RUGBY UNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 93, 19 March 1936, Page 2

RUGBY UNION

DELEGATES’ ANNUAL MEETING*. QUESTION OF GROUNDS. Organisation activities for the coming season in the football field, when the Manawatu representative team will probably make a southern tour, were embarked upon at the annual meeting of delegates to the Manawatu Rugby Union, held in Palmerston North last evening. Mr A. M. Ongloy presided over a large attendance. Clubs represented were Old Boys, Kia Toa, Massey College. St. Patrick’s, United, Feilding, Woodville, Feilding Old Boys, Oroua Downs, Bunnythorpe, High School, Kelvin Springboks and. Feilding High Schopl, besides the Te Kawau and Oroua Sub-Unions and the Referees’ and Primary Schools’ Associations. The chairman extended a cordial welcome to the delegates, commenting that the large muster augured well for the coming season. Moving the adoption of the report (already published) and balance-sheet, the chairman said the past season had been a very good one for Rugby in the Manawatu. Club matches had reached a high standard, the play in some being of a very high class and such as would have done credit to larger cities. The season had been one of the most successful on record for the representative teams which, after losing the first two matches,. went through right to the end of the season, beating major unions, without a loss until the end of the season. Chief among the matters which would require the attention of the incoming management committee was the arrangement of the itinerary for the South Island four to he undertaken this year. Another important feature would be the consideration of playing facilities, as it appeared that the time was close at hand when the Showgrounds area would no longer bs available. Time would have to be taken by the forelock, and the question of the development of the Park Road grounds would call for much energy, also, probably, for the expenditure of a lot of money. The union’s insurance scheme would also have to he overhauled. The finances of the union were in quite a "satisfactory position. “There is no question but that the season was a very good one,” commented Mr T. Collins (Feilding), who said that the representative teams had done well, and been unfortunate in losing the first two matches ihe prophecy that Manawatu would have one player in the All Black touring team had also been fulfilled by the inclusion of the Kia Toa player, Mr RM McKenzie. The speaker seconded the motion for the adoption ot the report, which, was carried. CONDITION OF FINANCES.

The financial statement disclosed that there had been a net profit ot £B9 2s Id on the year s working. Receipts from cup matches had totalled £458 2s lOd and from representative matches £123 8s 9d, while the trial match had yielded £ll2 4s 8d and the seven-a-side tournament £SB 15s 4d. Travelling expenses for the representative teams had accounted for £i»b 3s 6d, and the entertainment of other teams for £24 14s lOd. Ground charges had amounted to £134 10s lid, and salaries and wages to £139 4s 3d. Ihe assets were stated to total £2Blo 4s 6d, including credits of £37l_ 9s lid in the loan account and £495 14s 2d in the general account. Improvements at the Park Road ground were assessed at £1244, and the buildings on that ground at £604. The principal liability was £ISOO, the capital account showing £1234 12s 6d as the excess of assets over liabilities, ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Mr H. P. Gibbons was re-elected patron and Mr A. M. Ongley president, the latter on the motion of Mr J. R. Hardie, who extolled Mr Ongley’s services and commented upon the fail- and impartial way in which lie had, during his able occupancy of the office, fulfilled his responsible duties. There was a ballot oil four nominations for the election of vice-presidents, the three positions being filled by Messrs J. A. Colquhoun, K. TV. Eglinton and L. Plank. Mr J. H. White was re-elected secretary and Mr J. R. Hardie treasurer, while Mr R. Miers (Feilding) was appointed hon. auditor, to which position Mr C. C. Yates did not seek re-election, being accorded a vote of thanks for his services.

Union surgeons appointed were Mr C. King, Dr Hunter Will, Mr D. Mitchell. Dr P. H. Mules (TVoodville) and Dr F. Cameron (Feilding), with .the St. John 'Ambulance Corps (Palmerston North) and Mr V. Morphy (Feilding) as first-aid officers. The management committee were elected as follow: —Messrs PI. A Stone (United), E. Clevely (Bunnythorpe), H. Bowler (Feilding). H. T. Hickey (St. Patrick’s), C. Pearse (Feilding Old Boys). J. TV. Smith (Massey College), and P. O. Skoglund (Woodville and High School), with Messrs' E. TV. Low (Referees’ Association), L. G. Berry (Primary Schools’ Association) and A. F. Helleur (Wednesday clubs) as the appointed representatives of those organisations. THE INSURANCE SCHEME. Commenting upon the insurance scheme for players, Mr Skoglund said that under the present circumstances it did not function satisfactorily to difficulties over the collection ot fees and the establishment of claims. He advocated that it be made coinpul

sory or be dropped altogether. Mr Collins suggested that each club insure sixteen players each season, irrespective of names, in each grade, thus obviating the necessity for individual payments of the insurance fee. He moved that it be a recommendation that when the insurance scheme is revised this method be adopted. Mr D. Whisker (Feilding) supported this proposal, stating that the main thing for the union was to obtain the premiums, which could be paid in a lump sum by the clubs. Mr C. P. MeMeekan also commended the proposal, but it was opposed by Mr H. Crawford (Kia Toa) on the ground that it limited the premiums payable. The chairman said there had been a suggestion that the fee should he reduced and payments made, in case of accident, for medical and ' hospital expenses only, without sick pay, which was open to abuse. He anticipated difficulty if clubs had to find all the insurance money at the opening of the season. Mr Helleur advocated throwing the onus of insurance on the player instead of the club. The motion put forward by Mr Collins was carried. OPENING OF SEASON. The matter of arranging the opening of the season was left in the hands of the incoming committee with a recommendation that the competitions start on the first- Saturday in May. The chairman said a suggestion had been made, on account of the number of teams likely to be nominated for the junior grade, and the wide difference in the standard of play of some, that it should be split into two divisions. _ r , T 7 . This was supported by Mr W. Andrew (Bunnythorpe), who said that last season his club had encountered three defaults on end at the opening of the season. Furthermore, the Bunnythorpe team had only one home match in the first round last year. On the motion of Mr Skoglund. it was decided to recommend that the incoming committee call nominations for A and B divisions in the junior grade. Mr Low put forward, for an expression of opinion, proposals for the abandonment, with the trophy donors’ consent', of the subsidiary competitions in the senior and junior grades, and the substitution of another series on a different basis. This was referred to the incoming committee. Mr Crawford asked if any indication could be given of the Feilding executive’s attitude concerning the ground at that centre. He thought the matter had been settled, but the union had received a bill for £76. Gate proceeds from the Feilding ground_ last season were onlv £BB, wh'le £25 had to he paid to the Borough Council and £4O was spent in gate supervision and advertising. Nil- Collins said the meeting was not the proper place at which to discuss the matter, which had been the subject of negotiations for three or four months. There would be a chance for a full discussion within a fortnight. ’ Mr Crawford said he knew that, but lie would not then he a member of the management committee. The chairman stated that no official intimation had been received from the Feilding clubs or the executive, and it would he a matter for the incoming committee. Regret was expressed by Mr T. E. Davidson, on behalf of St Patrick’s Chib, that Mr Crawford (Kia Toa) had not been re-elected to the management committee. He moved that the union place on record its appreciation of his services over a long period. Messrs Collins and Ongley supported the motion, paying a tribute to Mr Crawford as an able football administrator. He was, said the chairman, a splendid clubman. who had been very active on behalf of the union, and had done an immense amount of work for Rugby football. Messrs J. A. Colquhoun. J. R. Hnrdie. E. Clevely. and K. TV. Eglinton added their eulogies of the retiring committeeman, Mr Colquhoun stating that Mr Crawford had been unselfishly loyal to the union and at considerable personal sacrifice.