FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 126, 29 May 1915, Page 9

FOOTBALL

THE SOCCER CODE NEW ZEALAND CONTROL. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association was held last night, Mr. W Munckton presiding. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (a. digest of which has already been published), the Chairman congratulated the officials on its satisfactory nature. There were many things they would like to see done, but in the present unsatisfactory st&te of the world they could not expect much progress during tho present season. He had thought it possible there would be no matches for the Brown Shield this year, but he had since heard that some would; be played. In any case, he had no doubt that after things settled down the game would progress, as good seed had been sown among the boys and the younger players, and that must bear fruit. (Hear, hear.) The motion was seconded by Mr. C. E. Fordham, who said he considered that the present season would be mostly taken up in forwarding the game among the boys. Mr, H. M'Keowen considered that the incoming council should show consideration in Tegard to protests, seeing that so many of the Beasoned players had gone to the front and that most of those left were young players. Tho spectators would have to take the same view. Generally, ho thought it was better to keep the games going than to have the young men hanging about the streets. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Tho election of officers resulted as under :— Patron, His Excellency tho Governor j president. Sir Joseph Ward (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs. A. M. Myers, W. Rutherford, H. M'Keowen, H. G. Mayer, B. English, C. E. Statham, J. J. Roberts, F. J. Courtney, H. L. Godber, Dr E. A. Walker, Hon. W. 0 F. Camcross, P. L. Davies. C P. Skerrett, K.C., W T. Churchward, R. M. Chadwick, S. Myer, W. D. Ramsay, G. Fowlds, and the Rev W. F. Stent; hon treasurer, Mr. A. 0. Kerr; hon. secretary, Mr. B. L. Salmon (whoso re-election was received with applause) ; assistant hon. secretary, Mr. A. C. Kerr ; honorary representative to the Football Association, Ltd., Mr. A. E. Gibbs, London ; trustees, Messrs. J. M. Oilier and W. J. H. Reynolds; hon. auditor, Mr. A. G. Barnett. The hon. secretary moved the adoption of various amendments to the rules governing the Brown Shield games, which have been already considered by the various associations. One of the alterations gave the holders in the competition about 25 per cent, more than they had received in the past from tho "gates," and the amounts going to the New Zealand Association and the challenging association were proportionately reduced. This waa agreed to. Another proposal^ was that no challenge should b© carried over from one season to another. The proposed amendment was A'l->]>ted. The other proposed amendments vcrc also agreed to. The Auckland Association forwarded an application from the Auckland V.M.C.A., which proposed to form a Boys' League and asked for affiliation with the association and to be given full autonomy. The Auckland Association had rejected the proposal. The secretary said he had written to the Auckland Association pointing out that it had first to grant or reject the appli> cation of the Boys' League for affiliation } that had not yet been done. On receipt of that letter the Auckland Association refused the application, and now wrote to the New Zealand Association asking if its refusal would be upheld.— The Chairman : That means that the Auckland V.M.C.A. wants to form an association of its own. — The Secretary: Yes.— Mr. T. M'Laren, Auckland delegate, moved that the decision of the Auckland Association be upheld. This was seconded by Mr. C. E. Fordham (Otago). The secretary said that the great danger ho saw from the formation of such a league was that the dub forming the league could strengthen itself at the expense of other clubs. Mr M'Keowen (Hawkes Bay) said that if permission was granted to form a N leaguc in this case similar action would he taken by another section of the community. Dual control would be a bad thing under such circumstances. "We don't want sectarianism in football," declared Mr. M'Keowen, "but if you encourage it other bodies will follow suit, and you will undermine Association football in a most serious manner." After considerable diacussioti the further consideration of the subject was adjourned for enquiry. In tho meantime the action of the Auckland Association was upheld. The secretary reported that the Wellington, Auckland, Otago, and Bullet" Associations were against playing the Brown Shield matches this season. He moved that no shield matches be played this season —This was agreed to.