RUGBY UNION REPORT

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1938, Page 9

RUGBY UNION REPORT

SPRINGBOK TOUR PROFITS. A profit of £17,705 was made by (.lie New Zealand Rugby Union on the tour of the South African team last season. The annual report of the union describes the season as one ot the most memorable in the history of the game in New Zealand, and suggests that the stimulus of the tour will be reflected in an improved standard of play and increased public interest in the coming season The gross revenue from the tour was £26,384, which included net receipts from the matches conducted by the principal unions, as follow,s: — Auckland, £6299; Canterbury, £6329; Wellington, £6050; Otago. £1738; Hawke’s Bay, £1216 The expenses included £3991 for overseas fares (less £lOOO paid by the Australian Rugby Union), £843 for fares in New Zealand, and £2184 for general expenses in New Zealand The cost of the fares, outfitting, and general expenses of the New Zealand team was £6Bl. Cablegrams and other tour expenses totalled £663 The total expenses were £8678.

As a result of the tour there is a surplus in the revenue account for the year of £16,842, the report states"lt is intended to make a grant out of the profits of the tour to those unions which were not fortunate in having a game against the visitors allotted to them.”

A surplus of assets over liabilities oi' £53,381 is shown in the balancesheet. Of this amount £31,717 is involved in loans to unions to purchase and improve grounds. Such grounds are generally available to other amateur sporting bodies when not required tor Rugby, the report comments. "It. has been the policy of the parent body to advance funds at a low rale of interest to alliliated unions for the purpose ol assisting in the purchase and improvement of playing areas, provided the local uijions take tile initiative and raise locally a reasonable sum towards the acquisition r.f a playing area,’’ states the report.

"Since the accounts were closed, loans have been granted by the Council as follow:—Otago Rugby Union LlOOO, South Canterbury Rugby Union £7OO-” The accounts show that the trial games in Wellington produced a credit. balance of £125. Grants to schools during the year totalled £750, and various unions were subsidised to the extent of £2Bl. TOURS PROPOSED. “Various suggestions to foster the game,’ particularly in the outlying districts, have been submitted to your Council,” states the report. “It is suggested that, a scheme that would enable teams from unions outside the main centres of population to visit other unions similarly placed, with occasional visits from the principal unions, would be of benefit to players in the outlying districts. The question is having the attention of the Council, and it is hoped that a comprehensive scheme will be evolved during the year. “Tlic New Zealand team will pay a visit to Australia during the coming season. At the time of writing, the itinerary of the games to be played had not been completed, but it is proposed that the team will leave Wellington on July 7. play nine matches, and return to New Zealand, leaving Sydney by the Awatea, arriving in Wellington on August IS. “An invitation from the Fiji Rugby Union to send a Maori team to Fiji to play a series of games has been accepted by the Council. The team will comprise 19 players, and two managers, and it is proposed that the party will leave Auckland by the Niagara on August 7, play live games, and return by the Monterey, arriving at Auckland on September 2. It is further proposed to assemble the .team at Wanganui, and play a game against Wanganui before departure, and' a game aginst Aucklnd on the return from Fiji.” The report also mentions that the Council has under consideration the invitation of an overseas team to the Dominion during centenary year. An invitation by the South African Rugby Union to the Home Unions, Australia, and New Zealand for a conference during the visit of the British team to that country was not followed up. It is now suggested that a conference should be held in London during the visit of the Australian team in 1939-40.