THE RUGBY YEAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22099, 3 May 1935, Page 13

THE RUGBY YEAR

REVIEW BY MR. DEAN ALL BLACKS' PROSPECTS ANNUAL MEETING OF UNION [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLING TON, Thursday In his opening address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. S. S. Dean first made fitting reference to the death of the president. Dr. ,P. F. MclCvedy, and also to the deaths of Messrs. W„ Enipson and G. H. Mason, past presidents. With reference to the All Black tour of Britain, ho said, although there appeared to be a feeling among a section of the people that the standard of Rugby had deteriorated in the Dominion, and that the team selected would not be up to the standard of its predecessors, he did not subscribe to that belief. Most of the same arguments as those used to-day were evinced prior to the selection of the 1905 and 1924 teams, but all were aware of the achievements of both those teams. Players in the coming tour would develop, and he was sure they would return with greatly-enhanced reputations. "Sport in general seems to be in such a chaotic state throughout the world now that an excellent opportunity presents itself in this tour to show the rest of the world we play the game solely for the game's sake, and for the friendships Rugby football brings us," he declared. Maori Team's Tour Mr Dean expressed an absence of personal misgivings similarly in regard to the Maori team's tour of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. He spoke also, of the sending of two delegates to the Rugby Conference with England, to be followed by a conference with the four Home unions comprising the International Board —England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The South African Board, said Mr. Dean, had accepted 'an invitation to tour Australia and New Zealand in the 1936 season, and negotiations between New Zealand and Australia in regard to this tour were proceeding New Zealand was now awaiting Australia's acceptance of definite proposals which had been submitted.

In regard to finances, he said, although there was a loss of £578 on the year's working, the general finances were in a healthy condition, the balance-sheet showing an excess of assets over liabilities of £37.319. Since the publication of the balance-sheet interest shown as outstanding by the West Coast, Poverty Bay and Manawatu Unions had been paid in full and an amount on account from the Auckland and Thames Unions. Mr. Dean concluded by payinc tribute to the services of Mr. Cecil J. Wra.v as New Zealand's representative on the Rugby Football Union. Election of Officers The officers elected were: —Patron, the Governor-General; president, Mr. D. Stuart (Otago); vice-presidents, Hon. J. McLeod (Taranaki), I)r. W. S. Seed (Canterbury), Rev. Father Riordan (Horowhenua), and Messrs. K. S. Williams, M.P. (East Coast), L. J. Brake (North Auckland), H. Frost (Auckland), G. P. Lindsay (Thames' Valley), L. Powell (Waikato). J. A. Guinness (Bay of Plenty), J. Quirk (Wanganui), M. D. Smith (Hawke's Bay), R. J. Smith (Bush Districts), J. L. Donovan (Wairarapa), W. F. Hernig (Wellington), A. M. Ongley (Manawatu), M. McKer.zie (Marlborough), R. J. Eyre (Nelson), A. S. Parker (Poverty Bay), K. J. Holyoake, M.P. (Golden Bay, Motuekaj, A. G. Colvin (Buller), T. O'Donnell (West Coast), A. G. Knowles (South Canterbury), J. B. Wootton (Otago), H. S. Strong (Southland), li. V. Carmine (King Country), J. C. C. McLouglilan (Ashburton), A. Gilchrist (North Otago). The management committee appointed is:—Messrs. S. S. Dean, T. A. Fletcher, W. J. Wallace, A. C. Kitto, F. T. Glasgow, E. S. Hylton and A. McDonald. Hon. treasurer: Mr. H. S. Leith. Appeal council: Messrs. F. H. Campbell, J. S. Hutchison and F. H. Sincock. Auditor: -Mr. 0. Kember. The Canterbury proposal to increase the New Zealand selection committee from four to six was lost ITINERARY OF TRIAL GAME'S PROGRAMME CONFIRMED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Thursday Criticism was made at the New Zealand Rugby Union's annual meeting of the itinerary for trial games for selection of the 1935 All Blacks for Britain. There was a proposal to hold the matter over for discussion later. Mr. S. S. Dean, however, said it was j part and parcel of the annual report and asked that the matter should be disposed of immediately. The criticism mostly related to the last three games: June 11, at Palmerston North; June 13. at Wellington; and June 15, at Wellington. The itinerary, as set out in the report, was adopted. A suggestion was made that an attempt be made to arrange a match with Franco. Mr. Dean said representations had already been made with a view of securing two matches for the All Blacks in that country, but the English Rugby Union would not agree.