NATIONAL GAME

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 109, 11 May 1933, Page 13

NATIONAL GAME

DELEGATES CONFER

VITAL-RUGBY-MEETING

NO DOMINION TOUR-

Matters of vital importances. so far as New Zealand's national game is concerned engaged the attention of delegates from all parts of tlio Dominion at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Bugby Union today. At the out- . set the meeting decided to go into committee to consider developments as a result of the representations made to the Rugby Football Union (England) some months ago regarding the replacement of injured players. Mr. G. H. Pownall (Wanganui), president, was in the chair., , In welcoming the delegates, the president said he knew that tiie feoling of all was that the deliberations were filled ■with great responsibility. During his term of office he had received many Kindnesses'from the officials, past "and present, of unions from one end of New Zealand to the other, and he desired to take the opportunity of expressing his appreciation. He had been able to pay personal visits to the majority of unions, and he regretted that circumstances prevented his visiting North Auckland and the East Coast. Ho trusted that the coming season would prove a happy one for all unions. I Times were hard, but this only served to give present-day players and officials a taste of the "good old days" when every player and official had to rely on ' Jris. own efforts, and had no wealthy, parent body to fall back on, as so ■jriahy were inclined to do today. '' And .X would remind you all," he added, "that it was in those frugal days that the .solid foundations of our union were laid." Dealing with future tours to Australia, Mr. Pownall expressed the hope !that Victoria would be given a match ! i against the next New Zealand team \ visiting Australia. \ TIME INOPPORTUNE. \ An opinion^-exp~ressed in the annual ' I reportjof-^tno New Zealand Bugby /Tjßio*nthat the present time was not opportune for a tour of the Dominion by a New Zealand team gave rise to some discussion. Mr. H. E. G. Smith ( (North Auckland) stressed the advisability of sending a team on tour, as had been suggested previously. It was im- , portant and necessary for educational purposes, particularly in districts such as that which he represented, as many . of the younger players had no opportunity of seeing players of first-class calibre. "We have difficulty in per- . ; suading teams of the" larger unions to ' visit us," he said. "In some1 cases it | • requires more than persuasion." j Mr. J. Crowley (North Otago) said that outside the main centres, the pub- > lie of New Zealand had very, limited i opportunities of seeing a properly-organ-ised New Zealand tcfam in action. A tour through^ New Zealand would be well worth while, he considered, par- j tieularly from the point of View of Eiigby in the schools. To see a Now Zealand team at its best had been in tho main the privilege of overseas people. Mr. Crowley urged the advisability of a New Zealand team being sent on tour to the remote unions. Mr. H. Harris (Otago): Mr. Chairman, Otago is touring this year. (Laughter.) Mr. Crowley: I move we- accept the apology. (Renewed laughter.) ■ The president (Mr. Pownall) thought 'everybody was of the opinion that it ■ Trssvery desirable to send a New Zea- ' tariff Team through 'Ne^^ealjiiid.V^''" ?'-.' '; ';- Mi', j.' Prendeyille (Wellington): ;- No. ■ :'" -, ' . ■.'','."■['.''■ : :■■' ' The main issue at the present time, said Mr. S. S. Dean (chairman of, the ': management committee) was a ques- , tion of expediency. It ./was a .difficult i matter for men to obtain l?ave to play ■with provincial teams, and it would not be a- fair proposition to take men out of. jobs under present conditions: The principle of sending a iearn through New Zealand was all right, but , the. present time was inopportune. ■ I KICK-INTO-TOUOH. On behalf of the Hawke's Bay Rugby : Union, Mr. N. McKenzie moved: — "That it is. desirable that the amended ] kick-into-touch rule should be reverted ] ■'• to, and that any necessary steps should i . be taken with this object in view, pro- ] vided the controlling body or bodies ' of Bugby football in' Australia take | similar gteps." Tbo mover stated that ■ he had • advices. which indicated that ~ Queensland were going "bald headed" , for the amended rule,, and that if they did not get it Rugby was going to the \ • ■wall, over- there. He referred to the op- i ■position from another code at.the time i when the amended rule was previously ' ■adopted, and he stated that that op- ] position. was springing up again in those districts which had been free from it for some time. It was necessary to look ahead, and he pointed out j that big things came from, small: beginnings. It was essential to have, ] the support of the public for the continued progress of the Rugby game, ' and he claimed that the amended rule i made the game more attractive. The 1 English Rugby Union, he said, had allowed us to wink one eye on-the replace- ■■ ment of injured players, and ho suggested that a similar, attitude be adopted in regard to tho amended kick-iuto- { touch rule. : ' After some further discussion, tho remit was put to tho meeting, and was lost by 25 votes to 44.