SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 104, 4 May 1935, Page 30

SCHOOL FOOTBALL

PRESERVATION OF GRANT

Criticism of the action of cutting Hown the grant for school football was voiced by a number of delegates at the annual■ meeting -of the 'New rZealand Rugby Union. A resolution was passed that a.sum of not less than £750 a year be distributed for. school .football and that 'expenses such as for tpurnaments, printing, etc., should be a further charge against the Rugby Union funds. The ddea behind the resolution'is-to keep intact the annual grant of £750 for schools.

Mr. G. Maddison (Hawke's Bay), •who introduced the subject, said he could not approve of the action of the management committee in deciding to> penalise.the schools to the extent of the expenditure of £135 for the. prinTing of the book" "School Foot-' ball." If the: union was in ah impoverished condition there would be some reason; for curtailing the grant. After all, the schools were the nursery of Rugby' football. He was going to move that the full grant of £750 be made, separate and apart from the £135 for printing of the manuals

Mr. L:. V. Carmine (King Country) Supported the views of Mr. Maddison. At the last annual meeting, he.said, it was definitely settled that the vote & or.s°hocl football should be the same ps in the previous year.

Mr. E. S. Hylton (Hawke's Bay) said that the problems of school committees, and teachers in regard to matters such as the encouragement of Rugby football was ' a very serious one at the present time. In view of the healthy condition of the union's finances the union should distribute not less than £750 a year, for the development and encouragement of football in the schools. Any extras, such as grants for tournaments,and printing, should not bea charge on the £750..

Mr. McFarlane (Bay of Plenty) emphasised the necessity of assistance being given to the schools in the country districts.

Mr. E. Casey (Waikato) suggested that:the matter was one for the management committee to deal with according to the finance available. Anything from the meeting should be in the nature of a recommendation that if funds permitted the grant for school football should be restored to its iormer basis.

Mr. M. F. Nicholls (Buller): It apJpears that a recommendation to the management committee is no good, because last year £750 was to be devoted to school football and apparently that has not been done.

Mr. Dean: We have spent more than that if you read correctly.

Mr. Carmine said he did not think any grants for school tournaments should come out of the school grant. If the union wanted to make a grant for school tournaments it should be a separate one.

Mr. H, Harris (O.tago) said he did

not think there was any question that originally the grant to the schools was to provide footballs. Grants-for tournaments were eating into that. He was surprised to see a wealthy union like Wellington getting a grant of £60 last year. •■ V

At a later stage the resolution indicated above, which was moved by Mr. Maddison, was adopted.