RUGBY FINANCE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 220, 11 June 1924, Page 10

RUGBY FINANCE

GATE RECEIPTS FROM BIG MATCHES

DIVISION OF TAKINGS Particulars of the gate receipts at the recent series of big Rugby fixtures were announced at the meeting of the Management Committee of . the Wellington Rugby Union last night. The local union, it was stated, would benefit to the extent of £570, and the parent body would be the better off by £2280. Appended are the gross receipts for the three matches: — £ s. d.

North Island PossibiesProbables 695 5 11 North Island v. South Island 1840 5 3 New Zealand PossiblesProbables 698'18 3. Total £3234 .9 3 The chairman (Mr. J. Prendeville), in announcing the division of the takings, remarked that £4OO would be ear-marked by the Management Committee for what is known as the “stand fund.” Owing to the wet Saturdays, the returns from the club matches had not been as good as they might have been, and they could only hone that the wet Saturdays had finished.

“What about approaching the trustees in regard to the new stand?” suggested .Mr. F. A. Laws. The chairman said that before that course was followed the committee would have to be in possession of the full data. He remarked that the returns from the North-South contest indicated that’ the attendance must have reached 19.000.

WELLINGTON UNION ’ MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DECISIONS. The weekly meeting of the Afanagement Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union was held last night. Mr. J. Prendeville presided. Also present were:—Messrs. J. N. Afillard, A. Jackson, G. F. IV. Jackson, F. A. Laws, S. G. Hale, E. Perry, H. Murphy, Father Kane, E. H. Ward (primary schools), and T. A. Fletcher (Referees’ Association).

It was decided to appoint Mr. Jd. Pollock, of Petone, to the vacancy on the Junior Advisory Committee occasioned by the departure of Air. G. H. Reynolds for Wanganui. Eulogistic reference was made to the work Mr, Reynolds had done on the committee, also to his services to the ga>ie in Petone. The committee further placed on record its appreciation of the services of Air. Harman, another Petone enthusiast, who has been transferred to Auckland.

The Hutt Club advised that the official opening of its gymnasium would take place on Tuesday next. Messrs. Hale and Murphy were appointed the committee’s delegates. The application for reinstatement of J. W. E. Young, of Newtown, was forwarded to the New Zealand Union for favourable consideration. Advice was received from the Eastbourne Club that Dr. Mather would oct as union doctor in the East Harbour district during the season. Dr. Mather was thanked for her offer.

Petone ajud Poneke sixth B teams were awarded the matches in which Wellington College inadvertently played a boy over age. The Public Works’ team were granted the use of Kelburn Park on Wednesday next for their annual fixture with the Internal Affairs Department. Players Punished.

Following its usual custom, the committee adjudicated in committee on the "■■uses of three players who had been ordered off the field on Saturday for rough play. One fifth-grade player was cautioned and another was suspended tor two playing Saturdays. A senior player, ordered off on a charge of striking another player, was suspended for three playing Saturdays. Forthcoming Fixtures. Fixtures for Saturday, June 21. were arranged as follow: — Hutt v. Marist, Athletic Park, 1.15 p.m. Petone v. Athletic, Athletic Park, 3 p.m. Old Boys v. Berhampore, Kilbirnie. ’Varsity v. Oriental, Basin Reserve. Selwyn v. Poneke, Newtown Park. Wellington, a bye.

POSTPONING FIXTURES ANNOUNCEMENTS TO BE MADE EARLIER. Th© question of making an earlier notification of postponements on Saturdays was considered at the meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union last night, when several requests for refunds of train and ’bus fares were received. “The same trouble happened last year,” remarked the chairman (Mr. J. Prendervdlle). "No notices of postponement were circulated until after 12 o’clock. Most of the offices shut at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday, and the only thing to do is to make the decision for or against as soon after 11 as possible and abide by it. If the weather continues rough, leave it to the referees to use their own discretion on the ground.” Mr. F. A. Laws said that the adverse weather conditions had prompted the Postponement Committee to decide against playing the lower grade matches. It was hardly the thing to ask youngsters to play under such conditions, particularly on, grounds where no dressing accommodation or shower baths were provided. . Mr. S. G. Hale considered that the weather conditions had not been sufficiently bad to warrant a postponement of all games. “Surely,” he said, “the boys are not made of sugar or chocolate and will melt. The other codes played, and we should try to give the. lower grades a game whenever the Director of Reserves allows us«to play, and there is dressing accommodation on the grounds.. y erry . was Bn( j er f] ie impression that 12 o’clock was the recognised hour for the notification of postponement. It was decided to announce future postponements at as near to 11 o’clock as possible.

WARNED OFF FOR THREE YEARS OPEN BETTING ON FOOTBALL GROUND. By TKi.'EGiiArn—Press Association. Christchurch, June 10. At to-night’s meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union, the case was considered of Arthur Brunsden, who was “warned off” for three years by the Ashburton County Rugby Union for openly betting on a football ground and usino- abusive language to a union official ~ Correspondence was received from the Ashburton Union, enclosing ail particulars of the incident. These showed that Brunsden, who was coach to the Celtic Club, was present at the Celtic-Methven match on May 12. The betting took place at half-time, and tho Ashburton Union official heard Brunsden say: “I’ll bet you a pound Celtic wins ” and saw the money covered. Alter the match, Brunsden approached the official, and in the ensuing conversation used abusive language. At a subsequent meeting of th© Ashburton Umon, Brunsden pleaded guilty and apologised to the official. At the Canterbury Rugby Union meettog to-night, tbe chairman (Mr. S. F. Y? ! 1bou) eaid the union had to deal

with the mailer in some way. Mr. A. Duggan moved that the union endorse the Ashburton Union’s action and forward it on to the New Zealand Union. Mr. A. Day suggested that tne penalty was too light. Mr. W. Maxwell said that he Hiouchi the matter should be left for the New Zealand Union. Mr. Wilson: “Why put the responsibility on the New Zealand Union? Dr. W. S. Seed moved, as an amendment, that Brunsden be disqualified for Me. This was lost on the voices. Mr. Day s amendment that the penalty oe increased to seven years lapsed for want of a seconder. Finally Mr. Ducgafas motion that the Ashburton Unions penalty be endorsed was earned by a small majority.

SELECTION OF ALL BLACKS By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, June 10. At tho Dominion conference of the RS.A. the matter of an alleged military defaulter being included in the All' Black team was discussed. A sul>committeo was set up to investigate the matter and it reported that there was no evidence available sufficient to justify taking action in the matter.