FOOTBALL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 842, 31 March 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

MANAWATU RUGBY UNION. ANNUAL MEETING. The animal nieetiug of the Mauaw«itu l*uguy Union was hold last mant, Mr a. N. Uibbons presiding, mere was also present Messrs * laser, otagpoole. JStuDbs, Torstenson, and iUiuier secretary;, Paimeiwon; Ongley, i-red. firam, i*yan <*« dltt ß>; stalker, Armstrong, I'awson, McAUnn (Kia Ton); Maiming, Moben, Jiufflel l, jj'reoman. (Old Boys); l<oote Boliooi;; Taltndge (Wednesday). S report and balance-slieet as published in yesterday* i«ue were reaii and aaopted. .. , Alv Jf "am said the balance-sheet did not mention as an asset the amount t» be received from the New Zealand Union for the English matches-— from Mr Gibbons then briefly detailed matters in connection with the Hewitt disqualification. Regarding the gymnasium the offer of the A. and i\ Association for the hall was about <s bu a night, and if they had to pay this for four nights a woek it would not be feasible. A weekly rent of 30s. was quite out-of the question. The offer was hedged around with all sorts of little tags as to damage, etc. For the coming season the Council had practically three grounds available. Ihe Union got no further ahead as to finances, and to pay the visit to the South island which was due, would cost fully £260. Therefore it had been deemed advisable to suspend that trip for this year. This might enable them to carry out their plans as to a gymnasium. Personally he was not in favour of a gymnasium for training, as he thought for outside athletics outside training was best, and football would not benofit by a gymnasium. But the general wish was for one, and the management committee had to carry out their wishes. The best way was by curtailing travelling expenses. Mr Torstonson seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. Mr Pirani referred to the rumour as to moving the headquaters to Feilding. Feilding was not hankering for the management after the treatment received by last year's committee from prominent men in Palmerston. The' patron, Mr R. S. Abraham, had resigned owing to the Hewitt disqualification, and accused the committee of inability to manage the affairs of the Union. In his letter of resignation he accused the committee of mismanaging the affaire of the TJnion 3 aQ d said that he had been looking for an opportunity to resign the position of Patron ibecause of that, and the Horace Hewitt case gave it to him. Now, the Committee may have ibeen wrong in that case — he did not say they were— but they were unanimous, and they believed they were acting in the best interests of football, as it would not improve the tone of the game to let it go forth that the controlling authority had allowed itself to be flouted by a player because bis connections were superior to those of others. He could conscientiously say, however, that the committee had always done its duty, despite Mr Abraham's opinion, and no one could honestly point to an instance of failure in that respect. They had also had the Rev. C. C. Harper going off pop like overdrawn ginger beer, because one of his parishioners had come under the barm of the Union. There was very little sense in Mr Harper's fulminations, but they were samples of what the Union had t oput up with from many residents. Regarding the gymnasium _Mr Pirani said there were times in winter when the weather was unsuitable for exercise and they wanted a shelter. Jn Feilding they had two places given and lighted for the use of footballers and he thought the example might well be followed by the A. and P. Association. Referring to the proposed alteration of the rules, Mr Pirani said the management committee of the New Zealand Union had delayed sending them Home, and so they would not be in force this year. It was a pity that more of the old players did not join the Referees' Association. There should be double the number of referees. It might be possible to form a branch of the Referees' Association in Feilding. Mr Gibbons said he was not seeking re-eleotion in any office in the Union. He had been connected with the Union for seven years, four of which he had been president. They should let the management committee manage the Union apart from the officers, as was done by "some other Unions. He thanked all those with whom he had been connected in the past. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The electiou of officers resulted as follows:— Patron: Mr A. N. Gibbons. President: Mr Fred. Pirani. VicePresidents: Messrs StagpooJe, &. I). Hoben, H. F. Gibbons. Secretary: Mr T. Stubbs. Treasurer: Mr H. Muller. Management Committee: Messrs Foote, Manning, Armstrong, Pawson, Pickett, Smith and Mansford. Hon. Surgeons: Dre. Peach and O'Brien, and a Feilding surgeon to be elected by the committee . Vice-Pre-sident to the New Zealand Union : Mr Manning. Delegates to the New Zealand Union: Messrs Fred. Pirani and Muller. Accident Insurance Committee: President, secretary, and treasurer. Hon. Auditors: Messrs Fairbrother and Watson. Selectors: Management Committee. Postponement Committee: President, secretary, and Mr Manning. The matter of selector was left to the Management Committee. . Mr Pirani, in taking the chair, said if he failed in doing his duty it would not be for want of trying. OTHER BUSINESS. New clubs were admitted as follows: — Palmerston Technical School (junior and third-class) ; Bunnythorpe Ounior); Pohangina Valley (junior and third-class). , ,„ „, „ Mr Urquhart, on behalf of the Pohangina Valley Club, asked if the Union would be willing to send their teams out to Aehhurst to play. The new club would have about 55 members scattered over Ashhuist, Raumai, Pohaugiua and Coal Creek, and though they were prepared to play some matches in Feilding and Palmerston towards the end of the season it would be difficult for them to do so, especially in the beginning.— lt was resolved to ask the -incoming committee to as far as possible meet the new club's circumstances as to grounds. Mr Armstrong (Kia Toa) moved that it be a recommendation to the management committee that the report and balance-sheet be forwarded to the various clubs for distribution a fortnight before the annual meeting. Mr Armstrong also moved that the management committee be recommended to consider the reduction of the accident insurance fee. Mr Muller pointed out that that would require a special general meeting to make a new rule. The fee, however, undoubtedly came hard on the clubs. He seconded the motion, which was carried, Mr Gibbons pointing out that it would be very unwise to reduce, the chairman and Mr Hoben agreeing to thiß. Mr Gibbons moved that it be a recemmendation to the incoming committee to foster Wednesday football. The more players they .had the greater chance they had of getting good ones. Mr Muller seconded, saying that already from 30 to 35 players had signified their intention of playing on Wednesday. The motion was carried. The matter of classification of players as to unsuitable men in the thirds was left to the incoming committee. The chairman said Feilding Club was determined to make some of its men too big for thirds move up. Mr Foote said it was the big men in the Feilding'thirds thatt the other teams objected to. It was resolved to forward letters of thanks to the hon. auditor and surgeons.