GETTING READY FOR RUGBY

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 67, 21 March 1935, Page 8

GETTING READY FOR RUGBY

Manawatu Union Animal Meeting

MR A. M. ONGLEY NEW PRESIDENT

The chairman commented on the favourable prospects for the coming season when opening the annual meeting of tho Mauawatu Rugby Football Union held in Palmerston North last evening. Mr. A. IV. Thompson, retiring president, presided. The following clubs were represented:—Ashhurst, Bunny tho rpe, Feilding, Feilding Old Boys, Kelvin Springboks, Old Boys, St. Patrick’s, United, AA’oodville, High School. There, were also present representatives of the referees and schools and the patron of the anion, Mr. H. F. Gibbons.

Formal notice was received from the New Zealand Union that the annual meeting would be held at Wellington on May 9. The chairman moved the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet and commented on the success of the Wednesday competition last season. The competition had not attracted the crowd but it had given a game to those who could not play on Saturdays and the enthusiasm of the players was equal to that of those playing on Saturday. The union thanks were due to Messrs A. Ward and Ilelleur for getting tho competition on its feet. A notice of motion would be presented to give tho Wednesday players a representative on the management committee and he hoped tho request would be granted. Mr. Thompson said ho was not exactly proud of the representative game results last season. Tho season before there had l?een a certain amount of success but last season, with the team very little altered, hardly a match had been won. 'Something had to be done to retrieve tho prestige of tho district and he would suggest that those seeking representative honours should first of all make sure they were fit and in form. Out of the failure of the representative team there must be a widening of the selection and to securo that, the games with Oroua and To Kawau will have to be player! earlier. At least it was due to the players in those sub-unions that they should have a chance at selection. The insurance fund was not paying its way and the management committeo would kavo to look into it. For the coming season there would be only two grounds at the Showgrounds—tho oval and one behind tho stand which had been Tuled as not fit for playing on. More games would havo to be played at Park road. Mr. Thompson congratulated Mr. Low on election as president of the Referees' Association and expressed the hope that the number of referees available would increase. It was regrettable that there were no referees at the moment available at Feilding, and tho speaker made an appeal to those who were giving up active participation in the game, to hand in their names to Mr. Low. The coming season was an important one as an All Black team was to be picked and he hoped Manawatu would be represented well in tho trials and at least one representative of the union leaving for England. Mr. L. J. Plank pointed out in connection with tho insurance fund, that the profits of tho seven-aside tourney went to the insurance fund and if that was taken into account, the fund showed a profit. Tho chairman agreed. Mr. T. Collins urged tho playing of tho North v. South match again as a means of ascertaining what material was available for the representative team. The speaker did not look on the loss shown on tho insurance fund as one of great moment as no v*iiou would want to make a profit out of such a fund. In fact it should be pleased to help injured players. The report and balance-sheet were adopted and it was decided to give the Wednesday players one representative on the management committee. Bush Union Wants Woodville. “I am. directed to advise you that it is the intention of my union at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Uion, to move that tho boundaries of the Bush Union be extended to include the borough and county of Woodville," wrote the secretary of the Bush Union. "The old boundaries of my uqion included this proposed present addition and it is thought the Generalisation of football in l’ahiatua and Woodville will be to the benefit of both towns, players and last but not least, to my union," Mr. Siddclls added. Mr. F. Mackie said tho move had not come from Woodville and he did not know Bush intended to bring the matter before the present meeting of the Manawatu union. In the past Bush had always been turned down when it had brought the subject forward and Woodville had no wish to withdraw' from Manawatu which had treated the club very freely; The associations had been very happy ones and Woodville did not wmnt Manawatu to consent to the change. Mr. R. Blye also stated Woodville had no intentions of joining up with Bush and it seemed the latter w r ere trying to force them into the Bush union. Mr. K. Eglinton moved that the remit be opposed at tho New Zealand Union meeting and Mr. Crawford seconded. Tho motion was carried. An application by St. Pat's Club to play in tho Spiliane Cup tourney at Napier at Easter was referred to the management committee, as also was an application for the loan of jerseys. Election of Officers. Patron, Mr. H. F. Gibbous; president,

Air. A. AI. Ongley; vice-presidents, Alessrs J. A. Coiquhoun, E. Blye and K. Eglinton; secretary, Air. J. 11. White; hon. treasurer, Air. J. B. Hardic; hon. auditor, Air. C. C. Yates; management committee, Alessrs H. R. Crawford, H. Bowler, 11. J. Hickey, C. P. AfcAleekan, U. G. Pearce, L. Cope, E. Clevely; union surgeons, Drs. Hunter Will, Alitehcll and King (Palmerston North), T. H. Alules (Woodville) and F. t Cameron Feilding). The opening day recommendation to the management committee was Saturday, April 27. The Wednesday openingday will bo decided later by tho management committee. A recommendation that individual trophies be presented to the winners of tho seven-aside fixtures, was carried. Air. Blyo urged that Woodville be given an opportunity of playing this season on the oval.

Air. Thompson pointed out that the policy adopted by the management committeo had been to put tho most attractive game on the oval each Saturday with the sole purpose of a gate. Air. Blye pointed out in reply that Woodville had not been the weakest team last season and so thought they should have been on the oval at least once. A recommendation to tho committee was passed that Woodville be given an oval game. Mr. Collins also urged that the North-South match bo played agaiu early in tho season and a recommendation to this end was also carried. Air. Low made an appeal for active referees.

A vote of thanks was passed to Air. P. O. Skoglund and other retiring officers. Tho chairman said that in Air. Skoglund tho union was losing a very valuable officer and ho desired to express his own personal thanks for the assistance Air. Skoglund had given him. Management Committee Meets.

A meeting of tho management committee was held at the conclusion of the annual meeting when it -was decided to hold weekly meetings on Tuesday nights. The last Saturday in April was confirmed as the opening dato for seniors and juniors and Alay 4 lor other grades. Nominations for senior and junior teams will close on April 15 and other grades on April 29. Tho applications by St. Pat’s Club, referred to the committeo by the annual meeting, were granted.

Sub-committees were fixed as follow: Postponement, Messrs Ongley, Crawford and secretary; grounds, Alessrs Ongley, Crawford, Coiquhoun and secretary; classification, the full council; fiixtures, Mr. P. O. Skoglund. Tho clubs are to be notified of gymnasium nights in accordance with the agreement reached last year. Air. Blye was appointed union representative at Woodville. Tho appointment of a representative at Feilding was held over.

Kia Toa Club was granted the uso of the Showgrounds for their annual match with Pirates (Wanganui) on Easter Saturday-