WAIRARAPA RUGBY UNION

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 4

WAIRARAPA RUGBY UNION

ANNUAL MEETING. DT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Masterton, April 5. The annual meeting of the AVairarapa Rugby Union was held at Carterton' last night. There was a largo attendance of delegates. ■ Mr. A. B. Charters occupicd the chair. . . The annual report stated:—" Your Committee, in submitting tho annual report and balance-sheet, have pleasure in again congratulating the Union upon its very satisfactory financial position. -Wo commenced tho year with a credit of £70 4s. Cd., and liabilities £7 Is., and now show, a credit balanco of £143 18s. This must bo considered very good indeed. when ,we consider that this year wo had heavy expenditure in preparingf resh grounds, ground fees being £49. Tho satisfactory sum of £130 17s. was taken at the gates for club matches, and £77 13s. 3d. for representative matches. The chief items of expenditure beyond those mentioned are:—Referees' , expenses, £19 9s. 9d.; travelling, expenses, £50 Os. 9d.; printing and advertising, £37 6s. Gd.; new jerseys had to be procured at the beginning of the season, and. later had, to be ; added to, total cost, £7 19s. 6(1. In reference to reforees' expenses and travelling expenses of delegates, something. should be dono to try and effect a reduction. 'There are 110 clubs in arrear with their fees, a fine of £1 Is. being tho only outstanding money. '' The following representative matches were played during the season:—Seniors: AVellington, 'at Wellington, lost, 11. to 3; Thursday Union, at Carterton, won, 23 to 3; Manawatu, at Masterton, won; Hawko's Bay, at- Carterton, lost; Bush Districts, at Mangatainoka, won by 14 to nil; Wellington, at Masterton, drawn, 3 to 3. Juniors: Wellington, at Greytown, won, 21 to 3; Marlborough, at Greytown, won. The Cartel-toil team won the Senior Championship, while Marlborough won tho Junior. Heavy claims wero made on the insurance fund,'.all"avail-, able funds,, being absorbed, and leaving a liability of £7: but our Union has guaranteed £10 and .the, Thursday Union £5 to,the fund,, which £15 has not yet, been drawn from tho respective Unions. It was the intention of your Committee to .send tlio Senior Reps. South during tho year, but it was, impossible to arrange suitable dates. Your Committee would recommend that the question of a tour. South this year bo considered early in tho season, in order to try to arrange suitable dates with the Unions." Tho report and balance-sheet wero adopted. The following officers were elected for tho ensuing year:—Patron, Mr. W. C. Buchanan (re-elected); President, Mr. W. P. James (re-elected);, vice-presidents, Mr. J. M'Master, Dean. M'Kenna, Messrs. E. Bidwill, W. Strang, AV. M. Ilalley; secretary, Mr. A. L. Webster (re-elected);. treasurer,. Mr., ,C. ,J. Beard (re-elected); auditors,. Messrs. A. Wines and W. Tate; Management Committee, Messrs. A. B. Charters,. J. Duggan, B.'Chapman,' E. M'Kcnzic, A. Balfour, J. M. -Nichol, J. Lyall; Appeal.Committee, Messrs. J. W. Cochrane, H. Booth, S. Nicholls; Senior Selection Committee, Messrs. Messrs. E. L. M'Kenzie, A. B. Charters, L. Williams; Junior Selection: Committee, Messrs. B. Ivesoii, J. Briinton, J.' M. Nicholls; delegates to New 1 Zealand -Rugby Union,-Messrs. A. B. Charters,, D. K. Logan, D. Parton. ' Senior teams were entered from Masterton, Red, Stars, Carterton, Greytown, Te Ore Ore. Natives; Junior teams from Mastertoiij Red Stars, Carterton, Greytown, Dalefield; 111 addition to Thursday Union Club teams, and possibly a team from Martinborough, which is still to b'e classified. .-•■ It ,was decided that the Union should 1)0, represented . whenever.possiblo- at. tlio Now. Zealand Rugby Union. meetings by its own country members in preference to representatives residing in AVellington, the opinion being that local (lolegates were required who wore more in touch with AVairarapa. affairs. At. the same .timo no exception was takpiv to .pastr;Wellington; Wair-. arapa on tho New Zealand Union wlio .had heon .forthcoming- when the country - organisation could not ba conveniently represented by its.own local members. , . In the courso of a .discussion on-a motion that the Union should pay tlio-cost of travelling expenses of senior, and junior teams, it was; stated that this would.mean an extra expense of over £100.: If this were done*; the Union would be unable, to send away tins, season s'enior and junior representative teams, on tour, the; cost of which was estimated at' £250. It Would cost £45 a season for trav--oiling expenses, if. the junior teams - weroi limited to ; five teams. It was ultimately de-cided-that, with'a view to: fostering junior football, the : Union should pay. 50, per cent! of the of ' all-, junior players, in championship matches. .-- :...!' It was decided that a representative team should tour to Southland this coming season, playing-matches en route. It was also decided to make arrangements regarding dates itinerary as early, as possible. It was resolved to rccommend to delegates attending |tho New Zealand Rugby, Union meeting that tho Wairarapa Rugby Union be allowed half the gate money in the forthcoming match with the English team; further, that'representative teams be allowed tjie same amount in conncctibn with Ranfurly Shield matches. / ■ , ' 1 ■ . Tlib question of the insurance of players was discussed at some length. At present the Union controls jts. owu insurance' scheme", which is, for championship matches only, and' it was pointed out that last year a prominent player had had _ the misfortune to fracture a leg in a practice match. The opinion was expressed that footballers should bo insured for the full season, irrespective'of matches, but tho-Union did not feel financially strong enough for the undertaking. It was decided; therefore, to make arrangements if possiblo with sdme accident insurance'- association, but 'meaiiwhilo to continue the insurance of players in accordando with the previous conditions. ' -■;' ' '/ - / - In comicctio.n with tho forthcoming season it w r as dccided to begin the championship fixtures on April 25, and 1 to make arrange-, nients with the Bush Districts Union te play a representative' match with AVairarapa at Masterton -on tlio : Saturday previous to the England-AVairarapa ' match, so that tho: strongest available fifteen may be selected. The secretary, Mr. A. L. AA 7 ebstcr, was complimented upon, the manner in which he had carriod out his duties. He was. unanimously voted a bonus of five guineas. At the conclusion of the meeting; Mr., C. J. Beard, a one time champion: AVairarapa representative forwaftl, delivered an interesting, speech, during tlio course .of which , lie made a strong appeal for AA r airarapa .to again ,tako its position iis one of the Itugbj strongholds .of the Dominion.