RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 173, 23 June 1926, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

COMBINED TEAM’S TOUR. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FORTHCOMING. A matter of interest to Rugby players in the Manawatu and Horowhenua districts came up for discussion at last night’s meeting of the Manawatu Rugby District Council when, further to the motion moved at Saturday’s meeting of the Combined Union at Levin that a team be sent on tour in tho south this season, Mr J. R. Hardie formally moved that tho Manawatu Council devote sufficient of its funds to permit of the tour being carried out. Mr Hardie explained that, since the amalgamation of the Manawatu and Horowhenua Unions, the governing body had found it possible to accumulate some £IBO. The Manawatu Council had, however, some £4OO to its credit at the present time and ho suggested that at least .the major portion be devoted to the purpose mentioned. In support of his suggestion, Mr Hardie pointed out that the southern unions were due to tour north next season, and for the Combined Union to delay its tour till 1927 would result in the visits not being rturned till 1929. Further, the aim and purpose of the amalgamation of tho two unions had been for tho development of the standard of football. The material to compose a touring team was now available and by expending the accumulated funds "in this direction it would, he maintained, be spending them to advantage. The monetary assistance rendered by the council to the Combined Union would be in the nature of an advance, not as a grant, hut as a loan. The Horowhenua Council had now happily emerged from its state of indebtedness and should be prepared to assist towards the project also. Mr A. S. Faire, in seconding the motion, stressed the fact that the object of the amalgamation had been for the promotion of football. Through the generosity of the public tho council had been able to accumulate fluids and it was the duty to now cater for the public by furnishing local enthusiasts with the best of football. The only question was whether it would he found possible to get a team together which would do honour to the district. Horowhenua was at present strong, while Manawatu was weak, hut, even if the former district secured the greater percentage of players, this should not be taken into account.

“If,” continued the speaker, “a team is not sent on tour this season, the union will miss the return matches for a further two years; while, at tho same time, the local standard of Rugby will deteriorate aud public interest will wane. While the council has ever to consider the question of securing its own grounds, the money will be bearing better interest by being expended on a tour, and will in due course be' refunded from return visits, than if it were lying on deposit in a bank.” Mr K. Eglinton, while supporting the motion, pointgd out that, of the unions played on the occasion of the previous tour, only one of tho three visits had been returned. He asked whether tho union could he certain that the return visits would ho made, for Otago and Canterbury had not come to Palmerston North When in the North. Mr C. W. White mentioned that the tour hv Manawatu three years ago had keen the first in a period of 18 years. With the exception of South Canterbury and Southland, all tho other unions had passed through without stopping at Palmerston North, but such action had been due to the fart that Manawatu had, in reality, owed matches. The last tour had cost £4BO, and it was, in his opinion, preferable that the money he expended by the council on,its own players by preparing them for visits from what southern teams might Halt here uext season, thereby getting the union on the map. Mr P. 0. Skoglund contrasted the Manawatu-Horowhenua Union with tho Wairarapa Union, maintaining that the local body did, not possess a “booster” of the type of Mr McKenzie, of the Wairarapa. The Combined Union was, in consequence, not on tho Rugby map, and tho only way to become so was to undertake a tour, and thus provide the players witlv the opportunity to make names for themselves in foreign fields. The tour would he a benefit to the game throughout the whole district, and it was ridiculous that £4OO should he lying idle m the bank when it could be put to a better use. , , , Mr T. Pagan asked whether it was intended to plav Otago and Canterburv, although they were owing Manawatu matches, several members replying in the affirmative. Continuing, tlie speaker stated that the union had to. seriously consider the question of securing its own grounds. Feilding was already taking steps in that direction and it was reasonable to ask that the council assist. To spend such a sum would require time to secure a return, and the council could, in his opinion, eniplov the money more usefully in its midst, particularly until such time as the visits which were due were paid. The secretary (Mr J. B. Proud) mentioned that, owing to inability in getting players away for a protracted tour, unions now made it a practice to restrict its touring programmes to four matches in a fortnight. It was not improbable that Canterbury and Otago would tour tho coasts oil alternate visits, and next season might find them touring the West Coast instead of the East Coast unions. Mr R. E. Ha.teli maintained that, as the Combined Union was still in its infancy, the prospective tour could be held over for a period. Mr W. Carruthcrs supported the motion, maintaining that the fruits derived from the tour of three seasons ago were still in evidence. The secretary reviewed the financial positions of the union and council, maintaining that the outsotanding expenses would seriously deplete the coffers of both bodies. Mr Faire differed, holding the opinion that the finances were sufficiently buoyant to enable the making of the advance, while still doing justice to the players. Mr Collins, while expressing sympathy with the suggestion, asked whether the mover,of the motion would not fix the grant at a concrete figure. Mr Hardie said that he would lie prepared to add to the motion that the loan lie “up to £300.” while a further addition was also made “that tiie Horowhenua Union assist to the best of its ability.” When put to the meeting, the motion was carried by eight votes to two. Messrs Pagan and Hatch being the dissentients.

SUGGESTED PROGRAMME

The secretary tabled a suggested programme which will, however, he considered and finalised by the sub-com-mittee set up by the. combined union for such purpose. The programme of match read: August 14, v. South Canterbury, at Timaru; August 18', v. Otago, at Dunedin; August 21, v.

Southland, at Invercargill; August 25, v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. A week prior to the team departing it will meet Hawke’s Bay at Palmerston North, and, following its return, Wellington oil September 11, Taranaki on September 15 and Wanganui on September 18. The adoption of this programme wil necessitate an amendment of the present dates accepted by the Taranaki and Wanganui Unions to those aforementioned, it having been originaly intended to play these two unions in August!