FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 774, 24 March 1910, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

. WELLINGTON RUCBY UNION. ANNUAL MEETING. Tho animal meeting of delegate/ to the Wellington! Rugby Football Union was held last evening in. the Y.M.C.A. Buildings. There was a largo attendance of delegates, and Captain J. T. King (vice-president) occupied the chair. Letter from Dr. Newman, Dr..Newman, president of the union, wrote- resigning, his position as a trustee of the Athletic Park. Hβ pointed out that it was necessary that another trustee should be appointed, as ho was about to leave on a trip to the Old Land. When ho returned, howover, he added, ho would eontinuo to tako a ' keen interest in tho Rugby gamo, and ho hoped that tho affairs of the union would go ahead satisfactorily. ; . . ■ It was. decided to send a letter of farewell to Dr. Newman on his departure ■for the Old Country. Is tho Came Holding Its Own? The chairman moved the adoption of tho annual report and balance-sheet (a summary, of which was published, yesterday). - • Mr. D. Weir expressed tho opinion that tlie annual report was a; facsimile of the reports.that Lad been prepared during; the. past, twenty-fivo years. Ho thought that footballers had a right to expect something more.- It seemed to him that, in the report, there should bo some mention :of tho number of players taking, part as compared with that of the previous.-,year. There should, be .also a-.comparison, of tho quality of the play, and- some, reference to the undoubted fact that. Wellington players gave . exhibitions of good football, and that they also "played ■ > the gamo" off the field. At the. present time, there were seventy-six ■ teams .in Wellington playing "soccer" football." There were therefore 836 players," of- whom .370 were boys. As for Rugby,-there were 95 teams (1425 players), including 18 schoolboys' .. teams, , • Wednesday, and Saturday- teams.- • Rugby players numbered 539 more than active supporters of the Association game: Boys playing Rugby numbered 27.0,- so that tho •balance, in favour of ."soccer," aa far as .the boys were concerned, ; was 100. it was a matter, in the speaker's opinion,- which , should: receive careful attention by the Management Committee. After! urging that a, special committee should bo formed for the purpose of arranging' matters regarding grounds, tho speaker remarked that, although the union had worked hard to get a loan of £27,000 through for the improvement of city grounds, during the Hon. T. W. Hislop's term of office as Mayor, footballers. had obtained only tho Dup'p'a Street ground. There had been considerable disorganisation last season through tho action of tho caretaker of-Nowtown Park refusing to allow matches to '.be i played... The speaker contended that the cutting-up uf a ground by footballers; was really beneficial to the-.-'ground, and would not interfere' With -, tho "growth of grass. He ■ suggested, finally : that a. codo .of signals should;.be fixed/.Eo' that , a. doctor would not be called, across a ground when nothing, mors was required than a now jersey, ■'.■•. - Mr. W. Coffey said that No. 1 ground at the Athletic "Piirk. 'was 'in a disgraceful state;last.',.season,! .and. it should - be promptly drained. .. Schoolboys. ariti" Rugby. ' Mr.. J. D. Lynskey. said that.schqol.boys were taking l a satisfactory interest in Rugby'.,'' 'x'h'o' 370; boy-players'," of "soccer".; were.-nearly i all ..included. ;in ; tho %V Rugby players, and .they 'simply took part, in Association games "for-a bit of, fun." ...) ... ■■'.'■ ■ ■ Another, delegate suggested that the Athletic Park.should bo "paraded" ,beforo 'the City Council as an ' example- of what Rugby football did to': a ground. The proper time to examine a reserve used for football, was'not in the middle of. winter, but. in ..the middle of summer.. ... ■ ;.-••:.. •' '-.;.. .. ":, . \ Replying to the remarks- of - deleeates,' oh behalf".qf:.:the'-: Management ommittee,,.Mr. S..:S. Brown said, that the City Council had not treated ..tho union, at;, all (fairly .-In October last the council. had : notified that; grounds would bo allocated in-proportion to tho numbers of jnembers connected with tho various sports.; A day or two ago, with Mr. W. Perry, he had waited upon tho' Reserves Cqnimittee of the council, but the committee still' expressed fear for tho grounds, .despite the' fact that expert advice, had been received from Sydney, Dunedin, Napier." and other places, that football was good for tho grounds._ -"As things are, wo shall just have to jog along, added Mr. Brown. ■ The report was adopted. . Eleotion of Officers. Mr. W. Perry moved to amend rule 21 of the general , rules to read;as follows: —"The .'Management Committee shall appoint each .year a senior and junior , match committee, to consist of not more than three members respectively, none of whom shall be an actiyo player. •• Tho Management Committee shall fill any vacancies occurring in such committees." ! - The amendment of tho rulo was ' agreed to by 23 votes to 15, and tho ■ election of officers was proceeded with, ! resulting as follows:—President, Dr. A. K. Newman; . vice-presidents! Messrs. ; J.'T.,King, G.'F. C. Campbell, A. H. ' Turnbull, .and J. P. Firth; Wednes- ' day representative on Management : Committee, Mr. 3. P. O'Sullivan; treas- : urer, Mr. W. Perry; Management Com- • inittee, Messrs. W.- J.'Hardham,' P. ! Peters, S' S; Brown, E. 0. Hales, J. : Sweeney, A. B. Wilson; J. Burns; auditors, -Mesers. P. Smith; : ; and A. F. ' Wiren; secretary,' Mr. W. G. Tnlbot; ' delegates to New Zealand Union, Messrs. F. Roberts; J. T. King, J: D. Lyiiskey, B. 0. Hales, and W. Coffey. '•

