RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 460, 19 March 1909, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

N.Z. RUGBY UNION. THE QUESTION OF SECESSION. A special meeting of the Council of tho New Zealand Kugby Union was held at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, to consider proposed amendments to tho laws of tho game. Mr. G. F. C. Campbell, president of the union, occupied tho chair. Tho following delegates were present:—Auckland—Messrs. G. H. Dixon, R. H. Froude; Buller-Mr. 11. W. Kelly; Canterbury—Mr. F. G. Wallburton; Hawke's BayMessrs. L. Sievers, Card, and J. P. Fortune; Muuawatu—Mr. A. N. Gibbons; Otugo—Messrs. H. Harris and R. M. Isaacs; Poverty BayMr. G. Lusk; South Canterbury-Mr. E. Wvliej Southland-Mr. R. Galbraith; Taranaki—Mr. W. C. Cargill; Wanganui—Messrs. A. Gray aud I. Hyams; Wellington—Messrs. E. 0. Hales, W. .l."Hardham, J. Lynskey, V. Meredith, and W. Coffey; West Coast—Messrs. G. Clarke, S. P. Eddy, and W. Perry. The principal alterations in tho laws of the game submitted by tho Management Committee provide:—(l) For four spells of 20 minutes each, with an interval after tho second spell. (2).1f a player carrying the ball be brought to tho ground and the ball touches the ground, he may nevertheless get up with it and continuo his run, or pass it, provided it bo done immediately; in every case where the referee orders a scrummage ho shall himself put the ball into tho said scrummage. (3) If. a player crosses an imaginary line drawn through tho back of the scrummage on his own side, while the ball is in the scrummage, his side shall bo penalised. (4) In all cases of free-kicks or kick at goal, tho opposite side shall not charge such kick. (5) The ball must bo thrown out so as to alight at right angles to and at least live yards from the touchlino. The proposed alterations were adopted by the council. Tho following motions came up for discussion ;— 1. That the' constitution of this union bo amended by the addition to rule 2 of tli-s words, "subject always to such modifications as this union may introduce."—Otago. 2. That a copy of the amendments in tho laws of the game, as approved, bo trans- . niitted to the English Union, with an intimation that it is the intention of this union to bring the amendments into force in tho coming season, and with the request that tho English Union will sanction tho modification in New Zealand of tho laws in tho manner that is contemplated by this union. —Otago.

3. Tiiat copies of tho last preceding resolution he forwarded to the New South Wales and, Queensland Rugby Unions for their information.—Otago. i. That tho alterations to the Laws of tho Game of BugbyFootball, as decided by the delegates of tho New Zealand football Union at a special meeting of the said Union held on October 8, 1918, ), a not carried into force until such alterations have been adopted by the other Australasian Rugby Unions.—Wellington. Rule 2, referred to in the first motion, provides that the New Zealand Rugby Union shall affiliate with the English Kugby Footba Union, and shall adopt the law's of footbull and tho rules as to professionalism as from timo to lima fixed by that body. Iu moving the first motion, Mr. Harris referred to the possibility of secession. Mr. I'rondo seconded the motion. , Mr. Dixon thought that such a step as projected was neither advisable nor good for the game in the Dominion. It meant that the praclcal effect would be isolation and perhaps the •beginning of an entirely new game here. Amtrouble hero was not in the rules but in the sp li 5?, Yi" ,cll tue *' were administered. Jr. Wyhe said that they did not understand Jast year that isolation would rosult, but if the motion was carried this would take place. He nought there was no great urgency, and further changes might be suggested in England and Australia. He thought the English Union would yield if New Zealand was backed up by Australia. '

