Mr Twomey’s motion was then carried, 35-26, on a show of hands, and it was noticeable that at least one member of the management committee voted for the motion, although his hand was wavering.

I Mr Murray then moved that I the opening date for senior and senior reserve competitions this season be April 12, and this was carried. The delegates had had their way. Mr I. M. Willoughby said the passing of the motion meant that the annual meeting could dictate the opening date. But Mr McPhail said the committee had wide powers and could override such a direction.

Once the competitions committee had recommended an opening date, and it had been debated by the management committee, delegates would be irresponsible if they turned it down, unless very good reasons were advanced, said Mr B. J. Drake, This procedure, he said, should be followed in future years. “Then we will not have this

deplorable spectacle of the committee being castigated for something it has done in good faith.”

Greater Benefits Mr Drake held the floor for a good part of the meeting, out. lining the new insurance scheme to cover players against injury. Delegates agreed without dissent to adopt the scheme for a trial period. Further investigations should be made in the light of experiences in the coming season before the rules were altered, said Mr Drake. Under the existing scheme, the income from clubs in 1967 had been $245. and the payments made had amounted tn 5672, he said. The deficit had been met from the union’s general fund. Last year the postnon had shown Improvement but there had still been a deflet this time of *l7O.

Mr Drake said it was proposed to charge open grade teams $8 each, under-age sides $4. and country teams $8 under the new scale, and it was estimated that this would provide an income of $1768.

Setting the increased scale of benefits against this figure it appeared that the union might break even—but no-one could tell, he said. Mr McPhail said the increased benefits made the scheme realistic, and he felt that the charges—which worked out at 40c a head for open grade teams—were fair and reason, able.

The meeting agreed to retain a two-man selection panel for the Canterbury senior team and expressed general satisfaction at the new form the senior competition will take this season. It was also agreed to give clubs with two teams in the senior grade a tolerance for fhe first two games in the first round under which they could transfer players from one side to the other. Thereafter, such transfers would require the consent of the permit committee.

Mr McPhail was re-elected president; it will be his second term in office. Other officers elected were:—

Vice-presidents. Messrs j. Storey, R. W. Thomas, C. H Rhodes; treasurer. Mr J. K Torrance; committee, Messrs W V. Cowles, B. J. Drake, S. b! Southall, S. E. Husband, L F Adams. S. R. Williams, M. R Barnett, and D. B. Doake. There were 13 nominations for the eight vacancies on the committee.