PRIMARY SCHOOLS RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 February 1928, Page 5

PRIMARY SCHOOLS RUGBY.

SOUTH TARANAKI DIVISION

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the southern division of the Taranaki Primary Schools Rugby Football Union was held at Eltham on. Saturday. There were present: Messrs E. Bary, of Eltham (chairman), A. Lawn (Hawera), E. A. Gilliver, G. H. Piercy (Eltham), L. J. .Furrie, D. Taylor, R. L. Hancock, J. Henderson (Stratford), W. Davidson (Norman by), C. V. Smith (Rawhitiroa). W. Bicheno (Auroa), and W. Anderson (Midhirst).

ANNUAL REPORT

The anuual report stated: The season under review was a most successlui one. The total number of players taking part in the competitions was 333. A senior and three junior competitions were organised and comp.eted. Very few of the m'atches set down were forfeited. Stratford wen the senior championship and were successful in the play-off against Central School (New Plymouth), the northern champions. i'lhama* were the junior champions of this division. Toko won the junior competitions in the Stratford area, and Matapu that in the eastern area, in the trial game at Kaponga good form was shown by candidates for the South representative team and a strong south team defeated North on July 9. It is to be regretted that the match was not played as a curtainraiser to the Star-Strattord match, owing to the authorities not allowing the Schools Union to use the ground. General disappointment was express r ed by the many supporters of tiie hoys’ competitions who came from all parts of the province to witness the game. The executive forwarded a football as a trophy for competition among schools in the Tahora area, and also authorised the purchase of a cup (or competition among country schools not taking part in other competitions—teams to be seven-a-side. This competition will he organised early in the coming season. The executive wishes to record its appreciation of financial assistance rendered by the Taranaki Rugby Union through ' the central executive, those reierees who kindly undertook control of school matches,' and of the Press for the publicity accorded to school football. . BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet showed: Receipts, £32 2s 6d (comprising allotment from Taranaki Rugby Football Union grants £3O and affiliation fees £2 2s 6d). Expenditui’e, £2O 4s 8d Balance to credit, £ll 17s lOd. 'On the expenditure side, travelling Expenses absorbed £8 12s and purchase of jerseys £6 16s. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet Mr. Bary congratulated the South Division on the excellent season experienced, and also expressed his appreciation of the manner in which all the officials and those who had taken part in helping the executive in the work. It was pleasing to record such a fine year’s work for the diiision’s first effort. He felt that the southern division had attained a good standard and could look forward this year to having a good time in working for the schools and having a really good innings with regard to their winter sport. As to the balance-sheet, continued the chairman, it was, in his opinion, really too healthy. This year they had to find out exactly what the running of the southern division would cost.j He hoped the executive would consider careiully the matter of expenditure of the funds voted to the division. The season had ended with a credit of £ll 17s lOd on the £3O voted. This was really too much to carry forward—the initial year was always the most difficult for any organisation in the matter of finance. He thought that some financial assistance should he given to the teams who had to incur additional expense in travelling to play-oil's. The money would, he considered, he well spent' in that direction. In reference to the play-off between North and South teams, great disappointment was expressed that more publicity was not given to the fixture, and the union should endeavour to give the match full publicity in future. He believed that the fact of bringing young players more prominently before the public would have a good effect upon the players. In seconding the motion, Mr Furr it complimented the socetary on his excellent work during the year. He referred to the disappointment evinced in regard to the North v. South fixture, lie-felt that the door wa-s (shut against thu South last season, and suggested that failing more consideration in securing attractive games in the southern area the. executive should consider uiraiiging an outside match —possibly with Waikato, as Wanganui was not available. He wanted to see the Taranaki hov.s getting back to the playing of outside matches, as in these, they had more than held their own in the past. Various .suggestions: were advanced for utilising the credit balance held bv the union, the general trend being in the direction of instituting representative matches with team® from other provinces. The report and -.balance-sheet were adopted.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. .Officers for the ensuing year were e'ected as follow :—Chairman, Mr W.

Anderson; secretary, Mr G. H. Percy; committee, Messrs A. Lawn, ,F. 'Mason, L- .1. Furrie; delegates to Central division, Messrs W. Anderson, J. Henderson, G. H. Percy ; group organisers, Messrs A. Lawn and AY. Davidson (Haw-era). R. L. Hancock (Stratford), A. E. Gilliver (Eltham); AY.- Bicheno (Opunake). G . Hall AYhangamomona) ; selectors of aepresentativ© teams, Messrs F. Mason, I/. J. Furrie and W* H. Burgess. Mr 1/. J. Furrie was nominated as delegate to the Taranaki Rugby Football Union, and if was decided that the central executive be asked to formulate a rule governing the selection of a delegate in future. UTILISING THE FUNDS.

AVith a view to diverting accumulated funds of the division into beneficial channels, Mr Bicheno moved: “That all small schools in Grade 2 and under, whether entering teams in competitions or not, within the area, ishould lie presented with a football.” ' This proposal, modified by a- further suggestion that footballs be supplied to 'small schools at a reduced price, lacked, support. Mr Furrie advocated financiallv assisting small schools by way of subsidy and moved that it be a recommendation to the management committee to consider the beet means of assisting schools (particularly small schools) by allocation or subsidy.—Seconded by Mr Lawn.

Speaking to the motion, Mr Bicheno deprecated the principle of defraying travelling expenses, as introducing the mercenary spirit- instead of that of pure sport, and inculcating in the youthful mind the first .seeds of professionalism. The chairman thought the might well he left to the discretion of the management committee. .

B AYLA T MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP.

Mr Henderson referred to the unsatisfactory conditions governing competition for the Bayly Memorial Scho 1 - arship last season, ana it was resolved that it he a recommendation toi the central body that control of the competition this year be allocated to the Southern Division. Mr Bary said the union was much uidebted to the headmaster of the New Plymouth High School for the use of the school grounds for the last competitions. DECLARATION OF AA'EIGHJTSIt was decided that particulars _of weights of players in the forthcoming season’s competitions shall be in the secretary’s hands not later than April BONUS TO SECRETARY. On the motion of the chairman, a bonus of two guinea® was voted to the seeretarv (Air G. H. Percy) in recognition of his services during the' past season. DEPARTURE OF CHAIRMAN.

Mr. Furrie fee'.in,g referred to the impending departure of the past-year’s chairman to Palmerston North.' ..While congratulating 'Mr Bary on substantial and well-deserved promotion, he recognised the loss of a live chairman and an enthusiast in all branches of school sports, and trusted that Ibis transfer would result in furthering the interests of Taranaki schools’ football in Mr Bary is new province. He could assimo Mi- Barv that he would carry ijith him the very best wishes of his numerous contemporaries. . . -»• - In returning thanks for the expression of goodwill, Mr Bary remarked that he could not wish to meet anywhere a better circle of employers and fellow-workers in iliis school connection or. more enthusiastic coadjutors in the couse of clean sport than those with whom it had been his happy lot to associate throughout his Taranaki exrerience. They could rest assured that he would do his best to foster the sports interests of Taranaki schools.