FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14972, 20 April 1912, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Prank Wilson, the University centre three-quarter and Auckland representative, has decided to retire from tlie game. He may tako to rofereeing instead. Tho College . Rifles club will hold its first practice at Alexandra Park this afternoon. All members and intending members , are asked to attend- , Tho Auckland Rugby Referees'. Association, of which Mr. C. W. Oram is secretary, will hold its next meeting on. Wednesday at eight p.m., in the Amateur Sports Clubirooms. Thereafter tho association will meet every Wednesday evening at the same tinio and place. In order to assist active members of the various clubs to become more conversant with the rules and latest interpretations, the Referees' Association will be pleased if captains of team, or, in fact, any players, will attend tho new association's . weekly meetings. Tho association "will also be glad to send members of its oxecutivo to club training sheds, at times convenient to the clubs, to answer questions relating to tho laws of tho gamo. D. Millar, O. Wolfgramm, .1. Glen, and E. Harper, of tho Grafton Club, and J. Martin, who was in the Hawke's Bay representative team last year, havo joined the 'Parncll Club. The City andParnell Clubs will hold.practices at the show grounds, adjoining Alexandra Park, this afternoon, at three o'olock. Both clubs desire tho attendance of all membors and intending members. Desmond, tho Wairarapa and North Island country representative forward, who expressed his intention of coming to Auckland and playing for City, has now decided to remain in Carterton. Mr. J. S. Dickson, M.P., has presented the Parnell Club with a set of cape, to bo won by the team which obtains the best record for the season without'winning a championship. AUCKLAND RUGBY UNION. THE ANNUAL MEETING. Tho annual meeting of tho Auckland Rugby Union was held in tho Chamber of Commerce Rooms last night. Mr. A. E. Devore, president of the union, was in tho chair. thirty delegates were present from the City, Parnell, North Shore, University, Collego Rifles, Newton, Marist Brothers Old Boys, and I'onsonby Clubs., Tho annual report and 'balance-sheet, which havo already been detailed in these columns, wero adopted without'discussion. The College Rifles Club was admitted to affiliation with the.union as, a senior club. On behalf of tho Marist Brothers Old Boys Club, Mr. C. McDevitt moved that number four of the union's rules bo amended to provide that tho management committoo shall consist of one delegate from each senior club. Mr. McDevitt stated that his club had absolutely no grievance against the union. The motion was brought forward to provide equal representation of all the parties concerned. Mr. F. .T. Oh![son (University) opposed the motion. He said he would like to see members of all tho clubs on tho committee, but tho committee should not work for individual clubs, but for tho good of football generally. Why should not the delegates of two clubs form tho committee if the delegates at the annual meeting considered them the best men for the position. Mr. Ohlson suggested that the committee might bo enlarged to a number equal to the number of senior clubs, so that every club would have a chance of haying one of its members on the committee. Mr. G. H- Dixon, chairman of the management committee, said the union had had experienco of both systems, and proved that the present on© was the best. Mr. C. V. Langsford, secretary to the union, also opposed the motion. Captain Dawson, of the College Rifles, thought a committee such as suggested might become unwieldy. through a very largo number of clubs having representation. He suggested that, it would be better if the delegates of the clubs met monthly, and made the management committee "too the mark" if necessary. Mr. Michaels (Grafton) was of opinion that the . delegates were not sufficiently conversant with the union's affairs, and that quarterly meetings of delegates should bo held. * Mr. J. J. Mulvihill (City) strongly supported the motion. Professor Seagar (University) moved an amendment that the committee consist of ten members, an© to bo nominated by each senior club, and tho remainder to be elected by tho delegates at the union's annual meeting. Mr. Buxton (Marist Brothers Old Boys) seconded th© amendment. After considerable discussion, Mr- McDevitt withdrew his motion in favour of Professor Segar's amendment. Mr. M. J. Sheahan (City) proposed an amendment that tho committee consist of as many members as there are senior clubs. Mr. Sheahan's amendment was lost,, only threo voting for it. Captain Dawson moved a further amendment that the committee remain as at present, but ' that provision be added that a meeting of delegates be held , once a month. Professor Sogar's amendment was lost, eight delegates voting for it, and so tho constitution of the committee remained unaltered. ' Tho following officers were elected President, Mr. A. E. Devoro; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. Arneil, D. Clayton, and Professor Scgar; secretary and treasurer,_ Mr. C. V. Langsford; Management Committee, Messrs. F. J. Ohlson, C. P. Stitchbury, S. W. Somorfield, M. J. Sheahan, T. Buxton, and Captain Dawson; auditors, Messrs. P. 11. Eraser and T. Macky. Mr. F. M. Jervis had written, stating that he did not wish to bo re-elected as a , vice-president. - The committee was recommended to consider the advisability of calling tho delegates together, onco a month. In reply to Professor Sogar, ,it was stated that tho rent for. the A. and P. show grounds was a percentage upon tho gross gate receipts. . Mr. F. R. Wilson recommended the incoming committee to givo stricter supervision to tho "weighing of junior players, m whoso grades weight limits exist. Professor Segar pointed out that the committee had not carried out a' recommendation to hold a charity match. In reply, it was stated that the length of tho programme last year precluded this. Mr. D. Clayton (Grafton) stated that on present appearances tho Grafton Club would bo unable to raise any teams but third and fourth grado fifteens. This meant that the club would have to affiliate with a senior ■club, and ho considered that provision . should bo made to 'prevent old-established clubs losing their identity in this manner. j He also stated that many players who came to Auckland from other places were told I they would have no clianco of being I selected for representative teams unless they played for the stronger clubs, and this, weighed heavily on the weaker clubs, t He thought that there should be a residential qualification of one year for representative teams, two years for Ranfurlv shield | matches, and also a residential qualification insisted upon in the cases of members changing from i one club to another. The chairmah replied that there would bo a special meeting of the union shortly to consider the now rules now being drafted, and this matter could be decided then. Mr. G. H. Dixon suggested that the rule requiring lower grade clubs to affiliate with j older clubs should bo altered, as it was a creat pity that old clubs should lose their | identity. j A hearty vote of thanks was accorded I tho outgoing committee ' i i UNDER LEAGUE RULES. NEWTON RANGERS CLUB. The Newton Rangers Northern Union 'Football Club held a meeting last night, which' was. well attended. Eighteen now members were elected. The club decided to enter two teams in tho competitions. There will bo a practice in tho outer Domain to-day at 2.30. Members and intending members are requested to attend. THE AUSTRALIAN GAME. There is .every prospect of keen competition in. tho junior grades of tho Auckland Australian Rules Association this season,. Their headquarters will be Victoria Park, whore they have a ground allotted to them. The next Australian carnival is to bo held' , in Sydney in 191*, when it is expected to be able to send a Now Zealand team of boys to compete. . The first practice will bo held at Victoria Park on Saturday, when all players are expected to attend. \ ■ _ The juniors will hold their annual meeting on Friday, tho 26th inat.