NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 95, 23 April 1894, Page 4

NEW ZEA LA ND RUG BY UNION.

ANNUAL MEfe/TINO. ''»" The Beoond annual mer-tni,; of Hin New I i Zoaland Kugby Union was bold at tho Club i'^ Hotel on Saturday evening, Mr. 0. F. 0. J. PH _ Campbell, Presidont, in tho chair. Messrs. As <i. H. Djxon (Auckland), J Curd and X tlw Ttatcholor (Woat Coast), I. i TyauiH (Wanga- m * jmi), M. Hylnnd (Bush Dirttricts), G. 0. ,PI, PI '•".who. K. Davoy, urnl A. T. Bato (Wel.iiijr- a ,V ton), Woenoy (Southland), T R. Crosawcll ro ( Hntorbury); II J. M'T.oan (North Canterbury),!', f . Ronaldson (Tatannki). A. Do Costa i 'ovort.y Bay), K. D. DnuciUi (Manawatu). V. Powiiall (Wairirapa), J. P. Firth (Nelson), of ". P. Wobb (Varlbornnjjh) «'. MorrWoi. no ( K-uvkes Bay), and X, D. Hobon (Hon. Sou.), '«> wore present. j£' KtW ADMISSIONS. W| The Canterbury Ruprby Union was ad- t 8 mittod on tho motion of Mr. Hoben, seconded by &lr. Bate, tho mover remarking that he m tad tho moro pleasure in doing s6 in that co Canterbury was tho first Union in New Zea- r0 land which baS formally approved of his action in tho matter of forming the New m , Zoaland Union, and which had passed a a y resolution desiring him to continue. of Tho Cantorbnry colours— scarlet and black baro — were registered. The Southland Rugby Union— consisting of 12 clubs, three of which play three fifteens -was admittod, on tho motion of Mr. Dixon, seconded by Mr Hobon, but ita colours (maroon) oould not bo registered, as they wore already registered by tho Mana- Tl watu Union. th An application was received to admit a { new Union, to bo called tho Bnller District Union. Mr. Hobon said the proposed Union ot cut off a portion of tho West Coast Union, th and ac that Union was only now emerging as p( a stronjr Union, it wonld bo seriously m weakened if it were allowed to break up in ar this mananr, and tho multiplication of small W( Unions was not desirable. In the case of ono Union which throatoned to split in two last year, bo had pointed out tho folly of so doing, and tho proposal had N been abandoned Messrs. Bonaldson and Ti Dixon agreed, Mr. Dixon saying that \\ in Auokland caro was taken to encourage j>. the smaller country Unions to affiliate through the obief Union in the province, instead of dirootly, and to select the provin- *> oial representative team from the whole. " Oa tho motion of Mr. Dixon, seconded by M Mr. Firth, it, was deoided to make fnriher 8 enquiries from the Bnller and the West Coast Union before-, considering the appli- q oation. J BBPOBT AND BAI.ANCK-BHKT. g The balance-shoot Bhowed a dobit balance ft duo to arranging the trial matches, Ac prior to the doparture of the roprosontative _ team. On tho motion of Mr. Dixon, it was £ deoided to send affiliated Unions a precis of tho balanoo-sheet. i A telegram from the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. L. Coupland, who had been called away to Auokland, bonveyod apology for his absenco. Regret was expressed at Mr. Coupland haVinx found himself compelled to £ roliriquish tho office which ho had hold since * tho formation of the Union. v In moving tho adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, the President congratulated I the delegates upon the position of the Union ' If they continued as they baa dono those c who bad formed the Union would have no c cause for regret. Since their last annual a meeting they bad welcomed the Bush Dis- C triot, Poverty Bay, and Horowhenua Unions, a and now thoy woloomod Canterbury and Southland. Tho banding togother of the ' Unions of the colony for mutual support >' had already proved of grdat advantage to ( football, but they must not gauge their strength by tho largo number of Unions affi iated, but by the good results which they hoped to bring about. Tho functions of a g Now Zoaland Union woro to deal with matters of colonial importance, and not to interfere I in the business or local concerns of affiliated 'J Unions. On this point the actions and in- h tontions of tho offioora had been misropre- t Bontod in some quarters. Thoy had never contemplated in any way embarrassing affiliated ( bodios. Tho Australian tour had boon the 1 chief event of the year, and it was a matter of regrot that it could not be