OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

Evening Star, Issue 7186, 14 April 1887, Page 4

OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

The annual general meeting of the O.R.P.U. was held in Wain’s Hotel last evening; Dr Belcher (in the absence of Mr Maitland, president) in the chair. Delegates from the following clubs were present;—Alhambra, Caversham, Dunedin, Gordon, Kaikovai, Lawrence, Monteoillo, Otago High School, University, Pacific, Pirates, Union, Ur Waitaki High School, Zingari, and Richmond. the report. The report of the Committee was as follows : Your Committee, in resigning office, are pleas* d to bo able to report a continuance of tbo success which has attended the Union since its formation. Seven o’utia were associated to the Union during the season, thus bringing the roll up to twenty-four clubs, with a total membership of over 1,600. Your Committee, however, do not regard the increase in the number of c’u'is playing in Dunedin and suburbs as an unmixed blo'sing, and are of opinion that the quality of play would be raised if young players, instead of forming new clubs, wore to join thoso already existing, until there were at least seven or eight clubs able to put a second and a third team regularly in the field. Your Committee are further of opinion that the possession of a playing ground should be an essential element to the formation of a new olub. Your Committee notice with pleasure tho organisation of the Southland Rugby Union, and are sure that tho new body will have tho cordial good wishes of every member of tho O.R.FU. Tho annual fixture with Canterbury was played on tho 23th August, and after a very keen and interesting contest ended in a drawn game. Two matches were played against the Now South Wales team, in both of which tho Blues were victorious. It is worthy of remark that tho score of tho Otago team (23 points to nil), in the first match, was the largest made against tho Now South Wales men during their trip. The Town v. Country match was played at Baiolutha, and resulted in a win for the country by 10 points to 2. Your Committee arc of opinion that this match will prove cf increasing interest annually. On tho whole, your Committee consider that the Union has every reason to ho satisfied with tho results of tho matches played during the season. Over 1,000 copies of tho ‘Annual’ were distributed as usual, and, although its production was attended with some pecuniary loss, your Committee think that tho good tho book docs more than counterbalances any such loss. Several disputes—one of a serious nature—came before your Committee for settlement, and wore satisfactorily disposed of. As there appears to bo a growing tendency to appeal on trifling matters, tho Committee desire to impress on clubs tho desirability of avoiding such a practice. Financially, tho Union is in a very good position, and, notwithstanding tho fact that tho expenditure during tho year was necessarily very heavy, delegates will bo pleased to know that there is a credit balance of LBO 10s 3J. Tho thanks el the Union are duo to Dr Coughtroy for a liberal donation towards the cost of entertaining tho New South Wales team. In conclusion, your Committee think that as ten years have passed since that famous hand tho Otago team of 1877 made a tout of tho Colony, it is desirable to put forth a special effort to send a team North this season, and would heartily commend tho project to their successors. . It was unanimously adopted, as was also tho balance-sheet. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT. Mr Tueseder proposed, and Mr Park seconded, the election of Dr Coughtroy, Mr Russell proposed, and Mr P. Fulton seconded, Mr J. P. Maitland. Dr Coughtrey was elected. OFFICE-BEARERS. Dr Belcher, Messrs H. Rose, J. Stronach, and James Allan were elected vice-presi-dents. Mr Maitland and Dr Batchelor were tho other candidates. Dr Belcher, as one of tho retiring presidents, proposed the re-cicction of Mr J. H. Chapman as hon. secretary and treasurer. Ho bore testimony to the indefatigable services rendered to tho Union by that gentleman during the past year. Tho motion was carried unanimously with acclamation. —Mr Chapman said that this was tho seventh year he had filled the position of secretary, and next year ho should ask some younger member of the Union to take the position. He thanked members for their renewed expression of confidence. Messrs Tresoder, Drabble, Morrison, Milne, Fulton, Martin, Shepard, and Wedderspoon were proposed as a committee of management. The six first-named gentlemen were elected. Several alterations were made in tho rules. The principal one dealt with tho mode of scoring. The English Rugby Union having recently resolved that “ A match shall bo decided by a majority of points, a goal shall count three points and a try one point,” it was decided to conform with that mode of scoring.—Mr Treseder expressed the opinion that it was “jolly rough ” that a potted goal should count the same as a goal obtained from a try. It was resolved that the following addition bo made to the by-laws“ That the Committee shall have power, if they think fit, to forbid any club belonging to the Union to play matches with any club in Otago not associated to the Otago Rugby Union.” ROUGH PLAY NOT TO BETOLERATED, Mr James Russell moved the following addition to the by-laws ;—“Tho Committee shall have power, on inquiry, to suspend during their pleasure any player who may bo reported by a referee for rough or unfair play, or for wilfully striking another player during a game ; and no club shall play a suspended playerduring theperiod of his suspension under penalty of being struck off the roll of the Union.” From tho matches played last season, ho thought it was necessary that some rule of this kind should be inserted in the by-laws, and he felt satisfied that its omission when the rules were framed was an oversight. Some members had suggested that the word “ club ” should bo inserted for “ referee,” but he thought that course was objectionable, and that tho referee would bo the most suitable person for deciding whether a player was playing roughly. Last season the rough play was not only mentioned by players, but tho public grieved over it freely, Mr 11. Ro-e seconded tho motion. Mr Treseder thought the proposal gave too much power to the referee. In one match last year the referee did not know the rules himself. In such a ease how could the referee reprove a player?—(Laughter.) Mr Ro.se thought the last speaker had used the best argument in favor of tho rule as proposed. Clubs would now recognise tho necessity of having two good umpires and a good referee. Scratch umpires and referees did a lot of harm to football in Dunedin. Mr Chapman (hon, secretary) said it was desirable that such a rule as that proposed should bo inserted in the by-laws. Rightly or wrongly, there was an impression among the public that there had been a good deal of rough play in tho past. For his own part, he thought tho feeling was exaggerated, and he did not believe that the play was degenerating. A similar rule existed with respect to all cup contests played by the Yorkshire County Rugby Union. Players might bo satisfied that the Otago Rugby Union Committee would not act rashly, nor would they suspend without due inquiry. Last year the Canterbury Union brought the matter under the notice of the outgoing committee here, and the two bodies had forwarded a joint communication to the English Union with a view of getting such a rule inserted in their rules. Nothing, however, had come of tho matter up to tho present. Mr Morrison expressed the opinion that the rule was much wanted, and would improve the stylo of play. Dr Belcher, as the head-master of a school of some local importance, said that parents were in a state of more or less exaggerated alarm with respect to the danger to their boys from playing football. He was strongly in favor of the general principle of the .by-law, which would tend to allay that alarm. Tho motion was put and carried unanimously, ELECTION OF CLUB. The Oamaru Athletic Club was admitted to the Union. the new south WALES VISIT. The letter from tho Southern Rugby Football Union (Sydney), asking New Zealand to send a team over this season, was remitted to the incoming committee, with the understanding that no action was to be taken. THE CRICKETERS’ ASSOCIATION.

