MARLBOROUGH RUGBY UNION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 98, 23 April 1909, Page 5

MARLBOROUGH RUGBY UNION.

A special meeting of the Ma<rlborough Rugby Union, was held in> the Club Hotel last night, when there were present: Messrs J. J. Conry, J. Mowat, H. Bagge, J. Strickland, Gr. Griffiths, P. O'Dwyer, J. O'Dwyerand Dr. Bennett. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr Oldham, of Spring Greek, wrote complaining that in the final match for the combined schools championsship last year the Blenheim team played sixteen men, and also; that several of the players were ineligible. , Dr. Bennett moved, and Ma- Bagge , seconded, that the match be replayed. Mr Mowat moved as an amendment that Awatere be awarded the cup. The Chairman asked what about Grovetown. Were they not entitled i to get the' cup? He did not think any award should be made. Dr. Bennett thought the Union was compelled to make an award. Mr Griffiths thought the match should be replayed at the commencement of the season,' on some date to ibe decided upon in May. WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION £20. The Wellington Rugby Union wrote asking that a statement of receipts in connection with their match against the Marlborough Union, be forwarded, and also a cheque for £20, which amount they were guaranteed by this Union.

Mr CoTiry said the Welliington>-Ma(rl-borongh match realised! £28 5s 6d. The Maaiborongh Union, undertook to present the Wellington Uaiioaii with £20. llhat amount had mot been paid. The Umion had' purchased twenty-four caps, acrid spent moneys in other ohaoimels, and had not , paid the debt owing to the Wellington Union. It was manifesitly unfair. Probably the secretary or the treasurer would be able to tell the meeting why the amount had not been, paid. Ma- Griffiths, treasuireir for; the Union, ,said it simply meant that the money had been-paid into the Union's account at the bank, amd that the Wellington Uniomi had been, treated in, •the same way. a® Oirdiniaa'y creditors of ttihe Union, pending this Uniooi's ■share of i the receipts'- in, th© Marf-boirougih-Auckland Ranfurly Shield match.

Da\ Bennett said he did' mot, know why they should pay the Wellington Union that amount.

The Chairman ©aid he did not favor the 'Wellingtonians' visit, and in his opinion the Wellington Unioni was very arnxdouis to seind a. team across. Members of the Union were of the opinion that it would do a. groat deal for the game of football. Thef'act remained that the match was played, and the money was owing, and it was not just or fair in any way, shape or form, that that reproach should coane on to the Union.. Those who had been responsible for what had takem place had acted ishabbily and in a cavaliesr manner. He wanted to know where was the money. Dr, Bennett asked what had become of it. . The Chairman said he did! not know. They (had a balance of £8 3s lOd at the commencement of last iseasoni, and after all the matches played and the receipt© therefrom there would only be a. balance of about £5 to commence the next season. i

Dr. Bennett said it was a simple fact that the Auckland match had put them in the "soup." The Uiniomi had thought it would get someithing in. ireturn for tie amount spent in. sending the team to play for the Ranfurly Shield,

The Chairman said the money had been paid for (the team to go to Auckland before it left.

Dr. Bennett replied that the money was found or guaranteed l>y Mr Griffiths and himself a few hours be* fore the team left.'

The Chairman said it did not matter ; the money was found. The team played Wellington, from which match £28 -5s 6d was realised, £20 of which should have gone to the Wellingtoai Uniom, and the Marlborough Union had absolutely no right to it, and he wanted to know why that amount had ■not been paid. Mi- Griffiths asked why th© Wellington Union should be paid im prefer ence to any other Tlnion. The Chairman asked if the trip was not guaranteed. '~■'■ Mtr Griffiths admitted! that the strip to Auckland had been' guamainiteed, but the guarantee had since been, withdrawn.

The Chairman, said he did not think the guarantors had done the fair thing in, taking the money belonging to the Wellington Rugby Uinion to relieve themselves of their liability. If /they had any faith ml the Union, why haxl they withdrawn their guarantee. Had they desired' to be relieved of their responsibility, there were two or three other members, of the Union who would have relieved them.

. Dr. Bennett said the manager of the Bank of New Zealand had asked that a meeting of the Union be called in order to settle up its accounts. Why was the meetig not called? He had spoken to Mr Griffiths on the matter. The secretary said he had not had any notice to call a meeting. A meeting could have been. * called' mi th*» ordinary way. The Chairman said it was not right that proceeds,of a match that did not belong to the Union mi any way should be taken.

Mr Thomson, said he was present jaifc the meeting when, the proposal to invite the Wellington team over was discussed. He did not favor the proposal, but the guarantors were particularly anxious to have the visit. Dr./ Bennett said it was am easy matter to be wise after the thing; had been done.

Mr Thomson said he opposed the project before it was decidfed upon. The Chairman said the Union agreed to bring the Wellington team to Matrlborough and to guarantee the Wellington Union £20. Da*.. Bennett proposed that tihie £20 be paid to the Wellington! Eugby Union.

The Chairman asked where they were going to get the money with which to pay it. Dr. Bennett said if Mr Griffiths "was willing he was preparedl to guarantee the £20. He knew, nothing about the caps that had been' purchased, nor would he in any way hare anything to do with the payment of them. The Chairman said it was all very well, but it dad not alter the fact that they were not rright in taking the money in the. first place to wipe off their guarantee, and: they were aiot entitled to any credit for taking the money of the Wellington Union to (redeem their responsibility.

Dr. Bennett said the Chairman's remarks appearedl to him akin to a vote of censure.

Mr Griffiths joined Dr. Bennett in guaranteeing the £20 to the Welling-

ton. Union, and the motion was carried. THE AUCKLAND GATE. Tbo question of the return from the Auciciand Union in connection vrith the Raaifurly bhield match was discussed, and great surprise was expressed at there being a debit balance of over £3 in connection therewith. The various items were discussed, and it was decided that there' were a. number of items that should not be charged to the match, and that the ■return be forwarded to the New Zealand. Union, together with an explanatory letter from .the1' Chairman statingl that unless the return ..were amended-and the Marlborough Union's gjiatre of the receipts forwarded immediately a. writ would be issued for the amount. THE ENGLISHMEN'S TOUR. The Chairman said that the New Zealand Rugby Union had decided, in connection, with the profits of the last ! Englishmen's tour, that they should be _ divided amongst the smaller Unions. It was at Erst thought there would be £2000 to be divided, but ait the present time it was only about £800. What the Marlborbugh Union's ishare of the total amount would be he could mot say, probably anything between 50s and £50. If the Union received £50 from the New Zealand Union and £40 or £50 from the Auckland Union it would be able' to start ■the next year with a small debit balance. BOUNDARIES. The delegates were informed that they would have to meet and decide upon the boundaries for the coming year, and failing that the Union would take the matter in handl and possibly leave them as they were at present. The meeting then adjourned.