Mr. Meredulrwas also strongly opposed to secession. Tho big football matches would go, oud with that would go the support of the pubic, as the interest in club matches would not be; so great. The standard of play would also be lowered. Tho connection with England was a shoej-anchor ugainst professionalism, for, while they remained attached, this was impossible. It did not follow if the changes were decided upon that the majority of tho clubs would follow, and it might.be that two branches ot Rugby would spring up. Mr. Coffey said if the secession was effected in. i-i i .- ?! ly enmity would happen. He did not think Mr. Wylie advanced a single solid argument against the proposal, and his opinion was that representative matches intereied with the game, and if thero was Jess tiavelling more interest would bo taken in it Mr. Lusk said that at least they required the support of Australia and South Africa. Mr. tralbraith stated that a legal opinion he had pbtamecHras to tho effect that unless the decision or this union was unauimous, any union could restrain by legal injunction any other union from using the present title of the union as at present constituted. He had reason o believe, that the New Zealand protests had borne fruit, and that a conference would be held when delegates would be invited to thresh out the questions. It would bo wise to wait until that conference was held. Mr. Harris asked: Does it follow that tho effect ot this resolution is secession? Cries of "Yes" and "No." Mr." Harris:' That is merely" the opinion of members. Ho did not think New Zealand had anything to learn from other footballers. The motion was lost by 35 votes to 17. In view of the rejection of tho motion, the second motion was altered to read as follows, and carried: That a copy of the amendments in the laws of the game as approved he transmitted to the English Union, with the request that, the English Union will sanction the modification of the laws in tho manner that is contemplated by this union. This resolution is to be forwarded to the South Africa, New South Wales, and Queensland unions. Mr. Harris tnoved that the expenses of one delegate from each union outside Wellington be paid by tho New Zealand Union, to the extent of 15s. per day in addition to transit expenses. This was carried. The question of drawing up a scale of travelling expenses was referred to the Management Committee. In reply to a question as to whether the committee had made arrangements regarding the conference with New. South Wales and Queensland, Mr. Dixon said he expected to hear shortly. It was decided to communicate again with the Australian unions in tho evont of no reply "being received. REFEREES' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Wellington Referees' Association, held on Wednesday night, was attended by about twenty members. Mr. F. A. laws presided. The report and balance-sheet (already published) were adopted. Intimation was received from the, Now Zealand Referees' l Association to the effect that the annual general meeting will bo held at New Plymouth on April 9 and 10. Officers for tho ensuing season were elected as follow:—Chairman, Mr. H. Card; vicechairman, Mr. G. Lusk; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. L. Sievers; revision committee, Messr6. H. Card, G. Lusk, and L. Sievers; hon. auditor, Mr. J. . F. O'Sullivan; members of appointment board, Messrs. Laws, Lusk, and Qilinn; nominee for vice-president New Zealand Referees' Association, Mr. F. A. Laws; delegate to New Zealand Referees' Association, Mr. H. Card. The election of tho Classification Committee stands in abeyance until the meeting a fortnight hence. . It was agreed that, subject to the consent of tho Rugby Union, future meetings of the association be herd in tho \ r .M.C.A. Rooms. The secretary was instructed to write to Messrs. P. Mackay and P. C. Atkinson, expressing appreciation of past sorvices rendered to the association, and wishing thein success in their new sphere. Notice of motion was given hy Mr. G. Lusk that junior members be eligible lor election on the Classification Committee. The sum of .C 2 2s. was voted to the secretary, Mr. L. Sievers, for his services during the past year. A vote of thanks to the retiring chairman, Mr. F. A. Laws, concluded the meeting. EXPELLED. FOR PLAYING N.U. RULES. The chief business at Wednesday night's meeting of the Management Committee of thu N.Z.K.u. was the consideration of a communication from the Southland Union with reforeuco to the expulsion of players in that district who ha dengaged in contests under the Northern Union rules last season. It was pointed out by tho Southland Union that a recent leltt-r, intimating tho decision of tho New Zealand Management Committeo was •he only answer which it had received to its loiter in October, when it sent tho names of tho players in question, and stated the peculiar circumstances of the'case so far as the Southland playnrs were ooncerned. On that occasion the players received no monetary benefit.

Tho circumstanoes which led to tho Northern Onion garno being started in Southland were of an exceptional nature, inasmuch as thirty players had beeu suspended, and, being deprived of their usual game, they had taken up Northern Union football lor tho sako of the exorcise, and with no idea of payment. As tho union had received notice of other suspensions it had naturally concluded that no action had boon taken, and, in consequence, tho players were now .rallying round their own clubs. It was a question of gravo importance to tho union, as the population of tho district was limited, as also was tho number of players. The union requested that tho expulsion bo removed, and felt sure- that in the event of that reasonable request being granted only tho Rugby game would bo played there during the ensuing season. . , During the discussion which followed, the chairman pointed out that it might bo a fact that the players had not received any monetary consideration, but thoy had acted with full knowledge of tho consequences. ,'~ , On the motion of Mr. Wylio it was decided that in addition to making an explanation, tho Management Committee should inform tho union that in expelling the players in question, it took the only course open to it, and had no power to reinstate them.

Owing to pressure on Bpace a number of arn nual reports and meetings of football clubs ar» held over.