NEW ZEALAND LEAGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15916, 13 May 1915, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND LEAGUE.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Football League was held at the League rooms. Shortland Street, last evening.! The president Mr. James Carl'aw, presided, and the following delegates were present:—Mr. W. D. McLean. Wellington; Mr. F. J. Gladding, Hawke's Bay; Mr. P. S. Ussher, Wanganni; Mr. N. B. Levien, Nelson; and Messrs. J. B. Morton and C. Livesidge, Taranaki. Mr. H. Oakley, secretary, and Mr. W. 0. Carlaw. Hon. secretary. were also presentThe appointment of Mr. W. T. Wjnyard as delegate from Canterbury involved the interpretation of one of the old rules of the league, under which Mr. Wynyard had previously vacated office as a delegate. The rule in question provided that no delegate should take part as a player in any football match, and that such act should be followed" by the resignation of the delegate, who should not be eligible for re-election. Mr. WynyaTd had played for the North Shore Club while a delegate from the Hawke's Bay League, and had consequently forfeited his seat as delegate. The question arose as to when, if ever, the delegate became eligible for re-election under the rule* i The chairman said that had he been in the chair at the meeting he would probably : have ruled that the delegate could take hi£ l seat on the league again at the end of the season.

Mr. McLean said that when the old rule wag adapted they had a registrar in whom they placed implicit confidence, and he had not noticed that tho rule made no stipulation •as to the period for which the ineligibility of the delegate who had broken the rule should run. He moved that the interpretaI tion of No. 65 of the old rules (under which Mr. Wynyard forfeited his seat as delegate for Hawke's Bay in 1913) be that ineligibility for re-election should only be for tie season. An amendment moved by Mr. Ussher that the delegate should remain ineligible for two years, as laid down in the new rules, was defeated and Mr. McLean's motion was then carried. Mr. Wynyard then took his seat as the delegate from Canterbury. The annual report and balance-sheet, is summary of which was published on May 3, was submitted to the meeting. The chairman congratulated the league upon the satisfactory position disclosed by the report. The depletion of the senior ranks by enlistments in the expeditionary forces had meant the inclusion of a number of junior* in the senior grades. He thought tho.w who witnessed the matches on Saturday in which these juniors took part could see that there were bright prospects of a successful season. The report and balancesheet were adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President. Mr. James Carlaw; secretary, Mr. H. C Oakley; treasurer, Mr. W. O. Carlaw; Council of Management. Messrs. A. E. Powell (Auokland),. D. W. McLean (Wellington). F. J. Gladding (Hawke's Bay), J. B. Morton (Taranaki). and W. T. Wynyard (Canterbury). The re-election of Messrs. Ussher and Lerien as delegates for Wanganui and Nelson respectively, was held over, pending compliance with certain formalities.