LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1940, Page 10

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

TNANGAHUA CENTRE. The seventh annual meeting of the Inangahua, Rugby League was held on Saturday evening, there < being a good attendance. Mi'. Coxall '(president) presided, and there were present the following members of the Management Committee and club representatives. Messrs. E. Richards, C. B. Chandler, C. Hinton, H. Gough, R. Chandler, C. McElwee, W. Blom, E. Riley, R. Irving, C. Curtis, E. Chandler (Waiuta Club), J. Eklund (Reefton), J. Howard (Waratah), A. Eklund (Kiwi), C. Lawn. An apology for absence was received from Mr. J. Smith.

The president referred to the death of Mr. Savage, who had always taken a keen interest in the League game. The members all deplored the less of one who was a supporter of League' activities. It was fitting that a motion of sympathy should be passed in the death of the Prime Minister. The death of Mrs. Foster, of Ikamatua, had also removed from the district one who had wlorked in the interest of the sport, and whose family were closely connected with League interests in the Ikamatua area. He asked that members stand in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the Prime Minister and the late Mrs. Foster, to whose relatives the sympathy of the centre would be conveyed. The annual report was presented by the chairman, as follows: — The-seventh annual report covering activities during the 1939 season, showed continued progress in the code. The public had shown by their increasing attendance their appreciation of the improved standard of play. The report contains information of the tour of England which was undertaken last year and which had to be abandoned after only two .... matches had been played. Comment on the team is served by quoting a portion of the report of the co-managers, Messrs. Redwood and Doble. Under the heading of “General” the report states that the past season was a successful one, the code having a clear field owing to the fact that the Union code failed to survive. The insurance

scheme was carried on, although with modified benefits Giving to the operation of the Social Security Act. The. League’s promise of a tour had been, fulfilled when the senior representative team visited Wellington. The trip was most successful and the ctode should benefit considerably. • Congratulations are extended to Mr. George Orman who was’ again successful in gaining International honours. Orman was selected' in the- '“Kiwis’’ which toured England and worthily upheld the traditions of the Inangahua League. Two other prayers', 'Messrs 1 . P. Scott and G, August alsb took part in the final trials, for the* selection of the New Zealand team. Inangahua had three representatives in the South Island team, Messrs. P. Scott, G. Orman and G. August. Messrs. P. Scott, G. Orman, G. August, A. Watson, A. Turner, and T. McKenzie played in the South Island final -trial at Christchurch.

The club cbmpettions- were carried through successfully, the Grey Valley Club meeting with -.most success. A Third Grade competition was inaugurated and was successful. A team selected in the under eight stone grade met and defeated the Canterbury schoolboys’ team, which had the day before wrested the Norman Cox Cup from the West Coast. It is the intention of the Inangahua League to enter a team in ‘ this competition. Thanks are extended to Mrs. J. Morris, of Reefton, for donating a cup for third grade competition. to be known as the '“Morris Memorial.” Representative matches

are retailed and special mention is made o£ the splendid fight put up by the Inangaliua team in its match with West Coast for the Northern Union Cup. The League extends special thanks to the selectors, referees, and all those who have assisted in any way during the season. Mention is also made of the fact that from a remit moved by this League, the three selector system was adopted for the selection of the South Island team. The financial portion of the report shows the League to be in a sound position, although the credit balance is lower than last year. The report concludes by paying a tribute to the goodwill and co-operation that existed between the players, club officials and the Management Committee. The balance-sheet showed that the Centre was in a sound financial position. Income for the year was £234 1/7. Outgoings had been heavy, the expenses of a trip to Wellington totalled £94/5/8. The position, while not as sound as that of the previous year, was good. A number of items of expenditure would not recur this year. "A special report on the financial position was presented by the secretary (Mr. 'T. F. McKenzie), and the chairman offered congratulations to the secretary-treasurer on the thorough and comprehensive report. The annual report, balance-sheet, and special report were adopted on the motion of Messr-s E. Richards and C. Hinton.

The secretary-treasurer was accorded a special vote of thanks for his services.

The following officers were elected for the year: President. Mr. C. Coxall; vice-presidents, Messrs W. J. Barry, J. Slattery, C. Cleaver, T. Baird. B. H. Winchester, W. S. Clark, A. Wilkinson, B. Topp, F. Baird (all re-elected), also Mr. J. Fitzgerald; patron, Mr. G. Ward (Waiuta) (reelected), secretary, T. F. McKenzie; auditor, C. Lawn; Management Committee, Messrs E. Riley, R. Irving, C. Curtis, H. Gough, R. Chandler, C. Chandler, C. Hinton, W. Blom, E. Richards, B. Eklund; trustee, Mr. J. McElwee, senr. (re-elected). The. opening date for the season was fixed as April 21,- the competitions to coriunence on April 28. It was decided that Mrs. F. Rollerson be elected an honorary life member of the Centre.

The secretary reported that several senior teams had advised that they would nominate for competitions. It was decided that the Centre would not this season assist third grade teams with the-.expenses entailed in playing club competition games. The- secretary was voted £lO/10/for his year’s work, but declined, stating that this sum would remain in-the Centre funds, as he did not intend to accept it. The auditor was granted £l/1/fofhis services.

JUNIOR ADVISORY BOARD. At the annual meeting of the Junior Advisory Board of th,e West Coast Rugby League, last evening, Mr P. Sweetman. presided over a good attendance of members. ’ The President submitted the following annual report:—As we all know, the 1939 season was one of the best .we have had for years past, the football being of a high standard. The competitions were all evenly coni tested and the trophies well distributed, Blackball being successful in the third and fourth grade competi- ■ tions, and Marist in the school grade. Our Norman Cox team visited Christchurch, taking with them the Cup, but . unfortunately the weather was against ' football, so the boys returned with the Cup. Canterbury would not be denied the challenge, so travelled to Greymouth, and were successful in lifting the Cup. During the season we fitted

our representatives out in new English style jerseys, something that has been overlooked by this Board for years. Our thanks go to the various people wRo gave us assistance during the season, especially Mr A. Clarke Kumara, the Marist Brothers, and the Blackball schoolmaster, for their attention to the schoolboys, also those good people who billeted the Canterbury boys. In conclusion, I would recommend to the incoming committee to still pay attention to the younger players', give them plenty of football, and thjs season I would favour the field days at the various places during the season and to commence the season with a field day at Wingham Park and have all boys’ weights and ages taken for reference during the season. I take this opportunity of thanking my committee who helped me during the season, and hope the same assistance is also given by the incoming committee.

The election of officers resulted 1 as follows: —President, Mr P. Sweetman (re-elected); secretary-treasurer, Mr H. Bassett (re-elected); delegate to West Coast Rugby League, Mr P. Sweetman; postponement committee Mr 0. Wilson (Blackball), President and Secretary; West Coast Schoolboys selectors.. Rev. Brother William, Messrs 0. Wilson (Blackball) and W. Moore. '