ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3098, 31 May 1917, Page 7

ASSOCIATION

~ ♦ — THE GROUNDS QUESTION The Management Committee of tho Wellington lootball Association mot last evening. Mr. A. F,. Wells, presided, and there vera also present 'Messrs. Auld, Webster, Hill, Yeoman, and O'Drisooll. Owing to tho rules not allowing Mr. Loadbettnr, of the Hult, to retain his seat on tho committee owing \o his being linablo to attend tho meeting as a result of tho reduced train services, his plaoo_ l)8S become vacant, and a gonoral meeting is to bo called to appoint a. now member and also a schools' representative on the coinmitl.ee. Tho grounds question again came before the committee. Tho chairman (Mr. A. E. Wel/s) Teported that ho had again neon Councillor Frost in connection with this matter, and whilo they were discussing it most of the members of tho Reserves Committee had entered. The majority of the committee were now of tbo opinion that they had been too harsh in fneir first decision regarding tho grounds, and were propared to recommend lo tho City Council that two games a Saturday on each'- of tho grounds at Duppa Street and Kilbirnie and'two on every alternate Saturday at Newtown Parle br» allowed. . From tho Association's point of view the matter will be then satisfactorily fixed, and they will bo able to play all their fixture*. Air. Wells remarked that if it. had not been for- tho able assistance of Messrs, Marryatt and Wilson ho doubted that the Association would have got the required grounds. Ho moved the following resolution, which was unanimously carried: "That Mr. C. Wilson (Cricket Association) and Mr. A. Marryatt (Amateur Athlelic's Association) bo thanked for their assistance to this Association in its efforts to obtain full use of tho city reserves for tho carrying out of healthful recreation for tho benefit of the youth of tho city." It was roported that so far no reply hadjbeen received from tho Hiitt player who had been ordered off tho ground at tho Hutt on May ID. The committeo decided that ho had had ample;time to reply, and passed a resolution suspending him until such reply was received, provided that if the reply is received Before Saturday he will be allowed to play pending further inc-uiry (if necessary) into tho matter. , St. David's Club wrote asking that they bo given a bye on Saturday, as they might want lo go to Christcburch for the week-end to play a match there. It was urged that tho notice was by no means early enough, and would interfere with the fixtures, which had been drawn for th« season. Thorndon Club had been granted a bye, but they had given a fortnight's notice. It was therefore decided that in view of tho fixtures being already drawn, and tho small amount of timo before Saturday, that tho club's request could not bo agreed to. It was arranged that a ground bo given for a match to bo played at Newtown Park on Saturday between tho 29th and 30th lloinforcemonts.

An entry of a team in tho Sixth B grado was accepted from tho Thorndon Club.

Regarding footballs tho secretary reported that it was practically impossible to obtain them in New Zealand, and they had none in hand. It was decided that a cablegram bo sent to England ordering bulls for the next season. A number of balls arc also to be ordered for selling to tho different clubs, An important step which it is hoped will bo successfully carried out this year is tho appointment of a schools' committeo which is to be composed mostly of school masters. Although tho Jlauagement Committee did all tho work last year, it is hoped to stimulato tho schools playing by bringing tho proposed new committee into force, and it is proposed to eventually hand over tho maniigornont of tho schools contests to it. Circulars are lo bo sont round inviting school teachers interested lo attend a meeting of the Management Committeo,

On'in? to the fchnolfl being at present closed for holidays, tlin starting of tho nchools'_ competitions was hold over. It wa3 decided that Bo sixth grads matches ho played on Saturday, as the Marifit Schools aro closed, and they represent