“Goodwill Assets of N.A. Rugby will Bear Fruit This Season”

Northern Advocate, 22 April 1939, Page 5

“Goodwill Assets of N.A. Rugby will Bear Fruit This Season”

—MR. L. J. BRAKE VTISITS FROM AT LEAST THREE MAJOR UNIONS, IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL FIXTURE WITH AUCKLAND, ARE IN PROSPECT FOR THE 1939 SEASON, THE PRESIDENT, MR L. J. BRAKE, REPORTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF T HE NORTH AUCKLAND RUGBY UNION LAST NIGHT.

“Some years ago this Union embarked cn the policy of organising our football on a major union basis,” Mr Brake said.

We realised that if we are to do justice to our players, and give them an opportunity to become All Blacks, we must match them against the major teams. Equally important is the bringing of the best football to the North, and so repay in some measu re our loyal supporters.

“Three years ago we spent £6OO on a tour south, creating an asset which is about to bear fruit.

“Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Wei- &

lington, Hawke’s Bay and South Canterbury were touring North this season. and if we secure only three of these teams in addition to the annual match with Auckland, our policy will have been fully justified. Must Uphold Reputation. “Should our men be defeated easily it will be difficult to secure visits from these teams in the future, and it is imperative that sub-union should rally round to improve our standard of play. “We have the players here, and there has been a definite improvement in the last two years. The showing of Northland against the Springboks proved that our fifteen of that season was fully up to the best provincial standard, while last season we lost to Auckland by a point and defeated Waikato. “Building our strength, we are approaching the old-time standard when we were confident of ‘cleaning up’ Auckland when we met.

“Finest Physique In N.Z.”

‘ Physically our Rugby men are outstanding in New Zealand. We can assemble not one but four or five teams equal in physique to any in New Zealand. All we have got to do is to teach the players the finer points of Rugby.”

£SO Better Off,

The balance-sheet showed that during the season the Union had halved its debit balance, while bearing the whole cost of the bi-annual visit to Auckland (£lO3 8/-). Gate takings at the Waikato match, played at Rugby Park, Whangarei, after heavy rain, had been £75 2/-, and the loss on the fixture was £27 3/-. Confidence In Officers The election of officers resulted: — Patron, Mr. A. E. Harding (re-elected); president, Mr. L. J. Brake (re-elected); vice-presidents, presidents of affiliated sub-unions; treasurer, Mr. H. E. G. Smith (re-elected): auditor. Mr. W. A. Given (re-elected); visiting delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union (meets on May 3), Messrs. Brake and J. D. Finlayson; permanent delegate and member of the New Zealand Council, Mr. A. C. Kitto (re-elected). Acknowledging his re-election as president. Mr. Brake expressed confidence that the union would be in a position financially to assist smaller unions and primary schools in addition to building up assets similar to those about to be reaped this season by a South Island tour. Other major unions toured and had homo matches in alternate seasons or every three years, and Mr. Brake hoped that North Auckland would in future have its list of important fixtures automatically arranged. Grant for Primary Schools

On the application of the North Auckland Primary School Union, it was decided to renew application to the New Zealand Union for a similar grant to the £4O made available for the provincial schools last year. Sub-union Representatives

Delegates in attendance were; P. Brydon and B. D. Gould (Northern Wairoa); J. D. Finlayson and J. J. Sutherland (Otamatea); W. F. Berry (Southern Hokianga); A. W. Masters, and J. Ccwie (MangonUi); K. M. Hayr and J. Tocker (Primary Schools); A. McFarlane (Whangaroa); W. D. Eecroft (Rodney); R. Morrison (North Auckland Referees’ Association); J. Joyce and E, Gumming (Whangarei); A. F. Brewer and C. Oliver (Bay of Islands); and H. E. G. Smith (treasurer) and L. Morgan (secretary).