THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 September 1928, Page 6

THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

FALLING-OFF IN GATE RECEIPTS IN HOEOWHENUA. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE’S SUCCESSFUL ECONOMY. The concluding meeting for the season of the management committee of the Horowhenua Rugby District Council ' was held iii the Wistaria Rooms on- Tuesday evening, there oeing present: Messrs W. Hannan (president), H. McDonald (Schools), A. Richards (Shannon), J. W. Procter (Hui Mai), M. Wihiata (senior selector), Les. McDonald (Wanderers), S. Hooper (Wcvaroa)/WV. Phillips (Referees), G. Mitchell (Shannon), J. W. Rimmer (treasurer), H. Boulton (third-grade, selector) H. -Hutchins (Foxton), snd'J. Casey (secretary). An apology for absence wajS received from Mr F. Robinson (Hautere. TWO SUSPENSIONS. The committee dealt with the cases of Graham (Weraroa) and Fitzgerald (Shannon) who were ordered off by the referee, Mr E. Bevan, in the Nash Cup" final at Levin on September Bth, for striking at one another. Graham was ordered to stand down for three playing Saturdays and Fitzgerald for four playing Saturdays at the opening of next season. FINANCIAL REPORT. The secretary reported that the gate receipts for the season had been £294, exclusive of the Manawhenua gate, which amounted to about' £6O. The gross proceeds of club gates were: Levin £lOl, Shannon £32, Foxton £23. Manakau £6, Otaki £2. The receipts from district rep. matches were: Levin (Maori-Pakeha and Bush games) £SO, Shannon (Mauawatu game) £4O 9s 6d, Foxton (Rangitikei game) £BB. The total gate receipts this year showed a falling-off of over £2OO, as last season they amounted to £5lO. Notwithstanding the decreased revenue, the Council was able to show a credit balance, which amounted to £2O 7s sd. This had been brought about mainly through decreased expenditure on rep. football, which had cost £72 this year as compared with about £l5O last year. The Council had £l5O on fixed deposit at the Bank of Australasia. There was a credit of £25 6s in the insurance fund, which had paid out £lB Is 6d in. compensation, but there would be a further claim to pay, which would reduce the balance to about £2O. lie would propose to allot this balance by paying £lO into the general account and putting £lo'on fixed deposit. There wore ' four fines outstanding. CLUB FINES. The President said he did not know who would take the chair next year, but until he vacated it those clubs that had not paid their fines would not be able to vote at the annual meeting, Mr Richards reported that two wrongly coloured jerseys had been worn by members of his club’s team at the Nash Cup final on Saturday week. A fine of os was imposed on the Shannon club. FOURTH GRADE PROPOSED, With regard to the reorganisation of the lower grades, the secretary reported that the committee set up to investigate the recommended there be a fourth grade with an age limit of 16 years, and that the third grade be subject to a 19-year age limit. A £7.105, subsidy was recommended for the fourth grade. The recommendations would come before the annual meeting. SCOPE OF INSURANCE. The Chairman reported that _Mr Procter and himself had inquired into the rules in Wellington as to the application of insurance. It was provided that it should only cover competition games. To make the rules clear, it would be understood that in friendly matches this Council did not take any responsibility of insurance. ROWLANDS CUP VICTORY. The secretary stated that he had a message from Mr E. M. Ryder, a member of the Council, conveying congratulations to the Hui Mai club on account of its juniors having won the Rowlands Cup, thereby adding considerably to the prestige, of the district. The Chairman endorsed Mr Ryder’s compliment, and said that for the Rowlands Cup to have been brought to the district was a great achievement for the Hui Mai juniors. The senior football in the district this year had been a little below standard, but the juniors had made a better showing than in previous years. Hui Mai juniors deserved congratulation, as they were a young team. They might think that the Council, had erred a little in one of its rulings [ordering the junior final between Hui Mai and Miranui to be re-played], but he thought they would take the Council’s congratulations in the spirit in which they were given. The. Council were -only too happy for Hui Mai to ha-ve brought back- a, trophy that would mean revenue -to the district -in future years if the champion team next year could hold the trophy. He wished Mr Procter to convey to the Hui Mai club the Council fs congratulations. Mr Procter thanked the Council and stated that he would express its sentiments to the club. * . THANKS TO SECRETARY. Reference was then made by Mr Proctor, to the work of the Council’s secretary, and he moved that the committee place on record the good work that Mr Casey had done. The mover remarked that none of the members realised the amount of work carried out by their secretary, who had , been able to furnish information .at short notice on a great variety of subjects connected with the Council’s activities. Mr Boulton said that. Mr Casey was “the right man in the right place.” Mr Hutchins supported -Mr Procter’s Remark's. He said that ies' generally came in for a good deal of criticism, but he had not beard ,a word against Mr Casey. Mr Casey returned thanks for the kind words expressed. He added that he was not the only one doing the work —there was always somebody to take up part of the task. Every memjer of the committee.., did his bit, and really did "some .of the secretary’s work. Mr Rimmer’a part as treasurer was no small one, and without his aid the soerctarial work would be much greater. The tame applied to the

Chairman, who had been of much assistance. SCHOOL FOOTBALL. Mr McDonald made reference to the grant to schools by the Council and said he was sorry that he-was not yet able to make a report as to what had been done with it. He had written to the various schools, and some had sent in their financial statements, but others had held the matter up. It was hoped that the schools would be able to buy rep. jerseys next year. VETERAN COMMITTEEMAN RETIRING. Mr Proctor said that this was absolutely his. last year as' a member of the committee. thanked *one and all 'for the courtesy shown him during his term of office, which had extended over 24 years. CHAIRMAN MAKES SIMILAR ANNOUNC EM;EN T. The Chairman said he was very sorry to hoar Mr Procter say that he was going to retire from the management of the game. He hoped that, by the time the next season came round, Mr Procter would re-eon Sider his decision; at any rate, he would always come forward to do a bit of work. The Chairman went on to thank the committee for The way the members had worked, and for their loyalty to himself. He added that it was only through hard work and the great benefit which ’had been received from donors that the Council had able to come out on the right side of the lodger. Like Mr Procter, he was also retiring, and if the committee would give him the credit of having tried to de his best he would be well pleased. SHOULD BE RE-CONSIDERED. Mr Richards said he hoped that the Chairman and Mr Procter would reconsider their decisions next season. The Chairman had been very impartial in his decisions and had treated the delegates very fairly, and the'speaker, for one, would bo very sorry to see him retire. Mr Hooper endorsed Mr Richards s sentiments. The Chairman said that, .if any of the present committeemen desired to stand again next year, he would do his best to see that they were elected, because he had faith in every member of the committee. RE-CLASSIFICATION. In answer to a question by Mr Hutchins, the chairman stated that Mr Procter and himself were going to investigate ' the question of re-classifica-tion of players re-entering the game, and would report to the annual meetiii^g. Mr Hutchins said there were a number of old senior players in Foxton who could 'be brought in as juniors under the rule that a player could revert to junior status after being a non-player for two seasons. THIRDS’ ENJOYABLE TRIP. - Mr Boulton reported on the trip to -Pahiatua by the third grade rfcjps. on August 23rd, when they defeated the Bush thirds. He said it had given him much pleasure to see so many members of the Council at the match. The Horowhenua lads had a really good time on the trip, which w%b full of, pleasant smprises in the way of entertainment. The event would be of great encouragemefct to the lower grade football, and he washed to thank Mr Procter for his good services When aecompangn^th^team^^