A New Club. Tho Hutt Club was nominated for affiliation, and delegates agreed that it ehould be joined to'the union. , , ~ Club Accounts. Mr. 3. •.]?. O'Sullivan moved, on behalf of the Management Committee, to. add to tho rules as , follows:—"Every, club shell forward.to the secretary of tho union, not''later thin the diito. fixed the annual, meeting,of-, tho respective clubs in each" year, their statement of receipts a'nfl "expenditure-for .the. proceding financial-period,' and.'if thought necessary, tho union may demand: the production of all books of accounts, papers, documents, etc., of nny club for the purpose of audit." Tho motion was carried. Accident Fund. On behalf of the Management Committee, Mr. S. S. Brown moved an alteration to tho Accident Fuud Regulations (ltulo 2, page 22), that each club, with tho exception of St. Patrick's 'College and Wellington College, shall subscribe to the'fund at tho following rates for each of its teams entering for tho contests:—Senior, .£2 ss. each; junior, £2 2s. 6d. eaclf; thirdclass, £1 11s. each; fourth-class, £1 Bs. 6d. each; fifth-class, 15s. 6d. each; Wednesday tennis, £1 16s. each. (The fee. for Wednesday teams was altered to £2 '2s. 6d...aiid tho-new re r gulation was then adopted. Mr. T. Walshc suggested that .tho £95-spent last season. in medical". attendance could have been considerably reduced. He thought that" players' who! i sustained nicrclv sludit injun , . such as

a bruise or a sprain, might be deterred from "ruiuiing to tho doctor" if they were required themselves to pay, say, onb-third of the initial consultation fee. ■ Athletic Park Matches. On the motion of Mr. W. Coffoy, it was resolved that it be an instruction to tho Management Committee to devise a, .scheme whereby teams other than those leading in tho competition should be given an opportunity of playing on the Athletic Park on Saturdays. Mr. H. Kelly, treasurer of the N.Z. "Union, said l that the terms of tho ngreenient with the Wellington Union made it imperative that two of the most important matches should bo played on the Athletic Park every Saturday. Secretary's Salary. It was agreed to increase the secretary's annual salary from £50 to £75. ASSOCIATION. ' REFEREES' ANNUAL MEETING. REVISION OF THE RULES. Tho annual meeting of the Association Football Referees' Association was hold at* tho Trocadero on Tuesday eveningj N. Auld presiding. ' 'iho committee, in its annual report (which was adopted), stated that tho membership was now larger than it had ever been before/ and very little difficulty had been experienced in finding referees for all matches. A new got of rules had been drawn up, and would bo acted, upon ■ this season. Tho sub-committee on the revision of tho by-laws recommended:—That the future examination of proposed new members he by means of verbal questions ■by the examination committee, and illustrated by diagrams where .necessary, and-, that candidates must undergo a test nmtch. That the examination committee consist of four properly-qualified referees, and that at least two examine each candidate. That the examiners roport tho result of all examinations to the secretary within three days. That it be a recommendation that referees should report to the Referees' Association for. misconduct, etc., so that tho merits or demerits may 'be. discussed—such discussion not to take place while the case is . sub judice. !' That arrangements be made, for a regular series of lectures and discussions on at least alternate meetings during the season. That, whenever asked, the Referees' Association should supply a referee to give lectures to boys' teams. '; That an appeal be made to. all clubs to provide linesmen for each competing teaiu, and that such linesmen be asked , to attend meetings with, a' view to proper instruction in the laws of the game. That the appointments committee'consist of three members, and it is considered that the secretary need not he a member. That all minutes of each meeting bo properly kept and duly confirmed at tho next meeting; and that all subcommittee "reports bo in writing. It is considered, that, a retirod player's connection with a club should not debar him from referoeing in matches whoro that club is concerned. The above recommendations were adopted, and it was also decided that Rule 4 be altered to read: "An appointment committee consisting 'of threo members shall be elected to appoint referees., for matches." ■': .. ... ..

The following officers were .elected :— President,' Mr;. C. E.' Fordham; vicepresidents,' Messrs. W. Auld and B. L. Salmon; secrotary, Sir. A.. Newbold; treasurer, Mr. S. F. iM'Lean; management committee, Messrs. H. G.'. Mayor, J. B.'Paton, J. Davidson, H.. Yeoumans; examination committee, Messrs. Salmon, Paton, Mayer, Yooumans; appointment committee, Messrs. Salmon, Mayer, J. Davidson; delegate' to Now Zealand Referees' Association," Mr. W. :E. Wells. . . •■ ■-■> .

:.,Tho Wednesday Association ivroto asking whether the 'association could .supply referees for Wednesday matches. Messrs. Mayer, Davidson, Ferkin's, Anderson, B. L. Salmon, J. J. Roberts, and H. Waters expressed willingness to nieet the wishes of the Wednesday players. • . . . ~

A mooting of the committee of the Wellington- Football Association was held last evening, Mr. H. .N. Holmes presiding. • : . - ■"• The.application of tho.Seatoun Boys' Club for affiliation was granted, tho colours to bo light and dark green shirts.' The' questiohof marking grounds on all Miramar. arid city grounds was left to tho conimitteo to arrange. Tho question of entries from tho Porirua boys'' teams was left to the boys' sub-committee to,report on. In this connection' several town teams expressed their willingness to travel out to Porirua. . . .. A special sub-committee was set up to draft rules for the Wednesday competition, and also to revise the by-laws of the association. ■ ,Tho St. David's Club, Petdrio, wroto stating , that they had made arrangements for a ground at Petone, and their; action was confirmed. i