FOOTBALL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 69, 22 March 1906, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE CORINTHIAN ASSOCIATION TEAM. PROPOSED VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND ABANDONED. Several months ago there was published' in the Post a cablegram stating that The People, an English paper, was l>repared to give a guarantee which would enable the Corinthians, a notable Association football team in England 1 , to make a tour of Australasia. This morning Mr. F. J. Courtney, Hon. Secretary to the New Zealand Football Association, received a letter from Mr. G. A. Parker stating that he regretted to »d,ythe Corinthian Olub ih«.d at last decided apainst the projected* Australasian tour. He had! hoped that as the difficulty of finance had been overcome by the generous offer of The Peop'.e to pay any loss on the tour, that this famous combination would have accepted an invitation from New Zealand. The difficulty with them was that of time, *nd the club could not persuade a sufficient number of its players to undertake so long a journey. Mr. Parker went on to say that he was loaving for Americalost month to arrange on behalf of clubs out there for the visit of the Corinthians next August and' September. If this tour ia s.' financial success — and there is, he says, '.every prospeob of it — he will ask the proprietors of The People to authorise 'him to i-aisje a good "swatch" amateur team selected from the chief amateur clubs in Great Britain for a tour of Australasia later on. He would, he says, communicate further -with Mr. Courtney on the eubject at a later date. PETONE CLUB. Some eighty members attended the annual meeting of the Petone Football Club held -in the local Oddfellows' Hall last evening. The President (Mr. J. T. King) occupied the chair. The annual report aud balance-sheet, a summary of which has already been published, were adopted, Appreciation •vyas expressed of tho sound financial position of the club. Mr, King, m intimating that he did not intend to- again accept nomination as President, said he had come to that decision with regret, as he had been one of the original founders of tho club, and took a keen interest in its welfare. He, however, did not now live in their midst, nnd he realised that the interests of the club would be better eerved if the President was a local resident. He therefore) proposed Mr. J. B. 'Hooper, who was now a Vice-President and a strong supporter of the club. The motion was seconded by Mr. W. Hardhain, who voiced the club's regret at Mr, King's retirement. Mr. Hooper was then elected. Other officers were, elected as follows : — Vice-Presidents, Drs. Ross and Perry, Messrs. A. Coles, J. T. M. Wilford, iM.H.R., R. Mothcs, A. Fraser, J. T, Cheeseman, A. Cowie, and J. T. King ; iCaptain, 'Mr- W. Hardham, V.C. (re-elected); Vice-Captain, Mr. o. Drjscoll (re-elected) ; Secretary, Mr. D. Fraser; Assistant-Secretary, Mi-. J. Thompson ; Treasurer, Mr. G. H. Selwppd (re-elected) ; Selection Committee, Captain, Vice-Captain, and Mr. J. Lynskey (all re-elected) ; Management Committee, Messrs. W. Fraser, J. Price, and F. Swindale, and officers; delegates to Wellington Rugby Union, Messrs. J. T. 'King, W. ' King, and W. Hardham (all ' re-elected) ; Auditors, Messrs. Wynvard'and Lynekey. 'Messrs. J. T. King, \W King, and *H. Lark Ayere elected life-members of tho club in recognition of past services. On the committee's recommendation, the delegates were instructed to urge that the Rugby Union issue, receipt books jn ..triplicate to each affiliated club, one receipt to be given to the i member paying, tho duplicate to bo forwardcjl -to 'the Rugby Union, and the other kept ty the Secretary or Treasurer of tjid club. It was also resolved to bring before the union a proposal that no member of a club be allowed to tako part in a match unless his subscription ia paid on or before the Ist June, or 'in the case of a new member after that date then -within one month after 'joining. The maximum age limit for. ,the 7s 6d subscription rate- was raised from eighteen yea-s to twenty-one years. The fifth class players will continue to pay only tbe insurance money. On Mr. Lynskey's motion, ihe committee was requested to take steps to endeavour to reduce tho mortgage on tho gymnasium. The delegates were instructed to urge for more prompt payment of insurance moneys, and for stricter! supervision regarding the ages of fifth-class players. A motion was brought forward by .Mr. Kelly that the delegates should- vote against the district scheme. Mr. Lynskey considered that tho delepates should "be allowed a free hand. There was a good deal to bo sajd on both side§ of the question, As a matter of fact, the Petone Club was practically under a district spheme, as it was a district club. He moved as an amendment that the delegates be allowed a free. hand. Mr. Kelly contended that the e.ffcct of tho scheme would be to weaken the city clubs and to give Petone a cakewalk. He was informed, for instance, that if the scheme was adopted there would be nineteen senior players in Thorndon. Things should be allowed to remain as they were. After brief discussion the amendment was carried on a show of hands being taken.