FOOTBALL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 94, 3 April 1912, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE NAPIER-HASTINGS I SCHEME. I A mass meeting of Rugby 1 nion footballers was held in Abbott's Hall, Napier, last evening. Mr. W. J. McGrath presided over a large attendance. Mr. E. W. Andrews apologised for his unavoidable absence. The chairman said that the aims of the meeting were the forming of a sub-union and the revisiop of the existing rules. Mr. Frank Wilson reported that after sub-committees had been formed in Napier and Hastings, the question of improving Rugby football had been \ discussed at length. Seven meetings were held in Hastings, and the result was that a constitution was drawn up, entitled the Tamatea Sub-union. Each sub-union was to elect delegates, and these were to meet every month. The Rugby Union would then act in representative matters and as an appeal board. The Tamatea Sub-union would not now come into existence. Instead a Napier Sub-union and other unions in other places would be formed, tne delegates of which would form the Rugby Union. If a sub-union were formed in Napier anc» another in Hastings, the delegates from both would be able to control everything. By doing this the intention of the now defunct Tamatea Sub-union would be attained. A set of rules should be adopted that would control competitions both in Hastings and Napier. A cup should be offered for competition in each grade. The High School Old xloys bad agreed to form a senior team provided that another club were formed. There would then be four senior teams. These would be weaker and it would not be a fair thing to meet a team which would be virtually a Hastings representative team. Eight senior teams would be- formed. In order to help the third grade teams the sub-union had decided to payquarter of their train fares.

Mr. R. T. Bailey said that the chief objection of the Hastings players was that in the proposed subunion they would lose their identity. The Hastings players should have a voice in Rugby Union matters, the lack of which in the past was undoubtedly the cause of much dissatisfaction. A great debt of gratitude was.due to Mr. F. Wilson for the time and labour he had put into this matter. The proposals were solely in the interests of the players and of the union.

Mr. Wilson, in reply to a quest on, stated that on account of the scarcity of grounds only three would be obtainable this year. On the motion of Mr. Hislop, seconded by Mr. J. Mcßae, the report of the sub union, as given by Mr. Wilson, was adopted, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the sub-committee consisting of of Messrs. Aitken, Bailey and Wilson fpr their efforts. , Mr. Wilson stated that Mr. A. E. Currie, L.L.D., had drafted cut the new set of rules and had spent about five hours over them. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to him for uis labour. It was decided that Mr. Currie, L.L.D., should be appointed honorary solicitor to Hie Rugby L’nion. 'i’he rules were dealt with seriatim and adopted.

An interim committee consisting of five members was set up to apply to the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union for affiliation and to make other arrangements for the running of the competitions. The following members were elected :—R. T. Bailey, W. Hislop, W. Tyne, G. Aitken and F. Wilson. It was resolved that the committee should hold an annual general meeting as soon as affiliation was ccmplete.

It was decided on tne motion of Mr. F. Wilson, “That it be a recommendation to the interim commit les to secure the adoption of the following provisions as to combined competitions : —(a) That only one trophy be played for in each grade ; (b) that a joint set of competition rules be instituted by both sub-unions to govern the joint competitions; (c) that in the event of Napier entering four senior teams Hastings shall enter at least two, exclusive of Native teams.”

Mr. R. T. Bailey moved, “That the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union be requested to copimunicate with the New Zealand Rugby Union with the object of obtaining the re-instate-ment'of all professional footballers, or failing the reinstatement of ail professional players of 21 years and under, ar.d that the interim committee take such steps as they can to further this matter.” Air. Wilson seconded the inohon. He stated that Northern Union players would in the future be prevented from competing in swimming races and also in rowing races. Many of the players had been enticed from the Rugby Union under the- delusion that they were not becoming professionals. There were numbers who would return to the c’d gamo if given a chance. The chairman expressed a similar opinion. He thought that by carrying this motion they would furthering the best interests of Rugby football.

The motion was put and carried unanimouslv.

The meeting then adjourned