RUGBY PATRIOTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9043, 14 May 1915, Page 7

RUGBY PATRIOTS

AIDS TO RECRUITING NORTH VERSUS SOUTH ISLAND MATCH ABANDONED. The influence ol the war upon sport was. an ever-present factor in the business transacted at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union last evening. Members recognised tho urgency of the call to military service, and several important decisions were arrived at, not the least of which was the abandonment of ,the annual North, versus South Island match, from which, in past seasons, the team has been picked for the Australian tour—an event which has been suspended during the curxancy of the, war-

The international crisis was first referred to by the retiring president, Mr J. Arueil ; (Auckland). Ho said that all would recognise that last year was unique in the annals of football, owing to the _ war. It must bo gratifying to tho union to know that so many men were prepared to sacrifice their lives to uphold the honour of the flag. When members of the union had such ,q recompense as the knowledge of this sacrifice, they were well repaid for all the time and trouble they bod put into the management of the game. He thought it might not be out of place to get into (ouch with the Defence Department with the object of circularising all unions in an endeavour to further stimulate recruiting. This, however, would be a .matter for' the incoming committee. The meeting should pass a vote of thanks to the relatives of players who were killed or wounded at 1 the front.

The incoming chairman. Air Q. H. Alason (Canterbury), expressed a desire that the secretaries of all unions would supply returns showing the number of Rugby players from their districts who, had gone to the war.. Ho remarked that,’ if any branch of - athletics had reason to be proud of tho number of its men who were serving their country, it was Rugby football. AN OCCASION FOR SACRIFICE.

Air H. Harris (Otago) moved, and Air, T. Meredith (Southland) seconded, “That the North y. South Island match bo abandoned this year.” The mover said that the union always showed a loss on this match, and he -pointed out that no team was being selected to play away from tbe Dominion this season.

Air j. C. Facile (Otago) said that this was an occasion on which every unit of the community should make some sacrifice. They were all aware that tho men who played football looked to the goal ahead —the prime position, that of playing in a New Zealand representative team, - or, failing that, finding a place in the North or South Island team. However, the matter should be put to the players in the light of a sacrifice. ■ ’ ’,

Mr E. Wylie; (Wellington) agreed with the previous speaker. He pointed ©ut, for the benefit of the mover, that several of the. North v- South matches had resulted iin a profit. He thought it right' and proper that the “plums” of football should not be open to competition ; among the players remaining behind in New Zealand. He thought-that those who, ,by .reason- of domestic ties, bad to stay behind would appreciate that, point fo the full. , Ah amendment was moved by Air A. Laurenson /(Wanganui), and seconded by Mr ’A.iC. Kitto (Wellington), “That tlic matter be left to the incoming committee.” . 1 . ,

Air Dixon expressed his sympathy with the views stated by Air Facha, and considered it; very proper- that the motion should be carried- Throughout tho Empire, he said, the , response, not- only ■by; fdothaHerA-’ -hut-by -those engaged “in all forms of- sport,.-had becii magnificent.. ...' Cricketers, tennis players, oarsmen, and, all kinds of Bi#jrtsmen. had contributed their, lives gladly. New Zealand had reason to be proud of the number of footballers it had sent, The percentage of which must he very high. The chairman said h© hoped the matter would not b© discussed or Voted upon from the financial point of view. He thought there was a great deal to be said for' those gentlemen who had put the matter from a patriotic, point of ’view. Ho was of opinion /that . ouchgames as could bo kept going throughout .the Dofuinion should be continued so long as they did not interfere with recruiting. ’ Tho amendment to refer the question •to' the incoming committee'was - lost, and the motion to'abandon the North v. South: fixture this, year was- carried by a large .majority, .. .. ” SUSPENSIONS MAY BE REMOVED. Mr Dixon read 'a letter’sent 'by Air J. H. Ragni to the Auckland’Union, suggesting that, as many footballers are', already at. the front, the annual meeting of the. New Zealand Union should be recommended to issue!’a)’ declaration, that suspensions of Rugby footballers bo removed. The secretary of the Auckland Union - had written stating that that body waa in i sympathy with tho proposal, but oply, in regard to. thoso players who have .actually : gone to the front or who! have .enlisted. . Mr. Dixon : was of opinion that some consideration, might ; very properly be given in the/ case of players• who had volunteered orgone to tho war. ■ . The chairman thought the suggestion was one which had come to the wrong body; it should be referred to the local unions- A player- was suspended by tho governing body in the district 4n which ho played, and tho chairman did not think that the New Zealand Union should - direct / that, a disqualification should be removed from • any player. Tho Auckland Union might eommuui-; , cato With, the other unions, to havo some general rule on the subject adopted. Air E. Wylie moved, and Mr G. Rownail (Wanganui) seconded: /That it be a recommendation to the management committee to favourably consider any suggestion for the removal of suspension from any player who volunteers and is accepted; for active service/'/ Air Facho opposed the motion, contending that a point of discipline was involved. , ’ The motion was catried. INTERPEOVINCIAL TOURS.

The chairman announced that a meeting had been held, that evening, by delegates of Wellington/ Wanganui, South Canterbury, and Otago, to consider the . question of Interproviijcial matches- They ‘recognised that they could not bring forward any resolution to this meeting, as the arranging /of such matches was for the local unions themselves. However, a resolution was carried that the delegates were of opinion that all inter-union matches, as fax as tho sequence of arranged matches was concerned, should be discontinued in’ the. coming year. This referred to thetours annually made by the unions through New Zealand, hut at the same, time 'the delegates decided to suggest that any special matches til at might- he arranged between the unions should he played, but merely by arrangement be. tween those unions themselves. IN HONOUR OF OUR BOYS.

• The following resolution was passed, oh the motion of the chairman:—"That this meeting of the New Zealand Eng by Union wishes to accord its hearty sympathy to the relatives of our boys who have lost their lives at the front, and hopes that those who have- been wounded will soon recover and bo able to go to tho front-again. ’’ It was also decided, on the motion of Mr Pownall, that a letter bo sent to' General Grodley, to he conveyed to tho boys at the front, congratulating them on heir achievement at the Dardanelles.