RUGBY FINANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 91, 18 April 1945, Page 6

RUGBY FINANCE

RELIEF OF DEBT

UNION DISCUSSION

You will have been pleased to hear that through General Freyberg arrangements have been made to send a strong Army side on tour as soon as the war is over/ said the retiring president (Mr. A. A. Baker), when he addressed the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union in Wellington today. "Those arrangements are practically finalised, and we should know more about it shortly. It is hoped to send that team on tour through the Dominion after the war, and I think the tour will help to rehabilitate the game throughout New Zealand."

Rehabilitation of the game and ofi some unions which had been forced] into almost complete recess because of the war occupied much of the discussion on the annual report, and will be continued later in the meeting. Mr. Baker pointed out in his address that some unions would need assistance. "I am sure, however," he continued, "that those who were able to carry on will give them all the assistance possible to regain their former strength. I look to the future with confidence and to the great revival of Rugby that will come when hostilities cease. "I think that the council should deal very generously with those unions who are in difficulties occasioned by the war," said Mr. G. A. Maddison (Hawke's Bay) in a discussion on the financial position shown in the balancesheet. "At some future time their indebtedness to the New Zealand Rugby Union should come under review. I don't believe that they can possibly make progress if they are to have this financial noose hanging about their necks." WRITING OFF OF DEBTS. As the representative of a union j which was in the fortunate position of not being burdened with debt, said Mr. A. St. C. Belcher (Waikato), he considered that the position should be investigated and some form of relief granted, even if it meant in some cases writing off a union's indebtedness altogether. "The New Zealand Rugby Union doesn't want to accumulate funds," he said. . "We want to see the profits put back into the grounds for the benefit of the game and players. The time has arrived when a reconsideration and recasting of the whole financial system in regard to loans is due. It is a matter that needs care- ; ful consideration, but I think we should take a generous view of the positions of the unions concerned and I relieve them of their financial worries."

After further discussion, Mr: N. A. McKenzie (Hawke's Bay) moved that the matter be brought up for full discussion when the time came in the afternoon for general business. "I came along here prepared for what I considered some very revolutionary proposals in regard to finance," he said, "but after listening to some of the discussion I don't think they are so revolutionary after all." Upon an assurance from the new president, Mr. E. V. Phillips (Canterbury), that an opportunity would be given to discuss the matter later in the meeting, the discussion was postponed. Mr. Phillips was elected president for the ensuing year, and the retiring president, Mr. A. A. Baker (Auckland), was presented with the usual past-pre-sident's badge. Other positions for which elections 'were necessary were filled as follows:—Vice-presidents, Messrs. E. McKenzie (Wairarapa) and H. Strang (Southland); council, Messrs. G. A. Maddison, A. St. C. Belcher, F. E. Sutherland, D. M. Spedding, W. A. H. Oliver, and W. A. Craddock.