RUGBY CONTROL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 97, 7 April 1934, Page 4

RUGBY CONTROL

HAWKE’S BAY UNION ANNUAL MEETING HELD. OFFICIALS FOR COMING SEASON. Matters affecting the control of Rugby football in Hawke’s Bay were discussed at the annual general meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union, held in Napier last evening. The president, Mr A. W. 8. Longley, presided over a large attendance. The annual report, (already published) and balance sheet were adopted. The latter showed a balance of assets over liabilities amounting to £3905 14/8. The loss for the 1933 season was shown at £157 1/2. Commenting upon the past season’s loss, the president said: “It is regrettable to think that we have experienced a loss, but, after all, we arc not a business concern and we must remember that our union is hero for the encouragement of football. Our first object is to provide football for our boys and we all feel that the encouragement of the game is our main object.” The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr W. Corbett; president, Mr R. M. Hewitt; vice-presi-dents, Messrs A. W. 8. Longley, W. T. Foster, J. V. Brown, A. Bowman, A. E. Renouf, G. A. Maddison and presidents of sub-unions; honorary selector, Mr N. A. McKenzie; honorary treasurer, Mr J. W. Callaghan; management committee, Messrs J. W. Norrie (chairman), C. McLean, A. Kirkpatrick, A. Grenside, J. C. Taylor, L. Harris, A. D. Lynch, E. A. Young, H. V. Phillips. B. Tweedie, W. D. Corbett; delegates to New Zealand Council, Messrs E. S. Hylton (resident), N. A. McKenzie and G. A. Maddison; honorary auditors, Messrs McCulloch, Butler and Spence A recommendation was made to the incoming committee that the combined Napier-Hastings senior competition begin on Saturday, April 14, nnd the junior and lower grades on the following Saturday, April 21. In regard to the Hafrke’s Bay Challenge Shield, it was unanimously decided to amend Law £our to read that where a combined competition is played, the team gaining the most points in the competition as confined to the particular sub-union be the deciding factor in arriving at the champion team. In vacating the president's chair, Mr Longley said that he regretted that his residence so far distant from Napier prevented him from giving closer attention to the affairs of the union On behalf of the East Coast Sub-Union he thanked the union for the honour conferred upon him lust year in his appointment as president. Mr Hewitt then occupied the chair, and on his motion Mr Longley was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his services during the past year.

INSURANCE FUND

MORE SUPERVISION NEEDED. FORTNIGHTLY MEDICAL REPORTS The bad state of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union’s insurance fund was stressed by two members of the union’ at the annual general meeting held in Napier last evening. Both Mr N. A. McKenzie and Mr J. W. Callaghan advocated that the union take definite steps without delay to ensure the scheme being placed upon a better footing and to eradicate some irregularities on the part of clubs and subunions. A recommendation was made to the incoming committee to ensure periodica] certificates being obtained in the ease of injured players. The question was raised by Mr McKenzie, who stated that the loss through insurance last year was considerable. If such a loss continued, there would be no funds to foster tbo game or to assist injured footballers. It the opinion of the management comm*tee in office during the past year that there had been a certain amount of laxity in regard to the manner in which the sub-unions and clubs had considered the insurance scheme, particularly in regard to the payment of subscriptions. It had been decided that a final appeal should be made to sub-unions and clubs to safeguard and foster the scheme, failing which the clubs and sub-unions might have to adopt a scheme of their own. Mr McKenzie quoted instances where players had taken wrongful advantage of the insurance scheme, such as obtaining payments of insurance moneys for trivial accidents which were not serious enough to keep them from their employment. There was one instance, indeed, where a player had claimed the advantages of the scheme for a “cauliflower” ear.

The union’s honorary treasurer, Mr J. W. Callaghan, agreed with the remarks made by Mr McKenzie and added that there was at present only £l2 left in the insurance fund. “The management committee has talked over alt sorts of schemes to improve the position,” he said, “but we are not getting any nearer to a solution. We arc reaching such a stage that some players have used the fund to draw wages. “I hold that there are certain doetors who will have to receive the union’s approval so far as the insurance scheme is concerned, for it is a fact that some certificates are given players for too long periods. Nor can the fund go on paying contributions to members who are not laid up through injuries received as a result of football.” Mr Callaghan proceeded to quote figures to show how the insurance fund had become depleted during the past year. The figures he quoted were as follow: —

“I feel von will agree that more supervision will have to be given to lhe scheme in Napier,” ho went on. “The union must get some report from the sub-unions or doctors every fortnight. Some players out of work go along to a doctor, get a certificate and go on the sick list for a period of weeks. The position of tho fund is serious and we will h«,»e t 0

the ordinary funds of the union, I am afraid." It was then decided, on the motion of Mr A. E. Renouf, that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to ensure periodical certificates being obtained in the case of injured players REVIVING M.A.C. MEETING CALLEDFOR MONDAY.' Mention was made at. the recent annual general meeting of the Hastings Rugby Football Sub-Union of the possibility of a new club being formed in this district of old pupils of the now defunct M.A.C. The latest ‘ development in this matter is the calling of a meeting of old pupils, and others interested, in the formation of such a club. The meeting is set down for 8 o’clock nn Monday evening at Bridge Pa. The re-entry of M.A.C. players into local football undoubtedly would be welcomed by the public, for when in action M.A.C. provided a hpo of football that was most popular, being bright, fast and unorthodox. M.A.C. have provided several All Blacks, not. ably Nepia and Paewai, and many Hawke’s Bay provincial representatives in the past, and when the M.A.C. went into retirement, following the earthquake many young ami promising players also went into retirement.. If is hoped that Monday’s meeting will bring these players together again and that once more Hawke's Bay enthusiasts will see the old familiar bright blue jer»ey nn the field,

Premiums Charges £ s. d. £ S. d. Hastings Sub union 38 0 0 132 0 0 East Coast R 19 (5 23 15 0 Central H.B. 7 6 82 7 ID Wairoa 26 14 7 38 11 ti Napier 38 *> 0 4G 18 0