RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 48, 25 February 1921, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

MEETING,

A meeting of the Management Committee of the J?ew Zealand R,ugby Union was held last evening, Mr. G. W. SJa.de presiding. Others present were Messrs. "R. T. Bailey, A. C." Kitto, S. S. Dep.n, G-. A. Howe, and A." J; Griffiths. Ths chairman extended a hearty welcome to Mr. Griffiths,'-who was recently appointed a member of J,he committee.

Matters in connection with the tour of a South African team were discussed. In view of the expense of the tour, it was decided that amount's outstanding against the various unions be called" in as early as possible-. Requests were received from several minor associations for the visitors to pla-y iii their centres'. The'chairinan said.that applications' would Ye considered on the morniiiß of' the day' on \vhich the annvii} seneral meeting was held, as the itinerary would' then be discussed. " .

A motion, tiiat the members of the' 1920 All-Black' .t'oam be"presented with ."rep." c»ps was. carried, and the pur; chase 6! same w'as'lWft in the hands of tho chairman and Mr». Kitto. Tile appointment of Mr. A. R. B. Palmer as Australasian , secretary was confirmed. ALTERATIONS TO LAWS. Two letters pf interest regarding the proposals to alter t.he laws of" the game were received, but consideration was deferred. The secretary of the New Sputh Wales Union wrote • —" WitJi reference to pur request fpi^ the reconsideration of our application to the R.F.U. "to sanction the alterations to ;,tlie -laws of the "game (chiefly laws 11 and 12,' in relatipii'to the scrummage and kicking into touch) for use in New Zealand and in Australia, I have to state that the question of the adyisableuess pi- ptherwise of plijying the club' games here in 1921 .with these alterations in the laws has been before my council, but furtfior consideration has be~en deferred to allow of time for an answer from the parent body. The question' will, however) come'up for 'decision early in the New "Year, even if a reply lias not then been received, or the R.F.U. finally declines to accede to pur request. May I ask: you to let m>? know when this letter is likely to be before., your committee, as my council wishes your comniittee to be apprised of the possibility of action on oiir" part, so thai it may have an opportunity of communicating with us on the matter, should it desire to do so before lny union comes to any decision?" . " ' "

A ' letter from the ' secretary of the English Rugby Unipii stated:— "My' executive' committee feel that the position in the Dominons of New Zeaknd, Australia, "and Sputh Africa' would .be materially helped if each had a- direct representativa on the 'Rugby TJiiion, and not merely, as at present," a power to attend'and vote at the annual general meetings of the union. Each Dominion should be able to appoint spmeoiio "in this country to- represent them on tho committee. Our president and a past president will tiring'forward this proposal at the next annual general riieetih^, arid We feel confident that a bestter understandiriff of the situation iri New Zealand and New South Wales will result. lam requested "to ask whether this' proposal would meet with the approval of your union. My.committee some time ago received a request from New South ly*ales to send out a team in 1922, and this they hope'to do, and to include New Zealand in the :tour. They do not feel able tp sanction any of their , affiliated clubs adopting' rules' different from tj}QS£ played by tlie Rufby XJnipn."