IMPORTANT YEARS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 78, 2 April 1935, Page 11

IMPORTANT YEARS

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION'S ANNUAL REPORT BIG CAMPAIGNING Expressing the view that the' com ing season will be an eventful one for the game- in the Dominion, with greal interest being centred in the team tc visit Great Britain and Ireland, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union's annual report states: "It is anticipated that a thoroughly representative tearr will be selected, and the executive is confident the members of the team wili uphold the great traditions which arc associated with the game of Rugby ir every way." The report states that.the team wil: sail for London by the m.v. Rangitiki from Wellington on July 31, and wil] at the special invitation of the townspeople of Newton Abbot, Devon, make that town their headquarters preliminary to the first match. Twenty-eighi matches will be played, including international matches against England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. An exhaustive series of trial matches will be played prior to the team's departure, Mr. V. R. Meredith (Auckland) has been appointed the manager of the team. Invitations have been extended by the Vancouver (Canada), Eastern New York Rugby Unions, and from California to play a series of matches on the return voyage, and the committee is at present in negotiation with these bodies in an endeavour to finalise arrangements, and enable the team to return to New Zealand via Canada. OTHER TOURS. . Of other tours in prospect it is stated that the South African Board has accepted the New Zealand Union's invitation to tour. New Zealand and Australia during the 1937 season. Preliminary negotiations are in progress with the Australian Unions through the New South Wales Rugby Union regarding the details of finance and the number of matches to be played. The South African team is assured of a very warm welcome to these shores. AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND MATCHES. According to the terms of the agreement, Australia should have visited New Zealand last season, but on account of the difficulty of players securing leave of absence so soon after their tour to South Africa, and at the special request of the. Australian Unions, the tour was postponed. The executive has been advised that the Australian team will be willing to visit New Zealand during the 1936 season, and is of opinion that the tour should be accepted. Following the recommendations of the delegates at the last' annual meeting, negotiations have been entered into with the New South Wales Rugby Union, acting on behalf of the Australian Unions, for a tour of a Maori team to Australia this season. It is anticipated that the team will leave for Australia about July 12, and play a series of games in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. Negotiations are still in progress, and finality is anticipated in time to report the position to delegates at the annual meeting. HOLD MAINTAINED. In review, the report states:—"Rugby still-maintains its hold in the affection of players and its host of followers throughout the Dominion. The goodfellowship and splendid sportsmanship engendered amongst the players have been the material factors in keeping the game the most prominent of all our games. Rugby, played in the right spirit, helps in no small measure in moulding the character of our youth, and friendships made on the field of play are enduring." It is stated that the tour of Australia by a New Zealand team last season was a success from a playing arid financial standpoint to Australia, The game is making steady growth right throughout that country, and Rugby is now being played in all the States and in all the universities throughout Australia, which country is congratulated upon winning the Bledisloe Cup. . Events in New Zealand are dealt with, and Auckland is congratulated upon having won the Ranfurly Shield. Appreciation, is expressed of the work of the New ZealaVid selectors and others who- rendered service during the year, with special mention of Lord Bledisloe (patron) and the late Dr. P. F. McEvedy (president). FINANCE. v The finances of many of the affiliated unions have suffered during the past year, but with' better times ahead it is hoped those unions will rehabilitate themselves -in the near future; One cause of the difficulty is that unions, in their desire to own their own playing fields, have been too ambitious, and have iricurred liabilities which, during the period of financial stringency, have proved too heavy a burden on their resources. So far as the New Zealand Union is concerned the year's working has rei suited in a loss of £577 14s 4d, which is transferred to the general fund. The depletion of the funds has been occasioned mainly by grants to unions for the furtherance of Rugby in the schools," subsidies to enable unions to pay and receive visits from other unions, the expenses incurred in assembling and equipping the team to Australia, and the Prince of Wales Cup match. It will be conceded that the money expended has been ■of great assistance to unions generally and has helped materially to conserve their own finances, and the game has benefited generally from this expenditure. The accumulated funds of the union i amount to £37,319 10s Id. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. The Rugby Football Union (England) has convened a conference and has issued invitations to Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, and has generously offered to pay the return first class passage of two delegates. It is proposed after the conference with the Rugby Union to be held at London on December 12, 1935, to hold a further conference with the International Board at London in the first week of January, 1936. The executive has accepted the invitation to' attend the conferences, and is confident that great benefit to the game must ultimately result therefrom. Remits from affiliated unions and the executive have been .circularised to unions and will' be discussed at the annual general meeting.