RUGBY UNION CONFERENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 22 February 1941, Page 6

RUGBY UNION CONFERENCE

ADVISABILITY OF WARTIME SUSPENSION UNIONS TO VOTE ON MATTER (United Tress Association | Wellington, This Day. The advisability of suspending the annual conference of the New Zealand Rugby Union during wartime because of the need to conserve funds and because of the expense inv ’ved in such . a meeting was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the executive council of the I union, when it was decided to ask Rugby football unions throughout New Zealand whether they were agreeable to such suspension, or whether they would agree to the conferenc*' being attended by one delegate only from | each union, the expenses involved to ’ b~ met by the respective unions. ! The various unions are to be asked to forward their views on the matter not later than 2nd April. In the meantime, the tentative date of the annual conference was fixed at Ist May next. “In the present circumstances it seems to be a big expense bringing delegates to the annual conference,” said Mr J. Prendeville. “It seems to me 1 that we could carry on without a con- ■ ference and carry out the election of officers by means of a postal ballot. ! During the last war the annual confer- ' ences were held, but I would like to ‘ point out that in those days there were fewer unions and fewer delegates ! whereas to-day there are about 80 dele- - gates.” The total cost of sending delegates to the conference and the other inci- > dentals incurred would probably amount to about £SOO, said the chair--1 man. Mr S. S. Dean, who favoured seeking an expression of opinion from ‘ the v arious unions. > Mr D. M. Spedding thought it desirable to hold the conference if posl sible. Football was likely to be “in the doldrums” during the coming year because of the war, and he felt that