LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19607, 8 April 1927, Page 16

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL. 1 ANNUAL MEETING HELD. LOSS ON THE ENGLISH TOUR. The annual meeting of delegates of the j New Zealand League Football Council was held last evening. Mr. J. Carlaw presided. The chairman extended a welcome to the visiting delegates. Messrs. McKeon (Canterbury), Collison (Buller), Cooper 'Otago : and T. Hill (South Auckland),. The statement of receipts and expenditure for the past year showed a balance of receipts of £352 183 Cd The principal items were:—Receipts: Bank, £llß3 3s lid; trial games'' in Auckland. £6*l9 Is 7d; Otago League, £Bl7 18s; Auckland League. £277 8 s 2d. Expenditure: Wellington League lonn, £ll2 2s: trial games in South, £354 13s 4d; English tour expenses, £1876 18s 2d; Rugby League. £163 13s sd. The item "English tour expenses. £IB7O 18s 2d." is the actual cost to the New Zealand Council of sending the League team to England. The tour involved a loss, the details of which are not yet available. Tho chairman, ir reviewing the progreßs of the game during the past 15 years, said that in Auckland, at least, the League game was the most prosperous winter pastime. La3t year was the most disastrous in his experience. After years of anticipation the New Zealand Council had accepted an invitation to tour England. Unfortunately, internal troubles developed, and, instead of an expected profit of £7OOO being made, a sieriouD loss had to be faced. Howeicr, he had no fear fo" the future of the game. Prior to his retirement from office he de siired to place on record his appreciation of the loyalty of the delegates to him during his term of office. He regretted that circumstances would not permit him continuing as leader. A remit from Canterbury, that every an--1 nual meeting of Tho New Zealand League Council be held in Wellington was lost. Another Canterbury remit, suggesting that in the event of the death of a life member of the New Zealand League Council, the member's badge and all privileges of office shall revert to such member's widow, if any, was carried. it was decided to play a North v. South Island match alternately in Welli/i&ton, Ghristchurck and Dunedin each year, in addition to ons match to be played in. Auckland, thus making two North and South Island matches each year. At this stage Mr. McKeon brought up the question whether the procedure of dealing with the remits was in order. According to the constitution, he said, all remit# should have been circularised among all affiliated - League bodies and such remits should have been in the hands of the secretary of the New Zealand League Council 1-4 days prior to the annual meeting. Mr. Carlaw then ruled that tho remits were out of order and moved that consideration be deferred for 14 days in order that affiliated bodies could be circularised. On the motion being put it was lost. Mr. McKeon then pressed tho chairman for his ruling. The chairman said lie had already given his ruling and that a no-confidence vole had been brought down on his ruling. Under ordinary conditions he should vacate the chair and let the meeting appoint another chairman. Speakers said there had been a misunderstanding and there had been no intention to pass a vote of no confidence. It was then decided to refer the remits Lack to the affiliated leagues for consideration by them. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: —Patron, Dr. li. T. J. Thacker; president, Mr. C. A. Sneddon; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. D. McLean (Auckland). E. L. McKeon (Canterbury), ;r. D. Wingham (West Coast), T. Hill (South Auckland), M. Fagan (Buller), J. Ivory (Wellington), J. T. Cooper (Otago). Mr. E. Stallwortliy. on behalf of the delegates, took the opportunity of presenting Mr. .1. Carlaw, retiring president, with a of pipes. It was decided to place on record the council's appreciation of the services of Mr. Carlaw, several delegates speaking in high terms of his services to the code.