THE NATIONAL GAME

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 142, 17 May 1929, Page 2

THE NATIONAL GAME

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION. DISCUSSION ON TOURS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 16. Tho thirty-seventh annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union opened in Wellington to-day, when tho president(Mr G. A. Maddison, of Hastings) prosided. It was decided that an invitation be extended to tho Homo unions and tho International Rugby Board to send delegates to the Imperial Rugby Conference which it is proposed to hold in 1930 during the visit of tho British team.

Tho question of whether frequent exchanges of visits between Rugby teams of Now Zealand and Now South Wales is in tho interests of tho game was debated.

Mr S. Wilson (Canterbury) declared that in Canterbury the opinion was held that too frequent visits between Now Zealand and New South Wales teams were not in tho best interests cither of the gamo or tho players ill Now Zealand. Mr S. S. Doan said that it had been realised that Now Zealand . must assist New South Wales as if tho gamo went out in that State New Zealand - would be completely isolated. Ho road a letter from an official of tho Now South Wales Rugby Union stating that that union regarded the visits from tho Now Zealand teams as their very lifo blood. Tho writer stated that it would be impossible to alter tho dates of the Now Zealand team’s tour. Now South Wales, Mr Dean proceeded, had had a hard fight, but wero now making splendid headway. Tho gamo had been started in Victoria and re-started in Queensland and was flourishing in tho country districts of New South Wales. If tho gamo had gone down and out in New South W’alcs it would havo boon a very serious thing for the Rugby game in tho Dominion. When New South Wales had become established on a sound financial basis they could look to visits with Victoria and Queensland with less frequent visits to and from Now Zealand.

Mr E. Little considered that by having thoso tours to Australia they wore helping New Zealand football. There was littlo hope of introducing tho game in Victoria, and it would bo wiser to concentrate upon Now South Wales and Queensland. Mr J. Prendoville (Wellington) contended that tho arranging of overseas tours was a matter for the delegates at tho annual meeting and not for the management committee. Thoso in charge of tho gamo know how difficult it was to get a team away for a fortnight let alono for somo months. If they had too frequent tours there would bo a danger of fostering professionals. A voice : Rot! Mr A. A. Adams (West Coast) said ho could not agreo that tho management committee had no right to enter into an agreement. It would bo absurd to suggest that all matters bo referred to tho unions. Decisiosn might havo to bo made at a moment’s notice.

Mr Macfarlano agreed that tho management committee was the proper body to make arrangements for overseas tours. Tho president said that much misunderstanding would be avoided if tho management committee were to submit draughts of all important agreements to affiliated unions.

Mr T. J. King (Wellington) said that New Zealand had sown the seeds of success in Now South Wales and wero now about to reap tho benefit. They had almost brought tho standard of play in New South Wales up to that of New Zealand. Anyone who saw tho Now South Wales team play in tho Dominion would subscribe to this view. Mr Wilson said that tho Canterbury Union had served its purposes in promoting the discussion and he withdrew tho remit dealing with the matter. ASSISTANCE FOR MINOR UNIONS.

Mr A. A. Adams (West Coast) moved that 5 per cent, of tho proceeds from Ranfurly Shield games should bo paid to the New Zealand Union to form tho nucleus of a fund for' tho assistance of unions requiring it. Mr H. Frost (Auckland) suggested that a sub-committcc should bo set up to consider tho question of financially assisting minor unions.

Mr Dean thought it might bo a good idea for tho New Zealand Union to set aside a portion of tho proceeds from tho profits of tho British team’s visit next year for tho assistance of minor unions.

Mr J. McLeod (Taranaki) said it was not money tho minor unions wanted, hut games. If tho major unions would exchango visits with tho minor unions it would do a great deal of good for the game. Mr Pcndcvillo said that the playing of matches with minor unions would bo placing too great a hurdle upon tho players of major unions.

Tho motion was carried almost unanimously.

PRINCE OF WALES CUP.

