TARANAKI RUGBY UNION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 29 June 1935, Page 6

TARANAKI RUGBY UNION

SPECIAL MEETING HELD. PRIMARY SCHOOL FOOTBALL. , A special meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Union was held at Hawera this morning to consider matters of urgency. There were present Hon. James McLeod (chairman), Messrs V. HeuI derson, H. Masters, L. J. Furrie, J. S. Hickey, J. J'. Goodwin, J. Martin, J. B. Rowe and. S. E. Nielson (secretary). Apologies were received from Messrs K. Jury, JR. Wilson, E. R. Coutts ancl J. O’Sullivan. The New Zealand Rugby Union advised that it could not make any grant towards the cost of school tournaments this year.

The chairman said that the Tara- ! naki Union could not afford the grant of £4O, and the only way out seemed to be that the four major unions concerned should contribute £lO each. Apparently the New Zealand Union had been inundated with applications from unions to conduct such a tournament, with the result that the matter had become too unweildy for that body to handle. Wellington could do it easily enough, but it was impossible for Horowhenua or Rangitikei to do it. He would suggest that the grant from tfTe Taranaki Union to thn primary schools tournament be £6O, which was £lO more than the usual annual grant. 3lr Hickey said that the benefits to the Taranaki Union were out of all proportion to the amount granted, and he would be inclined to oppose any addition to the ordinary grant.

Mr 3lcLeod pointed out that the extra £lO would be towards the cost of running the schools’, tournament or this year. He would be very sorry to see the tournament go out, as it filled such a useful purpose. He would move that the grant of £lO be made with the idea of trying to get the constituent unions to do the same. The motion was carried without further discussion. The Wanganui Union wrote insisting that the i.eturn match between that union and Taranaki be played on July 20. * The chairman explained that this would involve postponing club fixtures for two weeks in view of other representative fixtures. Mr Hickey pointed out that there was a difficulty in arranging club fixtures in August and lie thought the position should be explained in a circular to clubs, pointing out that the matter had been forced ,on to the union.

3tr Goodwin suggested that after a few weeks the competition, would be narowecl clown considerably and the other clubs could be left to play then own matches for the “gate as they felt inclined. 3lr 31cLeod suggested that the remaining fixtures could be rearranged so as to get the country fixtures completed

The chairman’s motion that Wanganui be offered July 13 or 20, the jfarmor for preference, and that the' remainder of the club fixtures be; :e----arranged Was carixed.