WELLINGTON RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 64, 9 December 1936, Page 20

WELLINGTON RUGBY

Tributes to Mr. J. N. Millard 21 YEARS’ SERVICE Occasion was taken by the members of the management committee of the Wellington Rugby Union last night to congratulate Mr. J. N. Millard upon the fact that he has completed 21 years’ service as a member of the committee. The chairman, Mr. J. Prendeville, in proposing Mr. Millard’s health, said that during his long term on the committee his counsels had been marked by such sound judgment that he had added lustre to the committee. During the seven years he had filled the position of sole selector, he had raised the standard of Wellington Rugby to a high plane. On behalf of the committee, Mr. Prendeville presented Mr. Millard with a blazer to mark his 21 years’ service as a committee man, and also asked Mr. Millard to convey a presentation from the committee to Mrs. Millard for her forbearance in allowing him to devote so many of his evenings to the furtherance of the Rugby game in Wellington. Several other members voiced their appreciation of Mr. Millard’s services. In responding, Mr. Millard said he had not sought a position on the committee. and had not even been a delegate when he had been elected in his absence. He realised now that it was the best decision he ever made when he consented to take a seat on the committee. The 21 years he had spent at the council table had been full of interest, and it had been an honour and pleasure to work with such a harmonious committee.

With regard to his term as sole selector, he did not take special credit for any success Wellington Rugby may have had during those seven years. Such success had been due to a change in system; the old system of selection had been wrong. He could not but feel proud of Wellington’s prowess in 1930, when the representative fifteen had defeated the British team, the New South Wales fifteen, and the All Blacks. During his term as sole selector, Wellington had sent three teams to the South Island, and on two occasions they had enjoyed an unbeaten tour. During the seven years he had officiated as sole selector, Wellington had only been beaten three times at Athletic Park. He had enjoyed every minute of his term on the committee, and he hoped to be spared to serve Rugby for many years to come.

In responding to a toast to his health, Mr. Prendeville announced that this would probably be the last meeting of the committee he would attend, as he did not intend to seek re-election next year. He had enjoyed his 18 years’ association with the committee, but had come to the conclusion that it was time he gave way to a younger man.