A letter from tho Otago Cricketers’ Association soliciting aid from Union was read. Mr S. M. Park moved, and Mr Treseder seconded—' ‘ That the letter bo received, and that the Otago Cricketers’ Association bo informed that tho Rugby Union very much regret that they cannot see their way to do anything in the matter.”

Mr Chapman moved as an amendment, and Mr Russell seconded—“ That the matter be referred to the incoming Committee.”

Mr M‘Nab said that referring tho matter to the incoming Committee was a polite way of shelving it.—(“ No.”) Cricket and football ought to be treated on the same lines as other tilings, and the fittest should survive. Lawn tennis was superseding cricket, and if cricket was dying the Association must take advantage of the bankruptcy laws and succumb.—(Laughter.) Mr Russell denied that lawn tennis was

the cause of the decadence of cricket. A number of petty clubs had sprung up in consequence of jealousy among players, and that was the true cause of the falling-off, _ Mr Hunter thought the Rugby Union should take warning by the Cricketers Association. Far too many senior football clubs already existed for improvement in the game,—(Hear.) Mr Chapman sympathised to a great extent with the difficulties of the Cricketers’ Association. It was true they could not command the same gate-money as footballers, but the true cause of their failure to his thinking was that the Association was organised on a wrong basis. Instead of individual members paying hal£-a-orown subscription, and being allowed to vote at the annual meetings, clubs should be affiliated, as was the case with the Rugby Union. The system of half-a-crown subscriptions was a wrong one, and he should certainly object to collecting that amount from all footballers. Another reason for the falling-off of cricket undoubtedly was the want of suitable grounds and the number of small clubs. The Cricketers’ Association should look at home and re-organise. If the matter were referred to the incoming Committee they would not be likely to be oyer-generous. Mr Rose was rather inclined to agree with those speakers who thought that the onus of deciding the application should not be cast on the incoming Committee. He thought that if the cricketers managed their affairs better the Union would not be doing a wrong in extending them a helping hand. The amendment was lost. Mr Russell then moved “That the Otago Rugby Football Union grant the Otago Cricketers’ Association the proceeds of one Saturday’s match; the date and arrangements of such match to bo decided by the General Committee.” f j This also was lost, and the original 1 motion was then carried. | CLUB ROOM, It was resolved that the Committee deal with the question of a club room. _ | The usual compliment to the chairman | terminated the proceedings, I The Italian Government have just com- ! pletcd arrangements which will seriously | affect the large firms of English marine engineers. Hitherto the engines for their colossal battle-ships have been manufactured by Messrs John Penn and Sons and Messrs Maudslay, Sons, and Field; but the Italian Government have now determined to construct the machinery required for the naval service in Italy. The manufacture of the engines will bo under the supervision of three English engineers, who have been expressly engaged for the purpose. A new revolver has been patented which is expected to be less liable to bo accidentally discharged than any of its predecessors. Its main feature is a concealed hammer, enclosed in the lock frame, which cannot be unintentionally manipulated, and the trigger is so arranged that it cannot be pulled unless a safety lever in the rear of the lockframe is first pressed. A book by the Marquis of Huntly is about to be published, ‘ Travels, Sports, and Politics in the East ’ isto be the title of the volume, which will bo illustrated by the Marchioness of Huntly.