LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18981, 31 March 1925, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR. SOUND FINANCIAL POSITION. THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The Auckland Rugby Football League held its fifteenth annual meeting last evening, the chairman, Mr. W. J. Hammill, presiding over 150 members. In moving the. adoption of the annual report and i balance-sheet j particulars of which were : published in the Hkrat-d last Thursday, the chairman said tlmt not even the most sanguine supporters of the code ever anticipated so successful a series of seasons, bot.ii from the playing and financial stand- ! points, as had been experienced during tho past few years. The substantial balance | of £1233, which would benefit tho coni solidated fund, was an indication of the public's appreciation of the high standard of football shown by the. players. The ; brilliant rendering of the code last sea- ! son evoked enthusiasm throughout tho ■ province. ! Referring to coming events, Mr. Hami mill stated that there was a cjianee of 1 an Australian team coming to Auckland this year. Tho Auckland Marist Old Boys would visit Christchurch next month and play a return match against the j Christchurch Marist Old Boys. The i match would coincide with the opening 1 of the new Leaguo ground of 32 acres recently acquired. Christchurch would , thus have two playing areas ready lor this I season, and was to be congratulated on | tho manner in which tho problem of secur- ; ing grounds had been tackled in the early I stages of the code in that city. In Auckland the difficulties in the way of acquir- ' ing new playing areas had nroved insur- ! mountablc, with the result that there were | insufficient grounds to stage the fixtures, i In conclusion, the chairman thanked the ! Referees' Association, the judicial and adj visory committee, the selectors and the St. John Ambulance officers for their uutir- ! ing efforts on behalf of the League, i Mr. James Car law, vice-patron, who ' seconded the motion, congratulated the league on its highly favourable balancesheet. In 1918 thc'league's balance-sheet j showed an excess of liabilities over assets. : The current balance-sheet showed a credit | of £7353 in the. consolidated fund, repreI senting an average profit of £IOOO per I annum. Carlaw I'ark, which was now I properly equipped, was practically a goldI mine to the League. Referring to the item of £690 spent fairing the year on insurancef and accident payments, tho speaker said that no sports body in the Dominion showed more solicitudo toward its players in the matter of insurance than the Auckland Rugby Football League. The report and balance-sheet wore adopted. Votes of condolence were passed to the relatives of the late Dr. T. W. Leys, arid Messrs. P. S. Usher and A. R. Sec- | son) be. The trophies and caps won during the year were presented by .Mr. Carlaw. The following officers were elected: — Patron, Sir James Gunson; vice-patron, Mr. James Carlaw; president. Sir Arthur Myers; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. Wallace, G, Seagar, J. Endean, R. Benson, C. Drvsdale, E. Phelan, A. E. Powell, G. Baildon, G. McMillan, Cecil Leys, 11. Grainge, W. 11. Brierly and 0. Blackwood. The management committee met at the close of the meeting and elected the following officers: —Chairman, Mr. W. J. llammill; deputy-chairman, Mr. E. Phelan; secretary. Mr. Ivan Culpan; treasurer, Mr. F. Ellis; delegates to the New Zealand Council, Messrs. Phelan and W. Livcrsidge; management committee, Messrs. 11. Mansell (Newton), R. Doble (Devouport), B. Longbottom (Ponsonby), W. Davidson (City), 11. Lipscombe (Marist Old Boys), J. Brown (Athletic), T. Feilding (Richmond), C. Adamson (junior management committee), and \V. Mincham (Referees' Association). Honorary physicians, Drs. R. Tracy Ing)is, J. Hardie Neil, and J. P. Hastings; honorary solicitor. Mr. 11. M. t Rogersoti; ground superintendent, Mr. G. (Rhodes; timekeepers, Messrs. A. E. j Powell and W. J. Gibbons; press rtew- | ards, Messrs. H. Millard and 11. LipsI combe; judicial committee, Messrs. C. i Suedden, F. De Vere, G. Garr and G. Swinrierton. ! Acting on a recommendation from the i annual meeting, if was deiided to estab- | lisli fhe office of a uniform steward, who I would have instructions to notify the I referee of any case in which ho coni sidered a player was not, properly unii formed, and recommend the referee io j exercise his powers and forbid the offenj der to play. Speakers stated that in i certain cases players were either not j properly clothed or wore dirty and nnj tidy uniforms when entering the field. I thus creating a bad impression with tho j public. Mr. Livcrsidge was given the I first appointment. SENIOR GRADE FOOTBALL. AUCKLAND LEAGUE DECISION. DIVISION INTO TWO GRADES. Following the lines adopted in Australia, the Auckland Rugby Football League decided last evening to divide its senior grade into two sections, A. and 8., with the intention of staging a senior B. grade match as a curtain-raiser to the senior A. grade match on Saturdays. The advisability of adopting this change was urged upon the management i committee -it the annual meeting of the j league last evening. Mr. .James Carlaw, who introduced the subject, said the innovation would iuI crease the interest of the public and the J players in the, competitions, and would I lend to improve the standard of play. In j other' countries it, was the practice to j hold a B. grade match as a curtain-raiser to the A. grade play, and lie was confident, that such a scheme gave junior j players a much better opportunity ol being selected for representative matches. Not only would it give a chance to those junior players who found it difficult, when promoted, to play with senior players of long standing, but it would do away with the necessity of some senior players to drop back into junior. He mentioned that 11 entries had been received from teams desiring to play in senior grade matches this year, and pointed out. that unless some such scheme as he proposed were adopted it would be quite impossible to accept all the applications. The proposal found ready acceptance among the large attendance of players, and a. resolution was carried recommending the management, committee to give, trie scheme favourable consideration. The chairman, Mr. W. J. Hammill. | stated that Mr. C. F. Norton had already | offered to present a trophy for competition among the senior B. grade teams in the event of the scheme being approved. Tho proposal was considered later in the evening by the management committee. which, in addition to tho recommeu dafion of the annual meeting, received two letters supporting the proposal from the Nortlieoto and Kingsland clubs. One of tlic speakers pointed out that, if 12 ! instead of 11 teams could bo persuaded to piny senior, it would bo convenient lo divide the grade into A. and B. sections of six teams each, and, by holding an A. and B. grade match every Saturday, would give more days suitable for contests with southern representative [ teams. Another member stated that though the proposal might mean that some senior teams would have fo be graded lower, it would be bctttTr for them than playing losing games Saturday after Saturday. It was decided to agree to the recommendation and to invite the Otahuhu Club, the winners of the second grade competition, to enter the senior grade, arid thus bring tho total number of applications to 12. The appointment of selectors for the grades was deferred nnt.il to-morrow evening. Tho chairman said that the new scheme would mean greatly increased expenditure on insurance.