FOOTBALLERS FOREGATHER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 September 1928, Page 2

FOOTBALLERS FOREGATHER

OKAIAWA CILUBiS ANNUAL SMOKE CONCERT. One of the most popular fumctionis of a isoailal nature in connection with the operations of the Okaiawa Rugby Football Club (is the annual smoke concert which this season was held in the Town Halt la,Jib might and proved in every way a success. The tables, neatly laid by' the ladies’ committee, were fully occupied by members, their friends and visitors from Hawera and other parts of the district. , Mr J. O’Sullivan was in the chair. After they had given the to a. 4 b of the King, Mr J. J. Goodwin proposed “The Okaiiawa 'Football Club.’’ He congratulated. the members' on tiie honourable record, made during the season and during the club’s Avliole career. He said i.t'h'ad a il'ong and noteworthy history, going back many yeans, and Wad included many fine players in (its ranks who had gained distinct:,km and bad worthily 'upheld the honour of the game and of the club. The ellub had won the South Taranaki premiership consistently for (several yeans, and would, he felt sure, cap that honour by annexing the provincial championship, as it had done in 1911.

The reply was made in fitting terms by T Mr D. Johnston who thanked the mover for the happy manner in which he had proposed the toast and the company for the way they liad honoured it. “The Taranaki Rugby Union” wais proposed by Mr O’Suillivan, who empihiasised the very important work that fell to the lot of the members of that body iand commended them for the success they always secured in controlling the destinies of the game in Taranaki. Ini his reply, Mr W. A. Guy thanked the mover for his complimentary references to the union. He said there was no doubt it had a big task demanding the utmost work and co-operation not only from the members, but from the clubs in. order to secure the greatest success. He instanced the extent of the work done and said that there were nearly three thousand players under the jurisdiction of the union, and that these were spread over a, very wide area. He commended clubs and players on their consistent loyalty to the union. Reference was made by him. to the insurance iscbomo for players in jmo cl m ma!belies. It was proposed to take 10 per cent, of the gates of club matches and five per cent, of the Union fixtures to make a fund. All clubs should see how the proposals would affect their finance and go thoroughly into the question. Another matter was the incorporation of clubs. Some were already incorporated, but all should take that step . , , “The Aill 'Blacks” was proposed, by Mr Goodwin, who stressed the fact that the New Zealand Team had a hard task, leaving as it did at the 'beginning of the season 'and the players had to adopt themselves, to altogether new conditions. He also referred to the enormous amount of travelling done and said that despite all these 11a.11.d1caps thev had. done ■well. . Mr Guy, selector, replying, took ins hearers hack twenty-three years to 1900 and recalled that in that great team Okaiawa had J. O’Sulllivan and Taranaki i in addition, Wynott. Hunter, Glasgow, Abbott, and Glenn; then the Army team, in which were R. Roberts. J. Kissick, H. Whittington. A West, C. Brown, and Gain; and then the 1924 team in which Taranaki was well represented by West, Hart and Bi own • in 1925, .to ‘Australia, with D. Johnston ; and lastly the 1928 team with P. Ward. These all worthily upheld the reputation of tlie province while away. Dealing specially with the 1928 team, he (reminded his hearers that they had as hard makdhes as any on the tour to play right at the outset and six tii'.HiißaTicl) miles on one trap ana zuuu miles on another to travel. A fine tribute© was paid by JVLr A. BiirohaiU to the Maori players of the Okaiawa teams when proposing their health, referring specially to the late Tamu, one of the finest forwards ever on a field, to Ike, Tore and Korn and Kingi. , , •, Mr R. Phillips in an eloquent speech acknowledged the compliments and said ‘that in 1911 they had got their first Maori representative and now they had Ike in the representative team, He assured his hearts the Maoris weie always out to uphold the best traditions of the game. “Kindred Sports” was happily given and acknowleged by Messrs J). Johnston and El. A. Drake; “The Referees Association” by Messrs McOallum and H. Whittington; “The Dairy Division,” Messrs. N. Mack and 1 O Martin and G. Hurley; “Management Committee,” Messrs J. 'Barclay and G. Huriey ; “Neighbouring OLuhs,” Messrs L. Gann and J. Goodwin; Old layers > Messrs Hodge and Toro; Senior Selector,” Messrs Hurley and Barctall, “Junior Selector, ’ ’Messrs Phillips W Johnston; “The Ladies,.. The Press ” and “The Chairman. During the evening songs were given by Messrs B. Badland Katene, Tos, Turi Recitations by Messrs E. Gann amdJ. J. Goodwin; hakas by Pukes Okaiawa Maori team and instrumeiwal and vooal numbers also by the Maoris.