PRIMARY SCHOOLS RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 April 1928, Page 5

PRIMARY SCHOOLS RUGBY.

GROUPS ARRANGED., t THREE HAWERA SCHOOLS WITHDRAW. At a meeting of the management committee of the South Division of the Taranaki Primary Schools Rugby Football Union, held at Kltham last evening, there were present: [Messrs W. Anderson (Midhirst) in the chair, F. \V. Mason (Turuturu), W. Bieheno (Auroa), D. Taylor (Stratford), G. H. JL'ercy, secretary (Eltbam). There were also in attendance : Messrs L. J. Furlie (Stratiord), delegate to the Taranaki Rugby Union; L, Hancock and V. J. Henderson (Stratford), R. E. Thomas (Eltkarn), and \V, Davidson (Normanby). A BOMBSHELL. A written intimation was received from the Tawhiti school that it did not intend to compete this season under tile Primary Schools Union. Mr. F. A. Bates, headmaster of the Hawera iYJ,nm School, also wrote advising that it was not the intention of his school to engage in the primary schools competition this year, on the grounds that at the Hawera High, techool there are three •or lour teams of last year boys who have no opportunity lor play, being too light and young to take part in high school games against the high schools, and having no local competition; also that the Hawera school teams cannot afford to travel much, especially when, with the help of high' school teams, they can make quite a good competition locally.

Continuing, the letter set up that if the Union wii 1 grant permission to play a local competition, including high, school teams, the Hawera. school would lie glad to be allowed to play off its winning primary team against the winning central group team. . Otherwise Air. Bates- regretted his I*' 1 *' inability to enter a team at all. He further stated that both Tawhiti and Convent: schools were quite in accord with the Hawera school’s decision. He regretted being debarred from taking part in South Taranaki competitions, but must absolutely decline to travel when there were, with junior teams from th© high school, at least six teams in Hawera alone.

These communications were productive of considerable adverse criticism, the general opinion being that the action of the Hawera schools would S tend to nullify much of the good work already done by the schools union and cripple the coming season’s activities. - On the motion of Air. Percy it was resolved that the Hawera Alain, Hawera Convent, and Tawhiti schools be advised that, no entries having been received from them, they will not be included in any competitions or representative trials, arranged by the division.

The passing of this resolution means the exclusion of representatives of the schools named from the annual North v. South provincial fixture. The secretary was instructed to dearly explain to the Tawhiti and Convent schools the fuil purport of the resolution and the consequences of following the lead set by the Hawera Alain School.

It was further resolved that the schools concerned be allowed until April 23 to reconsider the question of nomi-. nating teams. NOMINATION OF DELEGATE. Consideration ox a proposition that the central executive nominate one of its members as a delegate to the Taranaki Rugby Football Union was deferred until a special general meeting of the South Division is held.

it. was decided that Mr. L. .T, furrie continue as delegate in the meantime. SCHOOL FOOTBALLS. Thei secretary was authorised to invite quotations for the supply of two dozen footballs for distribution to schools at ten shillings each. It was decided that the free gift of foothallvdSe discontinued. , SOUTH DIVISION GROUPS. The grouping of schools and the appointment of organisers for each group was determined as follows: Western Group (seniors). —Aianaia, Auroa, Pihama-Oeo, Opunake, Kapuni, Kaponga. Organiser, Mr. W. Bieheno. Southern Group (juniors).—Okaiawa, Normanbv, Turuturu. Organiser, Air. \Y. Davidson. Eltham Group (juniors).—Eltham, Alatapu, Alangatoki. Organiser, Mir. A. E. Gilliver. Central Group (juniors). —Stratford A, Stratford B, Stratford Convent, Toko, Alidhirst. Organiser, Air. L. Hancock. The drawing of fixtures was left in the hands of the organisers.