RUGBY CONTROL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 April 1925, Page 9

RUGBY CONTROL.

SYSTEM IN ‘TARANAKI

MALONE SCHEME RETAINED

SUB-U NIONS CO NS I DER'FJD

Suggested methods, oi control ling tlie Rugby c-onipetitions in, Taranaki were discu,sised a.t- the annual meeting of the union, on, Tuesday, when, alter lengthy consideration, it was decided, on the casting: vote of • the chairman, Air. «T. Garcia, (-president), that, for the eni-'Uing sea-sou. the- Malone -scheme be retained. The issue lay between a levers,ion, to the north ( and south divisions, and the con,timkmce under the Malone scheme which operated last season.

CHANGE A DYOCIATED. ‘the (Uscii-ssion a,io.se when, Mr. A. Lees, on bebailt of'the O'kaaawh Chub, presented tlie following notice or motion: —. “Ihat the present . constitution of the iaianaliL Kughy Union he altered so as to- allow ol the province beiiig divided up into suitable ..sub-unions, tlie sub-unions decided oh to have the;, management- of their own finance arid inter-oliU-b matches ; ' the- Taranaki Rugby Union to be managed- by an executive elected by the sub-unions; the executive, to 'nave control of all inter -sub-union matches, and to have full control and management of all representative fixtures final play-offs to detennine the champion provincialteam in each grade.’’ , , , T'he Okaiawa, Club further pro,posed that failing the approval of the loretroi jig resolmt'ion, .. tho provinee 1 be divided into northern and southern divisions for the- more economical and efficient carrying: out of Senior m-atche?-. Mr. Lees explained that the . proposal was- the ouitaome of -a. desire on the part of the Okniarva, Club to lia\ e a ischeine of control, established .permanently, .though it was . realised that the .su'b-un-ion scheme could no-t, be put into operation, during the coming season. The big: advantage, of a subunion scheme wpiiild lie the con,sequent lessening in ti-aydlling. He pointed out that in coiiiitry difitricits iriany players were unable to take part, as their work would not permit- time for travelling except during the- stack -season, of about- three moritbs’ duration. A .suggestion made .that the division iri,to .sub-unioiijs, might impair the unity of the province wa,». quite unjustified. as ..was shown from, the succeks whioil- had -attended the -ochernc ill parts of the .South Island and ITawke’-s,. Bay.. Further,the. promoters were, not, .actuated -by any motives of disloyalty, but were- merely endeavouring to -bring about ,a state of affairs which would reflect ; to the. best interests of the' union. The. scheme wavs, he- thought, favoured by most clubs, blit apparently they considered that at present the- change would be a little premature.

ADVANTAGES stressed. Cohtimiing, Air. /Lees said that regarding: ' the operation of .trie ccherhe. °iri Taiariaki, the .province could be,, for, instance, divided into four . grolips—noith, south, east and west—each to-, have control W its own internal affairs,, but to .be controlled bv a- provincial body iri the wider matters- affecting the whole- province; sucli a;si representative ■ selection, winch would be- triad© from, the players, iri tlie ii-ite-'-unioii rriatches-. T-hiisi method should greatly help the selectors, arid also allow, greater opportunities to players. . Thbiigh decisive, action might have to lb©/put- off for a season, or so, the -speaker was quite sa.tls-fied that subsequently the mangeirient of the game in Taranaki, would he by the srihunions scheme. . ■- The proposal wa,s supported by Mr. AA 7 . A. Guy, who also, intimated .that the. Okaiawa Club considered the shburiioii method, would ensure, the- best re-sults po-ssible to players and the game- generally. - • Tflie chairman siiggested that a eo-in-mii-titee-. be- set lib to fully invest, the question arid report to a sriib,sequent meeting. -

REFERRED TO UNION COMMITTEE lii reply to ari inquiry, Mr Lees said the finance of clubs would he much the same as at present, hilt would be through the Bub-union’s respective cbinriiittees. He intimated that if it was considered too early to take decisive action . the Okaiawa Club would he-quite,willing to withdraw the motion for the present. . On the suggestion of Mr Lees, the motiori was referred to the Management Committee for consideration, it being requested that a report be placed before the iiext annual meeting.

north and south divisions. Mr Lees then- moved the alternative proposal dealing with the-., division of. the province into north and south divisions, He considered that, while the Malone scheme had no doubt been sue-, cessful in many ways, its chief drawback Was the penalising of some teams in travelling. Clubs centrally situated were not so greatly affected, but_ to those further to.wafds the- extremities of the province the travelling presented difficulties which would be best overcome by. a reversion to the old north and south grouping. Mr j. Goodwin (Hawera) seconded. Mr A. F. Nielson said the Opuriake Club, was content, to remain under the Malone schefrie. He accordingly moved as an amendment that the Malone scheme bp. retained. Mr A. O. Casßy (Eltham) seconded. Mr F. McKenna said Patea strongly favoured the north and south divisions. Mr J. McLeod explained that it. was not intended that the grouping adopted last year should remain permanent, and it could be iirip roved upon this season, especially as-a new club was entering the cbriipetition. , His club (Star) thought the greater-interest was maintained in the competitions as the result of the interchange of visits from different parts of the province. Under the present scheme it should be possible to arrange that teams which had to travel the greatest distances in one season could be more favourably treated in the I following yeah, Tlie big thing to. lie 'considered, however, .was the action j which would prove, of greatest benefit ; to the greatest number, j Mr E. Steele said the Tukana Club considered the Malone scheme was the I most favourable method of controlling ! the competitions. . ' . ’ The ,north arid south divisions scheme was supported by Mr J. R. Patton, who said the Clifton Club,considered it the mrire advantageous method of adfninistration. < Mr C. Whittington (Hawera) said lie failed to see that the Malone scheme had benefited the standard-, of play, which under the old scheme had been quite, as high as it was now. Stressing the inconvenience- caused by travelling, long distances, he said such 'invariably meant - leaving, home- before 1 p.m., which was very difficult to the big .majority of players.' . Mr Method contended that players were, not necessarily ma'de\ by any ..particular scheriih, as under any adriiiriis-

rtration form would, vary. Referring to a further point stressed by the previous speaker, he said that the Hawera Club would not have to travel 50 miles more than twice in the one season. v The chairman said the question of gate receipts must be taken into con r federation. Undoubtedly the visits of south teams to the north and vice versa added greatly to public attraction, and if the suggested reversion was made receipts could be expected to go down. On the amendment' being put to the meeting the voices indicated even vot- ! ing, as was proved by - the ensuing ballot. The chairman explained that, as the meeting had not expressed a definite desire to have the existing order changed, his casting vote must be given in favour of the amendment. The amendment therefore defeated t}ie motion, it being decided accdrdingIly that for the ensuing season the jJilalone scheme be. readopted;,:-