Complaints that tho contest for tho Prince of Wales Cup interfered too much with tho inter-provincial programme wero found to be groundless. Mr K. Tahiwij secretary of tho Maori Board, said that if tho New Zealand Union was satisfied that it could control Rugby amongst tho Maoris, then they could do away with tho Maori Advisory Board. In order to do so, however, it was necessary to understand tho psychology of the Maori race. Tho Maori Advisory Board comprised tho most influential members of tho Maori race and thoir solo aim was to oncourago the Rugby Union game amongst tho Maori race. Ho was sorry that any suggestioil had been mado that any other object actuated the Maori Advisory Board. The Prince of Wales Cup had been donated for competition amongst tho Maoris by His Royal Highness tho Prince of Wales and they only asked that they should bo able to hold the contest each year. Mr N. McKenzio (Hawke’s Bay) suggested that tho Maori _ Advisory Board should furnish unions with tho dates of tho Prince of Wales Cup trial matches as early as possible in tho season. In tho past Maori players had been called without consulting the unions. Tho president moved that affiliated unions be supplied with particulars concerning tho Prince of Wales C,up competition and that the dates for tho Princo of Wales Cup matches bo arranged at tho annual mooting of tho Now Zealand Union. The motion was carried.

UNIONS’ VOTING POWERS. Mr H. Harris moved, on behalf of the Otago Union, “That unions having under 30 teams have one vote; 30 teams and under 60 teams, two votes; 60 teams and under 90 teams, three votes; 90 teams and under 120 teams, four votes; 120 teams and over, five votes. The number of such teams shall bo supplied to tho secretary of this union prior to the date of tho annual meeting. For tho purposes of this rule teams, shall mean all teams exclusive of primary school teams affiliated to a union.”

Tho remit was seconded by Mr J. Me Lood.

Mr N. McKenzio (Hawke’s Bay) said that his union favoured tho present allocation of voting power. Mr S. Wilson (Canterbury) considered that the sub-unions should havo somo representation. Mr Casey (Auckland) said that tho question was whether the football players of tho Dominion were adequately represented on tho govornnig body.

Voices: No. On a vote being taken the remit was carried by 38 votes to 30.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, His Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Sir Charles Fergusson); president, Mr A. A. Adams (West Coast); vice-presi-dents, Messrs J. Arneil (Auckland), J. Silcock (Thames Valley), M. Quinn (Waikato), R. Masters (Taranaki), R. J. Smith (Bush districts), C. H. ■ Mills (Marlborough), W. Brown (Otago), C. A. Davis (Southland), L. J. Brake (North Auckland), R. S. Webster (King Country), Dr. G. Adams (Wanganui), A. S. Parker (Poverty Bay), J. A. Colquhoun (Manawhenua), K. S. Williams (East Coast), A. S. Renaut (Hawke’s Bay), Dr. P. F. McEvedy (Wellington), E. A. Truman (Wairarapa), A. E. Max (Nelson), H. Manoy (Golden BayMotueka), J. C. Bradley (Buller), J. Guy (West Coast), S. Wilson (Canterbury), H. H. Fraser (Soutfr Canterbury), G. B. Stevenson (North Otago), W. F.. Warren (Ashburton); Appeal Council, Messrs J. Arneil, P. Mackie and J. J. Conlon (all

of Auckland); auditor, Mr 0. J. Kember; representative on the English. Rugby Union, Mr Ceoil J. Wray; hon. treasurer, Mr E. Wylie (re-elected); management committee, Messrs S. ,S. Dean, J. G. Roache, T. A. Fletcher, E. McKenzie, H. S. Leith, A. C. Kitto and H. H, Sterling. QUESTION OF RULES. , ,“That, in view of the coming British tour, all matches during the 1929 and 1930 seasons be played under the rules as laid down by the International Board.” The above motion, put forward by the management committee, evoked an animated discussion. Tho majority of the delegates preferred the rules as played.in New Zealand to the old rules rotained by, Britain, and the motion was defeated, but an amendment was carried agreeing to play the North v. South Island match this season and the trial matches next year under the rules as laid down by the International Rugby Board.