RUGBY UNION

Evening Star, Issue 19518, 28 March 1927, Page 11

RUGBY UNION

—.— MORE PLAYERS THAN EVER ANNUAL MEETING OF DELEGATES MR DONALD STUART RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT. The annual meeting of delegates of clubs affiliated to tho Otago Rugby Football Union was held last night in the Returned Soldiers’ Club, tho president (Mr D. M. Stuart) being in the chair. PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. In moving tho adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, the Chairman said they could congratulate themselves on tho results of the 1920 season, which was one of the most successful in the history of tho union. There wore more players playing football than in any previous year. The standard of football was high, and the games were at all times well-contested and exciting. Junior football was particularly good, and for that reason ho did not think they had any reason to fear for the future of the game. There was capital material in the junior grades. School football was also a most important part of the game, as it was in the secondary and primary school football that the boys learnt tho A.B.C. of tho game. They owed a great deal to tho gentlemen who ungrudgingly gavo their time to further the interests, of tho game in the schools. The performance of the Otago representative team last year had agreeably surprised them, and, with the material which wo had here, he saw no reason why wo should not regain tho supremacy which we won several years ago. The revival of junior representative games had been a good thing, and those who witnessed the match with Canterbury would agree that wo had materia! which augured well for tho future of the game. The committee had spent and w,as still spending a lot of money on Carisbrnok, and ho thought tho delegates present ns the representatives of the players and tho general public would appreciate what was being done for their comfort. At Carisbrnok they bad one of the finest playing grounds in tho dominion. Underneath tho stand they had built four largo dressing rooms and showers for the convenience of their players.

The question of providing sufficient playing grounds bad again caused the committee much concern, ami it had been possible to cope with the situation only by playing two games every .Saturday afternoon on practically every ground. There were several other grounds in view, which would make the position easier, and when Logan Park was ready in the near future there would be a still further improvement. The playing of two senior games on Carisbrook on Saturday afternoons had been successfully carried out. It was a gOod thing for teams low down on tho list that did not have many opportunities of playing before the public to get a game on Carisbrnok sometimes. Unfortunately several cases of rough play had come before the union, lb should be hardly necessary for him to ask players to play the game (or the game’s sake. It was particularly pleasing to know that Mr H. Harris had been appointed one of the managers of the Maori team. The Maori team had been a credit to New Zealand, and ho felt sure that Mr Harris had had much to do with tho success of the tour. They were glad to have him back. (Applause.) Mr Stuart weut on to refer to tho fact that tho New Zealand team for South Africa would bo chosen on this year’s form, and it behoved every footballer in Otago to put his best foot forward in an endeavor to secure a place in the team. The speaker trusted and felt sure that Otago would have more than one representative in the New Zealand team on this occasion.' The work of the referees was again highly appreciated. He would like to stress the reference in the annual report to the appeal of the Referees’ Association for more players retiring from active participation to assist tho referees.

The details in the balance-sheet were particularly clear, and in this connection he thought the treasurer was deserving of a special word of thanks. Subscriptions last year amounted to £lls, rents to £258, sales to £l2l, gato receipts' to £6,242, the total receipts being £6,7.37. That was very gratifying. It would be a great pleasure to the delegates to know that the gate takings at club matches last season were the second highest on record. The record was in 1024, when £2,555 was taken at club games, the figure last season being £2,257. This showed the great public interest taken in the game. Tne expenditure side showed in detail what had been done with the money. The statement of assets and liabilities showed a balance in favor of assets of £7,592, as against £5,653, the profit on the year’s working being £1,9-39. (Applause.) Seven hundred and twenty-eight pounds of that amount had been spent on the new turnstiles'at Carisbrook, and the other improvements at Carisbrook would absorb about £1,300. The whole of the money was thus going back into the game.' (“Hear, hear.”). lu concluding his remarks, Mr Stuart thanked the clubs for the loyal support given to the union in the past season, and thanked all who had assisted him during his term of office as president. (Applause.) REPORT ADOPTED. Mr V. G. Cavanngh, in seconding the motion, said ho knew of no season when the clubs bad done so much for the benefit of the game. The result had been increased memberships. The only trouble had been the shortage of grounds.- The union had always endeavored to put hack into the game what was taken out, and the wisdom of that policy would ho seen when the games started this season on Carisbrook. The report was adopted. REFEREES’ REPRESENTATION. Mr ,T. Sutherland introduced a motion asking for the addition in Rule 6, after the words “and a treasurer,” the words “and a representative of the Referees’ Association.” Mr Sutherland said he was bringing the matter forward on behalf of the Referees’ Association. For some time the referees had had a representative on the Otago Rugby Football Union Committee, but that representative had not had voting powers. It meant that an important body like the Referees’ Association had no voice in the management of football. Mr W. .Holden, in seconding tiio motion. said he did not think the request of the referees was too much. It would really make no difference in the management of the game, but would bo a fitting courtesy to the referees. Mr W. Renniek said the Referees’ Association had 100 members, of whom sixty were active members. Each Saturday about forty referees had to be supplied— no mean task. The Otago Referees’ Association was_ one of the strongest of its kind in New Zealand, and was very loyal to the parent body. After some discussion Mr J. King moved as an amendment that the words “ and also a member of the Referees’ Association ” he, added to the rule which reads ‘ That the Committee of 'Management have the power to elect a representative on the Management Committee from any organisation controlling football in Dunedin under the jurisdiction of the 0.R.F.U.” The amendment was seconded and carried. THE PRESIDENT. Mr D. M. Stuart, pho has been president for the past year, was nnani-

