FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 679, 31 March 1909, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

MANAWATU RUGBY UNION. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Manawatu Rugby Union was held last night, Mr A. N. Gibbons presiding. There were also present Messrs Fraserj Stagpoole, Stnbbs, Torstenson, and Muller (secretary) Palmerston; Ongloy Piiani, Ryan (Feilding); Stalker, Armstrong, Pawson, MoMinu (Kia Toa); Manning, Hoben, Russell, Freeman (Old Boys); Foote (High School); Paltridge (Wednesday). ANNUAL REPORT. The report and balance-sheet; as published in yesterday's issue were read and adopted. Mr Pirani said the balauoe sheet did not mention the amount to be received from the New Zealand Union for the English matoh—from £ls to £25. THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. Mr Gibbons then briefly detailed matters in connection with the Hewitt disqualification. Regarding the gymnasium the offer of the A. and P. Assooiation for the hall was about 7s 6d a night, and if they had to pay this for four nights a week it would not be feasible. A weekly rent of 30s was qnite out of the question. The offer was hedged around with all sorts of little tags as to damage, oto. For the coming season the Counoil had piaotioally three grounds available. The Union got no further ahead as to finances, and to pay the visit to the South Island whioh was due, would oost fully £260. Therefore it had been deemed advisable to suspend that trip for this year. This might enable them to cany out their plans as to a gymnasium. Personally he was not in favour of a gymnasium for training, as he thought for outside athletios outside training was beat, and football would not benefit by a gymnasium. But the general wish was for one, and the management oommittee had to carry out their wishes, The best way was by curtailing travelling expenses.

Mr ■ Torsteuson seoonded the motion for the adoption of the report which was carried. THE MANAGEMENT AND PAhMERSTON.

' Mr Pirani referred to the rumour as to moving the headquarters to Feildiug. Feilding was not hankering fur the management after the treatmont rocoived by last year'B committee from prominent men in Falmerston. The patron, Mr R. S. Abraham, had remgned owing to the Hewitt disqualification, and aooußed the oomroittee of inability to manage the affairs of the Union, The ooramittee had never carried out their duties more satisfactorily and faithfully than last year. No one could point to an instance of failure in their duty. Thoy had also had the Rev. 0. 0. Harper going off pop like overdrawn ginger beer, because one of his parishioners had come under the bann of the Union. There was very little souse in Mr Harper's fulminations, but they were samples of what the Union had to pat up with from many residents.

THE GYMNASIUM. Regarding . the gymnasinm Mr Pirani said there were times in winter when the weather was unsuitable for exercise and they wanted a shelter. In Feilding they bad two plaoes given and lighted for the use of footballers and he thought the example might well be followed by the A. and P ABSooiation. Referring to the proposed : alteration of rules, Mr Pirani said the management ooramittee of the New Zealand Union had' delayed sending them Home, and so they would not be. in foroe this year, It was a pity that moro of the old players did not join the Reforees' Association. There should be double the number of referees. It might be possible to form a Referees' Assooiaton in Feilding.

THE PRESIDENT VACATES. Mr Gibbons said he was not seeking re-eleotiou in any office in the Onion. He had boon oonneoted with the Union for seven years, four of which he had been president. They should let the management committee manage the Union apart from the officers as was done by some other Unions. 'He thanked all those with whom ho had been oonneoted in the past.

ELECTION \OF OFFICERS. . The election of officers resulted as follows :-Patron: Mr Gibbons. President: MrPirani, Vice-presidents: Messrs Stagpoole, E. D. Boben, H. P. Gibbons. Secretary: ,Mr T. Stubbs. Treasurer: Mr H. Muller. Management oommittee: Messrs Foote, Manning, Armstrong, Pawson, Pickett, Smith and Mansford. Hon. Surgeons: Drs. Peaoh and O'Brien, and a Feilding surgeon to be eleoted by the committee. Vicepresident to the New Zealand Union: Mr Manning. Delegates to the New Zealand Union: Messrß Piram and Muller. Acoident insurance committee: President, secretary 'and treasuier, Hon. Auditors: Messrs Fairbrother and Watson.

Seleotors: Management committee, Postponment committee: President, secretary and Mr Manning. The matter of selection was left to the management committee. Mr Pirani, in taking the ohair, said if he failed in doing his duty it

would not bo for want of trying. New clubs were admitted as follows :-Palmerston Teohnioal School (junior and tbird-olass); Bunnythorpe (Junior); PohanginaValloy (junior and third-olass). POHANGINA VALLEY OLUB. Mr Urqnhart, on behalf of jthe Pohangina Valley Olnh, asked if the Union would be willing to send their teams out to Aahhuist to play. The new olub would,'have about 65 members Boattered over Ashhurst, Raumai, Pohangina and Goal Greek, and though they were prepared to play some matches in Feilding and Palmerston towards the end of the season it would be difficult for them to do bo, OBpeoially in the beginning. —lt was resolved to ask the incoming committee to as far as' possible meet the new club's oiroumstances as to grounds. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS. Mr Armstrong (Eia Toa) moved that it be a recommendation to the management committee that the report and balance-sheet be forwarded to the various clubs for distribution a fortnight before the annual meeting. Mr Armstrong also moved that the management committee be recommended to oonsider the reduction of the acoident insurance fee. Mr Muller pointed out that that would require a speoial general

meeting to make a new lule.JCThe fee, however, undoubtedly oamo hard on the clubs. Ho sooonded tho motion, whioh was oarried, Mr Gibbons pointing ont that it would be very unwise to reduce, the ohairman and Mr Hoben agreeing to this. WEDNESDAY FOOTBALL. • Mr Gibbous moved that it be a reoommendation to the i Dooming committee to foster Wednesday football. The more players they had the greater chance they had of getting good ones. Mr Muller seoonded, saying that already from 30 to 85 players' had signified their intenion of playing on Wednesday. . * CLASSIFICATION. The matter of classification of players as to nnsnitable men in the thirds was left to the incoming oommittee. The chairman said Feildiug Olnb was determined to make some of its men too big for thirds /move np, Mr Foote said it was the big men in the Feilding thirds that the other teams objected to. It was resolved to forwards letters of thanks to the hon. auditor and surgeons.