extended to Vio- " toria, whore Rugby, football was advancing n under the guidance of the Rev. Mr. Hoatson, and the next New Zealand team for Aus- ( tralia should certainly visit Melbourne. x Tho Australian tour had boon a success, and j had stimulated football not only in New j Zealand, but in Queensland and New South / Wales. As to the New South Wales visit to , this colony this year, ponding the annual , mooting of that Union there was nothing , official regarding it. but Mrt Hoben had re- ( ooived. that day a letter from Mr. Band, , Hon. See. of tho New South Wales Union, ( repeating the assurances givon him by the committco of that Union as to their intentions to visit New Zealand. He could assure the visitors hospitable entertainment and good games. Referring to the proposed Reforees' Association, ho said it was on tho basis of thoso of t»ow South Wales and Queensland, and it was intended to leave _ the affiliated Unions to work out tho "" ' scheme for themselves. The Australasian Union was an important matter. To some it might seem merely a high sounding phrase, but it was not so. It was a practical soheme to bind tho Unions together under one code of laws. There was no suoh, thing here as professionalism, but surprise bad been expressed at the strong hold it had obtained in the Old Country, and it behoved the Colonial unions to unito and maintain our present freedom from it. An Australasian Union would make dis. qualifications general, and it would obtain fair representation in the Old Country. It would also prevent small innovations in tho rales. The Australian Unions were at one with New Zealand on the snbJ9Ct. With referenoe to sending a team to England, nothing which had been done had committed tho Now Zealand Union to it. There had been correspondence, and it was an undertaking which no sensible body wenld undertake without knowing the ground thoy were going on, and it would require the utmost caution and enquiry. Unions Heed not fear that they would be committed to it without full consultation. It was otfjeotod that the team mnßt become professionals, but there was no reason why they should not go to England and return aa amateurs, and there was no reason why a colonial team should not be got together without leaving their wiveH and familios starving in the colony, as had been alleged. The sending of a team would be a Rood ndvertiament for the colony, and would have an exhilarating effect on New Zealand football. That it would unfit men for their work he did not believe. Young mon in the colonies were always travelling about, and his experience was that it was those who stopped at home who were unfitted for work. If the direful oonsnquonoes which had been prophesied were at all likely to accrue, ho could aay that no 1 toam would leave this colony for England. (Applauße). Tho motion waa seconded by Mr. Firth and otrried. NIW RULES. On the motion of tho Chairman, various verbal amendments were made in the Bylaws, including better definition of the right of further appeal to the English Union, and provision tor the appointment of an Assistant • Seoretary and a Management Committee. Tho Chairman said that so much work had devolved on tho Hon. Secretary that it was absolutely necessary he should have assistance, TBX REPRESENTATION QUEBTION. A notice of motion by Mr. King to mako the basis of representation the number of playing members, instead of teams as at present, was negatived. There was a long disoussion upon a motion by Mr. Hoben to double tho subscription and alter tho representation. Mr. Hoben said this had been rendered absolutely necessary owing to the inoreasod expenses of managemont, consequent upon arranging the 'trial matches last year and getting the representative toam away, and there would be similar expense this year ' 3ho present subscription was nominal, and only sufficed in years in which there was not extraordinary expenditure. Mr. Dixon moved a further amendment altering the representation upon the basis of bo many votes for each provincial district, and to allot the votes to the chief and minor Unions within thoso districts. With Mr. Ronaldson he hold that this would discourage tho formation of small Unions. Mr. Hobon sai3 that they could prevont the formation of too many Unions by rofusing to affiliate thorn. Ho contended that representation by the number of teams with an inoreased maximum of votes was tho fairest plan. Ultimately, on the motion of Mr. Bate, the matter was referred to tho Committee, with a request that they reconsider the whole ' subjeot of representation and subscription, and report to a special meeting at an oarly date. A 'motion by Mr. Dixon, seconded by Mr. Cresswell, suggesting that the committee consider tho proposal on the basis of territorial representation, was oarried. ELECTION OF OFFICRIiS. The following officers wore elected -.