mously re-olocted for tlio next twehe months. ~ , In expressing thanks for his re-olec-tion, Mr Stuart said he would continue to do his best for the good old game of Rugby football. (Applause.) OTHER OFFICE-BEARERS. The following vice-presidents were elected;—W. Brown, V. G. Cavanagh, J, Mitchell, and S. G. Styche. Mr George Nelson was re-elected treasurer. The Chairman said the union had been particularly fortunate in its treasurers, and Mr Nelson had done as good work as any. Messrs Moukman and Greenfield were rc-clectcd (auditors. COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT. Twelve members were required for the Committee of Management, ami the following were nominated Messrs Bagiev (Ravensbournc), King (Alhambra), iPraetor (Zingari), Spedding (Pirates),'Woottou (Southern), Harris (Union), Strong (University), Holden (Kaikorai), Davidson (Zingan), Sutherland (Alhambra), Haynes (Dunedin), M'Douald (Kaikorai), Allan (Taiori Club), O’Sullivan (Dunedin), Heffernan (Southern), Williams (Kaikorai). O’Shea (Y.M.C.A.), and Perrv (University). On a ballot being taken the following were elected : —Messrs Bagley, King, Proctor, Spedding, Wootton, Harris, Strong, Holden, Haynes, M'Douald, Allan, and Perry. OPENING DAY. It was decided to recommend to the Committee of Management that club matches commence on Saturday, April 2.‘1. SELECTION COMMITTEE CHOSEN. The President said it was lor the delegates to decide whether there should bo a solo selector or three selectors for tho Otago representative team. Mr Strong moved that there should bo three selectors for the representative team. , ’ Mr Davidson, in seconding the motion, said ho believed the best results were obtained with three selectors. The motion was carried. Messrs King, Dr Perry, Bagley, M'Donnld, Mitchell, and Bain were nominated ns selectors. On a ballot being taken Messrs Perry Mitchell, and King were declared elected. NORTH OTAGO FOOTBALL.

Mr J. Himhurg, as the representative of the North Otago Sub-union, said the annual meeting of that body, held rcloontly, was an onthusiastir: one. As j was well known, the sub-union was making an effort to form a union ol its own, and trusted it would got the | support of tlie O.R.F.TJ. in its effort. 1 Football in Oaraaru and district was .growing. Last year there were a senior grade and second and third grades; tiffs season an extra grade would be played. The President said he thought it would bo a good move for North Otago to have a union At present the 0.11.F.U. had seven sub-unions under its jurisdiction. Whether North Otago became a separate union or not, it , would bo treated the same as it had always been by the 0 R.F.U. i LOGAN PARE. Air Harris said it was about twelve mouths since the Exhibition finished, 'and time tiro City Council was asked to 1 push on the reclamation of Logan Park. 1“ Hoar, hear.”) There was £IO,OOO in hand ns the result of the Mammoth i Art Union. That amount could bo used i for the work, and he thought delegates should approach the councillors : for their district and ask- phem to have the work expedited. He had noticed that the council had extended the time of the contractors for the removal of .the buildings. The park was in a bad ’state, and h© was afraid that unless work were commenced soon they would not get the grounds by next year. In ’view of the present unemployment, ho i thought the money in hand could bo i well spent. Ho suggested that the Com- ; mitteo of Management should deal with 1 the matter. The President said the resolution would strengthen the committee’s hands. Mr Harris moved that a letter be sent to the City Council asking it to push on with all possible speed the work of providing proper playing areas on Logan Park. Mr O’Shea, in seconding the motion, said that at the recent cricket meeting it had been decided to approach other : sports bodies for assistance m sending a deputation to the City Council on tho question of playing areas. The motion would considerably strengthen tho hands of tho cricket people. Ho did not think the members of the Reserves Committee could have seen some of tho grounds, which wore in a bad state. Mr Thomson, in supporting_the motion, said tho class of materia! being used to top-dress some of the grounds about the city was not of tho best. He thought the sports of Dunedin were not being treated as well in this respect as they deserved. Tho motion was carried. APPEAL FOR REFEREES. Mr Tleinnick made an appeal to delegates to use their influence to persuade players giving up the game to join the Referees’ Association. ACCIDENT FEND. Air E. V. Fairbairn drew attention to tbo lack of interest in tho footballers’ accident fund, and pointed out that there had been a very small attendance of delegates at tho annual meeting. Tho meeting bad been adjourned for a fortnight, and it behoved delegates to attend and give attention to such a vital subject of interest to footballers. VOTE OF THANKS. Tho, retiring office-bearers were ncc.nnlecl a vote of thanks for their services.