Quiet C.R.F.U. annual meeting

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 4

Quiet C.R.F.U. annual meeting

Even without the reassurance of the Ranfurly Shield in Its midst, the annual meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening passed through nothing but cairn waters.

No-one questioned a report, or proposal, there was hardly a comment from the delegates, and amazingly, there was not one item of general business.

There was certainly no need to question the financial report, which, thanks to shield profits, presented another very rosy picture. The profit of $283,000 may have been some $25,000 down on 1984, but income was in fact higher and no-one took exception to the extra expenditure, mainly in respect of

travel and the upgrading of Rugby Park. The meeting did bid a fond farewell to its president of the last three years, Mr Mervyn Barnett, and there was heartfelt acceptance of his predecessor, Mr Benj Drake, into the ranks of the life members.

Mr Barnett’s description of Mr Drake as a man who has given outstanding service to the union over many years clearly fell on believing ears. The new president, Mr Les Russell, promised some exciting times ahead, including the recapturing of the Ranfurly Shield later this year. However, even if unsuccessful in this endeavour, he said that the new South Pacific championship in April and May promised much and

there was the big challenge of the World Cup next year. As part of this series, he said, Canterbury would host six international teams in the one week, and this was a task that would be bigger than anything the union had ever tackled before.

"Our years with the shield should, at least, give us some preparation for the work that is going to be involved, particularly in the ticketing area,” he said.

On the domestic front, Mr Russell said he intended to put special emphasis on junior rugby and he would be setting up a committee to look into this area.

“With the help of schools and the junior advisory board we want to find out where the

problems lie and once we know them we can tackle them,” he said. Mr Arthur Erdman, of the Lyttelton club, was elected to the vacancy on the management committee created by the election of a new president. Mr Erdman has, in fact, just finished a term on the committee as the representative of the referees’ association. The full list of officers is: President, Mr L. J. Russell; vice-presidents, Messrs M. R. Inglis, M. C. Sullivan and N. G. Gow;, treasurer, Mr I. A. Allott; committee, Messrs V. C. Thomas, P. E. Robinson, M. Cooper, L. W. McFadden, N. P. Blanchfield, A. T. C. Smith, G. P. Wilson, D. S. Frampton and A. H. Erdman.