Rugby in Manawatu

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 66, 19 March 1936, Page 8

Rugby in Manawatu

Union Prepares for Coming Season

ANNUAL MEETING OF

DELEGATES

The annual meeting of the Mauawatu Rugby Football Union was held, last night, Mr A. M. Ongley presiding over an attendance of about 50 delegates, representing tho following clubs: —Bunnythorpe, Feilding, Feildiqg Old Boys, Kelvin Springboks, Ivia Toa, Massey College, Palmerston North Old Boys, Oroua Downs, St. Patricks, United, and Woodvillc. Other organisations represented were: Palmerston North High School, Referees' Association, Schools' Association, and Wednesday Committee. In extending a welcome to the delegates, the chairman expressed pleasure at tho attendance and said he hoped it was an augury for a successful season.

The profit and loss account revealed a net profit on the past year’s working of £B9 2s Id, while the balancesheet disclosed an excess of assets over liabilities amounting to £1234 12s 6d. •

In moving tho adoption of the annual report, as already published, Mr Ongley said tho 1935 season had been very successful from the point of view of football in the Manawatu. Club matches had been good and had reached a standard which would have doue credit to the bigger centres. The representative team had done very well, and if it- could do as well on its South Island tour this year it would be a great help to Rugby in tho Manawatu. The incoming management committee this year would have no sinecure. Its first work would be making arrangements for the southern tour, and then it would have to do something about finding a new home for Rugby in Palmerston North. Delegates would have seen that it was proposed by the Manawatu A. and P. Association to dispose of a portion of the Showgrounds, and the union would have to take time by tho forelock and make arrangements for the future. Another matter that the committee would have to consider would be the accident insurance scheme, which needed overhauling. Mr T. Collins supported the chairman in his comment on the playing standard revealed during the season and said it was a good augury for the coming year. It was pleasing that a Manawatu player in R. McKenzie had been included iu the All Black team which toured England. In regard to the grounds position, Mr Collins suggested that the annual seven-a-side tournament should be played on the Feilding grounds. Officers Elected The election of officers for the coming year resulted as follow: —Patron, Mr H. F. Gibbons; president, Mr A. M. Ongley; vice-presidents, Messrs K. W. Eglinton, L. J. Plank and J. A. Colquhoun; secretary, Mr J. H. White; hon. treasurer, Mr J. R. Hardie; hon. auditor, Mr R. Miers; management committee, Messrs H- A. Stone (United), E. Clevely (Bunnythorpe), H. Bowler (Feilding), H. T. Hickey (St. Pat.’s), J. W. Smith (Massey College), C. Pcarse (Feilding Old Boys), and P. O. Skoglund (Woodville); union surgeons, Drs. King, Hunter Will and Mitchell (Palmerston North), P. H. Mules (Woodvillc) and W. Cameron (Feilding). Mr Hardie, in moving the re-election of Mr Ongley as president, paid a tribute to what that gentleman had done for Rugby in the Manawatu and said that lie had been struck by the fair and impartial manner in which Mr Ongley had dealt with many matters that had come before the union. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr C. C. Yates for his past services as auditor. Mr Yates had found it impossible to carry on with the position owing to pressure of work. Wellington’s B Team Not Wanted

lu regard to senior representative fixtures, Mr J. Findlay drew attention to the fact that, whereas Ilawke’s Buj and Taranaki were able to secure matches against the Wellington A team, Manawatu last year had been opposed by the B team. Ho thought steps should be taken to secure that Manawatu met the A team.

The chairman said it was not always possible to obtain a match with the A team. Unfortunately for Manawatu’s claims for a match against Wellington A, the B team had beaten Manawatu last year.

Mr Skoglund moved that no match be played against Wellington unless it was against the latter’s A team. Often, he pointed out, the B team was better than the A team, but unfortunately it had been broadcast all over New Zealand last year that Wellington’s B team had beaten Manawatu.

As an amendment, Mr Ilardie moved that the management committee be asked to endeavour to arrange for a match against Wellington’s A team. He thought the motion was too drastic. The amendment was carried.

Replying to questions in regard to fixtures, Mr P. O. Skoglund, who has been in charge of them, said that they were drawn at the beginning of the season for the wdiole of .the season. Clubs need not be in doubt as to their engagements unless the union interfered, which it had done last year. The fixtures were always drawn so that each team did an equal amount of travelling, but when the union curtailed the rounds, it might work out that one team had travelled more than others. Amending the Insurance Scheme. Speaking of th.e insurance scheme, Mr Skoglund suggested that it either be dropped or it bo made compulsory for all payments to be made at the beginning of the season. Last year three payments had been made on the day on which the players were injured. Fire insurance premiums were not paid this way. Mr Collins said the Feildiug Club was of the opinion that, at the beginning of .the season;, each club should bo com-

pelled to insure 16 players, the payment to be made by the club. He moved that it be a recommendation to the management committee to this effect.

The point was raised by a delegate that compulsory payment by a club at the beginning of the season would be a burden on the club.

‘‘lt would only put the onus on the clubs of collecting the insurance money from the players,” suggested Mr C. P. McMeekan.

The chairman said most unions had now abandoned the sick pay benefit following an accident, and it had been suggested that Manawatu should do likewise, proyiding only free medical and hospital treatment. This would enable the insurance fee to be lowered. Mr A. F. Helleur said it would penalise injured players for them to lose the sick pay benefit. Particularly would there be a hardship on the lower grade players. The Feildiug Club thought that there should be no reduction in the benefits, said Mr Collins.

On being put to the meeting, Mr Collins’ motion was carried by a majority vote. It was decided to recommend to the management committeo that the season be opened on the first Saturday in May. Whether the junior competition should be divided into two grades was a question raised by the secretary. Mr Skoglund moved that the management committee be recommended to call for nominations for junior A and B grades. Mr Findlay suggested that the practice in Wellington should be followed. There, at the conclusion of the first round, the teams were divided into two grades.

Mr Skoglund’s motion was carried by a majority. Mr Crawford sought some light on the position in regard to the Feilding grounds. He had noticed that both Feilding and Feilding Old Boys had stated that they would not enter for the competitions unless the position was altered.

Mr Collins said the annual meeting of the union was not the place to discuss the matter; it would be more appropriate to discuss it with the management committee. Negotiations had already been going on for some time. Tribute was paid by several speakers to the valuable work that had been done for Rugby in the Manawatu by Mr Crawford, a retiring member of tho committee. The chairman said that Ml Crawford’s work did not end with attending committee meetings, for he had done much for Rugby in the district. He hoped that it would not bo long before Mr Crawford was back on the committee.

A motion was carried placing on record appreciation of Mr Crawford's services for Rugby in the Manawatu during his long association with . the union y