— Patron, His Exoollonoy the Earl of Glasgow ; President, Mr. F. Logan (Hawkes Bay); Vice- Presidents, Messrs. J. Snodgrass (Marlborough), G. F. Bayly (Taranski), E. M. I>. Whatman (Wairarapa), G. F. C. Campbell (Wellington), A. K. Devore (Anokland), W. U. Littlejobn (Nelson), J. A. Harding (Poverty Bay), G. H. Smith (Bush distriots), G. H. Uoyd (West Coast)— the Canterbury, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, South Canterbury, Southland, and Wan'ganni nominations wero not to band, but are to be telegraphod ; Hon. Sec, Mr. E. D. Hoben ; Hon. Assistant Sec, Mr. A. de Costa ; Management Committee, the delegates for Auokland, Canterbury, West Coast (Mr. Card), Wellington (Mr. Bate), and Southland (Mr. Wesney), with the officers ex offieio; Appeal Committee, Messrs. F. Logan (Hawkes, Bay), G. F. C. Campbell (Wellington), J P. Firth (Nelson), T. Henderson (Auokland), and W. J. Cotterill (Canterbury) ; Auditors, Messrs. L. Coupland and T. S. Ronaldson. In moving , the ro-election of tho Hon. Secretary, Mr. ' Firth Baid that the value of Mr. Hobon' s services to tho Union were so great that anything ha could say in commendation of them would be almost reirarded as importinenqo. Mr. Dixon, in seconding tho motion, which was carried amid applause, said. that nobody recognised more than the Auokland Union tho immense services Mr. Hobon hod i-ouderod to New Zealand football and the Now Zoaland Union. The appointment of an hon. treasurer was doferred pending the appointment of a sueoessor to Mr. Coupland as delegate for Auckland. REVgREt'B ASSOCIATION The rules of the proposed Roforco's Association were adopted wuh immaterial amendment, and tho appointment of an hon. secretory to the Association and tho fixing of liead-quartors was hold over till next moet>ng, Mr. Hoben to act pro tern. •. v XUSTBAiASIAN RUQBT UNIOK. On the motion of Mr. Dixon the action of ' the Executive with relation to the Australasian Union was cordially approved. Mr. Hoben raid that when he laid the proposals before tbe Australian Unions he bad conaiderablo argument with » strong section' of tho committee who do«ired to reserve tho right of playing amendments to the rules before their adoption by the English Union. ' He had contended strongly that a chief ; plank in the new Union must be the nnifonn ;

adoption of the English playing rules. Tha mooting ultimately agreed with him, and ho was ploasod to learn from a letter received Hia< day that the Now South Wales Union im.i do'-ided to nrtboro «tri<:tly to tbe fcnglish . Kwntr rules; ■-. he lud clnimod should be In» v ud for tho fiivt time ill tho colonies .'•\ine Rnifbv would this -uason be under Uo.-i.sely similar rules. Tl.w was tbo first roHiilt of tho Australasian I.'nion movement. As to representation on tlie body wbirb made the lawa, the English Union had ottered ono im-niber of the committee, but on Mr. Polbser, the Now Zealand Union s repro,r»nta'ive in l ondon, objecting to this ns_in-adem-vto, they had withdrawn , it wi h a vie« -o considering ihe whole question this yeai . THB*NEW SOUTH WALT.S V.BIT. A letter was read from tbo Hon. Secretary of tho New Fonth Wales Union stating tbat ho anticipated that his annual meeting wculd definitely decide to send the representative team to New Zealard this spar, as P~«»c.l; It was understood that a North Island match would be played at Auckland and a South Island match ut Christchurch. On tbo motion of Mr. Hoben. seconded by Mr. Firth, it was resolved to extend a cordial invitation to the New South Wales ro DXg natcsVn atcs Ve baVin R stated the proposed movements of thoir Unions, the meeting oloßcd with hearty votes of thanks to the officers and to the chair.