RUGBY CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 87, 11 April 1924, Page 2

RUGBY CONTROL

GAME NEVER MORE PROSPEROUS

PREPARATIONS FOR ALL BLACK - ' TOUR ' !

NO ASSISTANT-MANAGER,

The thirty-second annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union was held ■■ yesterday at the Dominion Farmers' Institute, the deliberations extending from 2.30 o'clock in the afternoon until late last evening. Delegates were present from all parts of the Dominion. The president, Mr.,S. F. Wikon: (Canterbury), briefly welcomed the delegates. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet,' the president said thf.t the union had not quite made up'the leeway of last year, but the committee' was watching expenditure carefully, and oh the; whole the finances could be regarded as satisfactory. He thought they could say the game had gone ahead with all unions by leaps and bounds within the past year. It was never in a'more-prosperous state nor better managed. The interchange of visits with New South Wale's was having a good effect upon the game in Australia, whichl he hoped would soon be restored to its previous prosperity. He congratulated the Maori Advisory Committee upon its work, and' commented on the fine sportsmanship of the Maori players. Alluding to representative matches, he.stressed the fact that club play was the backbone of the game. (Hear, hear.) He deprecated the,policy of concentrating too much upon one particular game, during the season,'and of training representative teams like professionals by putting them into camp for a fortnight. That was quitevwrong. On behalf of the : executive he said they were greatly indebted to the representative in England for the work he had put into the forthcoming tour. He spoke also of the scope and importance of the work done by the Management Committee. Mr. H. Frost (Auckland) referred to the arrangement of boundaries throughout the Dominion, and said he would not like to see their fixation made mandatory.. It would not be advisable to lay it down that a certain district' must' bo affiliated with a certain union. He thought steps should be taken immediately for the complete abolition of the amusement tax, as. half promised last year by the, Prime, Minister. He would move in the matter at a later stage. The report and balance-sheet were thereupon adopted. '. ■ QUESTION OF SELECTORS. The first business dealt with, was a recommendation from the. Management Committee that, "With a vieW to giving effect to the recommendations of the Management Committee with reference to the selection of the 1924 New Zealand team, the resolution as follows. 'That in, future on all the New Zealand Selection Committees, each island 6hould be given equal representation,' passed at the annual general meeting in 1922, be rescinded." The motion was moved by Mr. J. Prendeville, who said that its object was to give effect to resolutions passed at a special general meeting ' held in September, last _ ' _ Mr. H. ■ Harris-(Otago)-,opposed the motion on the ground that equal representation was desirable. r :.-... •Mi\ H.H. White (Otago) took a similar view, pointing out that it was unI fair to expect one- man to slioulder the whole responsibility of selection. The motion was carried by 47 votes to 15.) ....... . APPOINTMENT OF SECOND . , . MANAGER. ' In moving a Canterbury remit, "That a second manager be appointed to accompany the New Zealand team to England," the president said that it -was felt such an appointment was necessary for representation at the Imperial Rugby Conference. The main manager would have other duties to perform., Mr. Fraser (South Canterbury) approved of the proposal, but suggested that the mover, alter the motion to provide that a delegate be sent Home, and that he should not be called an assistant-manager. ' Mr: J. Prendeville (Wellington) thought that the representative at the conference should be a delegate wholly_ and solely. : He' understood the English Union opposed a second manager. * Mr. W. . O'Neill (Hawkes Bay) . expressed, the opinion that if a second man was sent away he should be required.'to look after the team. " f Dr. M'Evedy (Wellington) supported Mr. Prendeville's remarks, and saw a danger in the previous speaker's proposal, in that if a second manager was chosen he would be liable to be told when making- suggestions to the manager to mind his own business. Dr., Adams (Wanga'nui) shared the view that friction wosld probably occur. Mr. G. H. „ Dixon (life member) thought the'proposal would be a grievous mistake. '\, . Mr. J. M'Leod (Taranaki) deprecated divided authority, and said it would be impossible" for two managers to act in harmony all the time. » _ Mr. E. .Wylie (Poverty Bay) moved an amendment that in the event of the conference being held in England the Management Committee see that the union .was adequately represented. If there was a sub-jria-nager, he said, there was hound to be trouble. The Management Committee could be trusted to se,e that the union was properly represented. X would he dangerous to pass n definite resolution 1- as to the number of delegates. Mr. Prendeville said he would like to see made clear that the conference would be represented direct from the Dominion, q The president did not think there would be the friction that some delegates feared. .He was willing to withdraw his motion, however, in favour of, the amendment. ■ The amendment was carried on the voices, with the addition suggested by Mr. Prendeville. IN THE COUNTRY SCHOOLS. A Marlborough remit, "that the Alanagement Committee be recommended to increase,.the allocation for school football in ; country districts" was £ioved by Mr. Tunnicliffe and seconded by Mr Blyth. ■ . - ' , • " Mr. H. Frost (Auckland) suggested that a definite allocation should be named.. A desperate attempt, was behiomade by the Soccer authorities to earn a footing in the schools, and a larger allocation would be of great assistance in countering that attempt. Mr. S. S Dean (Wellington) explained that the allocation was £20 per union It' was intended as a subsidy to what ■■ unions might do in their own districts j ■Mr. J. M'Le6d (Taranaki) said it was] evident that some unions were not spending the money on school football but accepting it as a token of goodwill from .the New Zealand Union. The spirit of,.the subsidy was beint; lost sight of. He thought the allocation should be made as a subsidy, on a percentage

basis, according to the money raised by_^ the individual unions. , Mr. J. Prendeville (Wellington) said that the "rant was regarded by:the Wellington Union more as a sentimental than as a real allowance. Last year 60 footballs had beep, distributed by liis union amongst country schools at a cost of about £90. He supported the suggestion of the previous speaker. Dr. Adams (Wanganui) favoured the basis of Mr. M'Leod's idea that charity commenced at home. ' He moved. an amendment that'the matter be referredto the incoming committee with an instruction that a statement be obtained from the country unions as to their expenditure upon school football, with' the object of deciding upon a prp rata subsidy. A»limit of /£SOO should be-placed on the total to' be 'distributed in subsidies. ' - . . ;' ' The amendment was. seconded by Mr. J. Garcia (New Plymouth), and supported by;Mr. White (Otago), who.referred to the inability of some country unions to raise sufficient funds.. .. : The president said it was not so much money as more energy'that was required in the game in' the schools. It should not be difficult for school •committees to supply footballs.without any. call being made upon the union. He felt that the amendment was in the right direction.-^ . Mr. M'Leod said that the object of his amendment/was to bring up to the mark those unions, which were not using the present subsidy properly. The motion.-was withdrawn in favour of the amendment, which was carried. At a later stage of the meeting it was decided that a. sum of £500 be'allocated for the purpose of encouraging the game amongst the schools. REFEREES' APPOINTMENT BOARD. A Hawkes Bay motion that the Referees' Appointment Board consist of one * nominee resident in Wellington and two others '.resident outside the area controlled by the Wellington Rugby Union, was withdrawn after discussion. ELECTION. OF OFFICERS. Office-bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follow : —President, Mr. H. Frost (Auckland); hon. treasurer, Mr. E. Wylie/ management committee, Messrs. S. S. Dean, T. A. Fletcher, A.. C. Kitto, W. Hornig, E. M'Kehzie, Mullarney, and E. Little; appeal council, Messrs. G. H., flixon, E. O. Hales, and G. C. Fache; auditor, Mr. O. G. Kember; .representative on English Rugby Union, Mr. C. J7 Wray.' ■ , ■