FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16805, 15 March 1915, Page 11

FOOTBALL.

CANTERBURY RUGBY UNION

ANNUAL REPORT.

The report and balance-sheet which the Managing Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union will present to the delegates at the annual meeting of the union this week, states that, financially, the year has been a success, the profit on tho year’s working amounting to £22 18s 7d. This is held to be ali the more pleasing when the '-extraordinary expenditure which had 'to bo met is taken into consideration. The committee was unable to replace the £IOO withdrawn from fixed deposit in 1913, but, with prudenco and a fair year, it is hoped that this will he done during the coming season. The northern tour of the representative team cost £299 18s Id, tho increased cost being accounted’ for by the inclusion of an extra match against Wanganui. It is pointed out that the committee handed oyer to the Patriotic Fund the cate receipts, £164 9s 6d, from the match between a Canterbury team and a fifteen from the Expeditionary Forces. Another match, between the mounted forces : and tho infantry, was arranged’, and the proceeds were handed over to the Force Equipment Fund. In addition, the committee donated £26 os to the Empire Fund and £ls 15s to supplement the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association’s collection for the Children’s Open-air Home Fund. Tho union’s insurance fund is in a soiftid position. < It is with keen regret that the committee reports the resignation of Mr G. H. Mason, tho president of the union. For upwards of twenty-seven rears Mr Mason has been an active and capable executive officer, and for the past eight years lias carried out the duties of president with honour and distinction both to himself and to the ulftion. His retirement will be a serious loss to amateur Rugby in this city. The committee expresses satisfaction with the ready response made by tho Rugby players to the urgent call of the Empire for volunteers to serve in the present great war. It is difficult to arrive at a definite estimate of the number of olayers who have volunteered Tor the front, but. from actual knowledge, it is known that the response to tho call has been a very hearty one, and one of which the union may well fpol proud. “ Tliere is naturally some difference of opinion,” continues the report, “as to what curtailment, if any, should bo made in this year’s Rugby programme, but it is ouite certain that, whatever competitions are carried out bv the union, the rules at present governing them will require modification. The whole question deserves. and will no doubt receive, full and serious consideration by the delegates.” TTia •b*i.la , nce-«Ti® o, fc tbnt. Tnth a balance of £47 ISs fid brought forward from the nremone year, the union has a credit of £7O Us Id.

BVMNER CI.TTB

The Sumner Football Club held its annual meeting on Tuesday, tho club captain (Mr P, Dick) presiding over a fairly good attendance of members. The balance-sheet, which was adopted, showed the receipts to have been £26 2s 6d and the expenditure £22 6s 3d, leaving a credit balance of £3 16s 3d. It was decided to play the annual match Sumner v. Redcliffs, at the beginning of next season. Five members of the club having left with tho Expeditionary Forces, it was decided that their names should be retained on tho membership roll during their absence. It was decided, owing to the absence of information, to leave tho question of entering a team for the competitions in the hands of the incoming committee.The following officers were elected :—President, the Mayor of Sumner; vice-presidents, Messrs S. Monck, J. Horuer, G. Humphreys, J. P. Coffey, A. D. Patterson, R. Brooking, G. W. C. Smithson, T. Whitfield, H. J. Marriner, H. Bamford,. G. Hunt and G. Kingscote; club captain, Mr P. Dick; honorary secretary, Mr C. White; committee, Messrs W. Sergison, T. Chitey, G. Lindrose, S. White, M. Robinson, N. Vernal, L. Wilson; honorary auditor, Mr E. A. Johnson; delegate to the Rugby Union, Mr W. Sergison.

CANTERBURY RUGBY LEAGUE. The fival mee’xng of the Management Committee of tlie Canterbury Rugby League was held on Saturday evening. The New Zealand Council wrote stating that an invitation had been accepted from the New South Wales League for a New Zealand team to tour Australia, and asking for the nominations of plavers from Canterbury who would be available if selected’. It was decided that nominations should be left to the delegates at the annual meeting. The secretary of the City club wrote stating that eight of its Senior players had joined the Expeditionary Force now in Egypt, and owing to members being in enmp the club had not held a meeting. It was decided that the .election of a delegate to attend a meeting at Fapanui should be left to the chairman and' secretary. The drafting of the annual report and balance-sheet was delegated to the chairman, secretary and treasyrer. A notice of motion was given that, owing to the circumstances that had arisen, the last sentence in Rule 6 should he temporarilv suspended.