FOOTBALL CONTROL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 137, 11 June 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL CONTROL.

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION. The Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union met last evening, the following being present : — Messrs. G. H. Dixon (in the chair), W. Perry, G. B. Lusk, R. M. Isaacs, V. R. Meredith, J. Langhton, N. Galbraith, H. Kelly (treasurer), and J. D. Avery (secretary). The West Coast Union telegraphed, asking if F. Jackson, a member of the Anglo- Welsh team, which toured the Dominion, was eligible to act as referee in a match to be played next Saturday. It was pointed out that there was certain evidence that ' Jackson was under suspension by the English Union. A reply was directed to be sent that the player named was not at present eligible to play or referee in Rugby games in New Zealand. In regard to a letter from the Marlborough Union, asking the union's opinion on the balance-sheet forwarded by the Auckland Union in connection with the Marlborough-Auckland match for the Ranfurly Shield last year, it was decided to reply that, in the opinion of the New Zealand Union, the charges were reasonable and legitimate. Permission was granted the New Zealand University football authorities to carry out a programme of inter-State University games in connection with the coming visit of the Sydney University team. The visitors purpose playing against teams from the University Colleges of the Dominion, individually and combined, with one or two games against outside fifteens. The itinerary is as follows : — Leave Sydney 21st August ; arrive Wellington 25th August ; play Otago University, Djmedin, 28th August ; play au Olago fifteen, Dunedin, Ist September ; play New Zealand University representatives, Dunedin, 4th September ; play Canterbury College, Christchurch, Bth September ; play New Zealand University representatives, Wellington, 11th September ; play Auckland University College, Auckland, 15th September ; play an Auckland fifteen, Auckland, 18th September. The holding of the tour was approved, the dates of matches to be subject to arrangement with local unions, so as not to clash with other matches. A financial statement must also be submitted at the end of the tour. A notification was received from the Canterbury Union that a recent meeting of its delegates resolved — * 'That the Management Committee be instructed to ascertain from the N.Z.R.U. if its affiliated unions have power to alter the laws of the game in minor detail, as has been done by the Auckland Union." After some discussion it was decided, on the motion of Mr. Kelly, to reply that no affiliated union had power to alter the laws of the game even in union details. A copy of the Northern Union's question, and the answer, was directed to be sent to all affiliated unions. Several disqualifications were dealt wifh. A notification from the Wanganui Union of the disqualification of a fourth-class player for three weeks for using insulting language to the referee was referred back, as the sentence seemed rather light. One, re the warn-

ing-off of all grounds of a line umpire for betting on. a match at Karori was also referred back to the union for details as to the length of term of suspension. On the suggestion of the Marlborough Union suspensions were removed from a number of players. A complaint from tho South Canterbury Union that two players, who had been expelled for taking part in Northern Union games, were still playing — Murphy, for City Club (Auckland), and Dnval, for Kaikorai (Dunedin) — was received. There was some doubt as to the identy of the latter. It was decided to forward a copy of this letter — from the South Canterbury Union re identification — to the Otago Union, and to draw the attention of the Auckland Union to the fact that it hail not replied to the New Zealand Union's communication on this matter. An application from the Auckland Union tor the reinstatement as amateurs of five members of the Maori Northern Union team which visited Australia in 1908, was refused. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Galbraith, that the South Auckland Rugby Union be written to to the effect that a question has been raised as to whether a number of sub-nnions, mentioned as desirous of joining their union, are actually so inclined, and although this union has been instructed by delegates to define the boundaries before proceeding further, they will be pleased to receive documentary evidence as to the desires of the various sub-unions within the proposed boundaries to become affiliated witli the South Auckland Rugby Union. The following grants weie allocated on" the recommendation of the School Grants Ccmmittee :—: — Hawke's Bay £3, Taranaki £3, Wanganui, £12, Manawatu £8, Wairarapa £3, Nelson £8, Marlborough £6, Buller £9, Canterbury £12, South Canterbury £10, Southland £12,, Wellington £12. A decision of the Appeal Committee, that if a man who runs behind his own line is collared* with the ball before he can come out again, it shall be considered that the ball has been carried back, and a scrimmage be oidered, was sent on to the New Zealand Referees' Association.

I An entertaining illustration of the difi ficulties encountered by the police in se1 curing convictions against country hotels suspected of illicit trading was afforded by the evidence given before the Wairau ' Licensing Committee the other day, an exchange remarks. Sergt. -Major Mason caused some amusement by describing how a police party started off from Blenheim for the country place in question. Close secrecy, it was .supposed, was ob- . served ; but when the party arrived on tire scene, they found an expectant host, a hearty welcome, and a sumptuous repast. Some considerate friend, seeing the police proceeding along the road, and not knowing the nature of their mission, had telephoned ahead asking the licensee to give the guardians of the peace a kindly lift along their journey. On another occasion the .police got within a few miles of the hostelry when a lady connected with the establishment, who happened to have broken her own journey at an intervening house, "spotted" them. She was travelling wltn an excellent trotter, and immediately putting her steed into the trap, she pursued the police and passed them with flying colours, arriving home well ahead of them. Finally a conviction was secured by means of an unknown constable from Wellington