FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1250, 13 February 1896, Page 27

FOOTBALL.

A meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union was held list week at Mr A. T. Bate’s office. Present —Messrs G-. F. C. Campbell (in the chair), I. Hyams, A T. Bite, J. Bee and A. De Costa, (acting-secretary). A draft circular to be forwarded to the various affiliated unions with reference to the testimonial to Mr E. X). Hoben (late secretary of the Union), and also as to the appointment of his successor, was approved. The seoretary of the English Rugby Union wrote stating that Mr Firth's action in ordering a player off the field for deliberate “ knocking on ” in the WellingtonTaranaki match last season had been considered by his committee, and that they were of the opinion that Mr Firth had exceeded hia powers. The committee will consider the advisability of inflicting a penalty for wilful infringment of the laws for which a free-kick or scrummage are not at present granted at their annual general meeting in September next. They are also opposed to allowing* unintentional “knocking on” to be nob illegal, and they did not see that the suggested alterations made by the New Zealand Union, in touoh-line play would be an improvement. The aoting-seoretary was instructed to writa to the Wellington Union for a settlement of the referee’s expenses incurred in" the Wel-lington-Taranaki match.

The Council of the Wellington Football Association met on Monday at the Troca-dex-o (Mr C. H. Izard in the chair), and with a few amendments, approved of the new rules as drafted by the sub-committee.