FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3645, 21 January 1899, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION. VISIT OF THE - ENGLISH TEAM. A meeting of the Management Comuntte.p of tho New Zealand Rugby Union was held htsj> night. There were present —Messrs 6. F,‘ Ch' vice-presi-dent (in tlie chair) ; T. Mprrisoii, Hawke’s Bay; J. R. Gibbons, Auckland; A) L'aur reason. Poverty Bay; I. HypinsJ bVaz ngauui; and A. M. Do Costa, hon secret tary. A latter was received from the secretary of the New Bpilth Wales Union in reference to the proposed visit of an English team—“ With reference to the visit of the English football team, I have had no further news from England except from our representative, who states that a good team is being arranged. Your offer was submitted to my council, who do not feel disposed to accept it unless a guarantee of £SOO is given; or, as an Alternative, you to take the-team irom and ’return to Sydney, paying all expenses and giving jpy union half of the net gatemonej'. You would have four playing Saturdays, and so arrange the topr that the team will be able to play the (following Saturday in Sydney. It is also proposed tp play two Australasian matches in Sydney, "when ye would invito your players to take part I' On the motion of Mr Hyams, seconded by Mr Morrison, it was decided that thp New Zealand Union cannot depart from its off er to pay tJjo expenses of the visitors from Sydney to New Zealand and back, and give the New South Walcs Union 50 per cent, of the net propeeds taken by the New Zealand Union. The secretary of the English Rugby Union wrote that he had placed ’ before his committee the appeal of the Otago Rugby Union against the decision of the New Zealand Appeal Committee regarding the picking up of a ball in a scrummage with the feet. The English committee has endorsed the decision of the New Zealand Union’s committee, and is of opinion that picking up in tho manner specified is nqt jllpgal. The same writer also wjpte that his committee was of opinion that in iill ponjpetitions the bodies responsible forthc management of the same should have absolute p,.wcr in the appointment of the referees, otherwieg it felt that a deadlock might' occur in » contest, There were several referees’ associations in England, each managed by its own committee, In accordance with rules agreed upon by the clubs subscribing. The English Union had not thought jt necessary to lay down regulations for their guidance, and it was not prepared to rule that clubs must accept any referee nominated for ordinary matches.

The secretary and tho treasurer were appointed to draw up the annual report. At the request of the Otago Union, it was decided to forward to the English Union the papers in the North OtagoSouth appeal.