RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 30 April 1931, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

CONTROL OF RUGBY IN NEW ZEALAND President’s Annual Review ATTITUDE TO INTERNATIONAL BOARD WELLINGTON, April 29. The retiring president, Dr. Adams, in his address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-day, said that last year’s All Black team deserved more than passing attention. It was worthy of the heartiest congratulations for its meritorious victories over the British team. No little credit was due to the leadership of Porter, who, it was to be regretted, had now retired from active football. Much criticism had been aimed at the team, and the selectors particularly, in the early phases, but it must be agreed that they had upheld the traditions of New Zealand football well.

The profits of the British tour far exceeded the estimates of the most optimistic. In considering the main necessity for an allocation of a big part of the profits for the provision of grounds in various parts of the Dominion, where most required, he hoped that sight would not be lost of the hardships suffered by many country unions as a result of last season’s losses, which could be ill-afforded with the poor financial prospects in front of them in the coming season. Broadcasting of Matches.

With regard to broadcasting, Dr. Adams said that there was not the least doubt that while the broadcasting of big matches in the four centres did not seriously hamper the finances of those centres, it did hamper the country unions, and as the public became more educated to listening in to matches broadcasting would ultimately jeopardise the finances of the country unions, and it might therefore be wise at this stage to adopt a universal policy for their protection. International Board. Discussing the rules • and instruction from the Bugby Football Union of England cancelling all dispensations in the laws of the game granted to New Zealand in the past, Dr. Adams said: “I am frankly of the opinion that whilst England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales alone are represented on the International Board, such a board is not worthy of • the Empire unless it has Dominion representation on it, particularly when the most powerful of Empire football, New Zealand, Soutli Africa and Australia, are ignored in the representation on such a governing body.” It fell to their lot, however, to give a lead to the controlling body in the Mother Country by displaying loyalty to caste in accepting the international rules, following which representation should be demanded _to maintain that uniformity of rules one and all desired to see. If the International Board then failed in its obligations to New Zealand and the other Dominion unions, it might be wise to seriously consider the advisability of approaching the other Dominions with the object of forming a Dominion Board of Bugby Control.

Nearly £6OO for Selectors’ Expenses. Some of the delegates to the Rugby Union questioned this afternoon an amount of £599 14s appearing in the balance-sheet as selectors’ expenses.

In explaining, Mr. E. McKenzie (Wairarapa) said as far as he knew the amount was compiled of travelling expenses and out-of-pocket expenses of £1 per day. About six weeks’ travelling had been involved. As to the complaint that no selector had seen the Wanganui and Taranaki representatives in action he mentioned that a selector had been detailed to go to Taranaki

but at the last minute had been unable to do so.

A motion was presented suggesting that for this year the number of selectors should be reduced, but this was withdrawn when Mr. Dean said he thought it probable only two selectors from each island would be appointed by the management committee this year. Cutting up the Profits. A recommendation from Canterbury that for future tours all unions holding matches received 20 per cent, of the ground takings and 33 1-3 per cent, of the grandstand takings was approved. After a prolonged discussion on the question of the distribution of the profits from the British tour of last year the meeting rejected a remit from the Wellington Union to the effect that the net proceeds from the tour be divided among all the affiliated unions and the New Zealand Union in accordance with a scheme of division to be approved by the delegates. The position remained that the control of -all profits from the tour was in the hands of the management coihmittee. Though delegates generally were satisfied that this should be so considerable dissatisfaction was expressed that a number of advances and loans to unions had been made before all the applications had been received. Opinion was divided on the question of whether the broadcasting of matches was for the benefit of the game as far as finance was concerned. It was pointed out by several members that the meeting really had no power to make any hard and fast decision as the question was more one that affected the individual unions.

Though several conflicting motions were presented it was eventually decided to leaye the whole question in the hands of the management committee. Officers Elected. The following officers were elected: — Patron, Lord Bledisloe; president, Mr. S. S. Dean; vice-presidents, Messrs L. J. Brake (North Auckland), J. Arneii (Auckland), C. S. Poster (Thames Valley), B. Chapman (Waikato), F. H. Wilkie (Bay of Plenty), E. H. Young (Taranaki), C. H. Warden (Wanganui), J. A. Colquhoun (Manawhenua), K. S. Williams (East Coast), A. S. Parker (Poverty Bay), G-. A. Maddison (Hawke’s Bay), B. S.'Smith (Bush Districts), C. A. Gray (Wairarapa), Dr. P. F. McEvedy (Wellington), C. H. Mills (Marlborough), E. B. Bluett (Nelson), E. Taylor (Golden Bay-Motueka), A. G. Colvin (Duller), A. White (West Coast), A. McPhail (Canterbury), J. O. Leary (South Canterbury)’ S. J. Styche (Otago), W. Bobiso (Southland), W. Copsey (King Country), W. H. Sarney (Ashburton), J. Crowley (North Otago); treasurer, Mr. H. Leith; management committee, Messrs Dean; J. Boache, T. A. Fletcher, A. C. Kitto, E. S. Hylton, F. Glasgow and W. J. Wallace; appeal council, J. Arneii, P, Maekie, J. I. Conlan; auditor, Mr. A. G. Kember.