Bush Rugby Football Union

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 100, 29 April 1941, Page 4

Bush Rugby Football Union

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Bush Rugby lYiotball Union delegates was held on Thursday, April 24, in tho Foresters' Hall, Pahiatua. The meeting was well attended by both delegates and members of the general public. The president, Air. R. J. Smith, occupied the chair. In moving the adoption of tho annual report and balance-sheet, Air. Smith drew delegates' ; -on to the fact that the gate takings for the past year showed a considerable drop ns compared with tho previous year but this was accounted for by the fact that, apart from the Puketoi match, no representative matches were played in the Bush district. How’ever, the management committee had anticipated that this would be the position and had adopted a policy of effecting economics wherever possible and, as the result of this, the accounts showed that the union's financial position had been again slightly improved during the year. It was to be noted, said Mr. Smith, that the past two years had seen an improvement of over £IOO in the union's financial position, but the calls made on the Bush district by the military authorities made the future income of the union somewhat uncertain and a policy of the strictest economy must be observed for the duration of tho war.

“All of our efforts," said the president, “both private aud public, are now aimed at the national war effort and it must not be overlooked that football, in. maintaining the fitness of our young men, is an important factor in the national effort. This," said Mr. Smith, “had been emphasised by the military authorities and it was tho duty of all Rugby enthusiasts to ‘carry on’ and emulate the spirit of the people in England whoso wonderful courage anil sporting spirit had never been shown to such great advantage in the face oi tremendous disadvantages as at present.

“It has been said that most of our best Rugby players have been absorbed by the military forces," continued Air. Smith, “but the broadcasts of tho games played in Egypt would suggest that there is plenty of talent to bo discovered by necessity forcing us to use fresh players. In the broadcasts from overseas we hoar the names of many players, previously known, qualifying for All Black honours and this same set of circumstances applies here, at home, and there is no reason to suppose that the young men coming on are in any why inferior to their older brothers, who, if they could be consulted, would be most determined that the union should say, ‘business as usual.' " i In concluding his remarks, Air, Smith | pointed out that this union had reason to be proud of its performances in re-) preseututive matches—of the unions with whom the Bush may arrange matches the only games which havo not yet been played are against North Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and the King Country Unions. The election of officers resulted as follows: —Patron, Air. Dr. Kelly (reelected); president, Air. R. J. Smith (reelected); vice-presidents (all ro-elecl-ed), Messrs. E. L. Harvey, 11. Wollandi and the president of the Pongaroa. SubUnion; management committee, Messrs. C. C. Smyth, Al. Smith, H. Cooper. W. j Olliver, M. Reichenbach, C. Burges* and T. Haurahan. The Referees’ Asso- 1 ciation representative was- Air. W. 11. Lawry. Hon. auditor, P. R. Boagey; hon, treasurer. Air. C. O. Smyth; and the secretary, Air. S. G. 11. Hogg. i Feeling reference was made by the president to the deaths of very old supporters and officials in the persons of Ihe late Alessrs. F. J. staples, T. Hodgins and D. AtcDougall and ns a mark of respect to their memory the