N.Z.F.A. ANNUAL MEETING

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12431, 27 April 1926, Page 11

N.Z.F.A. ANNUAL MEETING

NEW ENGLISH TROPHY LOOKING GIFT HORSE IN MOUTH SOCCER IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS The Hon. C. E. Stnthnm, Speaker of the House of Representatives, presided at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association yesterday, at which there was n full attendance of delegates, several important proposals being down for consideration. The chairman, in welcoming the defecates, said it was the first time he had ilad the pleasure of presiding at the annual meeting. Ho congratulated the association upon the progress made and the work that the council had done. Visits from overseas teams not only interested the public, but improved the standard of play. The council had not met with much immediate success regarding tours for the coming season, but might be able to report success later. He was glad to see tho association looking after schools football, which was the recruiting and training-ground for future players. "Referring to the matter of suspensions, Mr Staham expressed the hope that in future players would act constitutionally and support the referees. In conclusion ne congratulated the president, the Hon. C. P. Skerrett, Chief Justice, upon the honour recently conferred upon him. REVIEW OF WORK Mr A. Varney moved the adoption of the annual report, and said the council was very gratified at the progress made. The number of teams playing last season was 501, a splendid improvement. Soccer was played in practically every country in* the world, under every flag, and he thought one day it would become the premier code in New Zealand. They were pleased to see that South Auckland had established a sub-association for the advancement of the game. Schools football was thoroughly established in the Old Country; and the English F.A. was seeking to establish it in secondary schools. They were experiencing difficulty in New Zealand in getting the game established in secondary ichools, where youngsters had no chance Df deciding for themselves which game they would play. They in the association thought that was wrong,, and that if boyß in any school in this country desiied to play Soccer they should have the privilege of playing in the 4 school colours ana under the school name. Objection was made that Soccer was a professional game in Great Britain, As a matter of fact there were 20,000 amateur clubs with 750,000 amateur players in Great Britain, and 400 professional clubs with only 5000 professional players. _ It should be played in all schools in New Zealand, side by side with other codes, and when that day came the game would go ahaed by leaps and bounds. I TOURING TEAMS

An English team was touring Canada this year, and New Zealand might get the reflex by inviting them for 1927. The terms were similar to those asked by the English association in Australia, but .£15,000 to £20,000 was more than they could find. Through the "New Zealand Times" Mr Salmon got* in touch with Mr Livingstone, who was prominent in Soccer circles in Scotland; and he was going to do his best to bring out a high grade team on terms within their reach. (Hear, hear.) The council had agreed to pay all expenses from Glasgow to Glasgow, second class steamer, and a small sum for travelling expenses. So far as payment for professional expenses was concerned the council felt thAt it could not find sufficient money to meet such charges. Mr Livingstone mentioned such players .as Ewart, the great Scottish goalkeeper, and others, who would give the game a great fillip in New Zealand. They asked for 50 per cent, of the profit, which was a fair way of dealing witK the matter, and it was along those lines that Mr Livingstbne would endeavour to get a Scottish team to visit New Zealand. They had understood that Australia would be prepared to visit New Zealand this year on the same terms as before, with an out-of-pocket allowance of 10s per day per player for a seven weeks' tour. To their surprise the Australian sesociation wanted a third of the profits, which later they amended to 25 per cent. He hoped .the meeting would give them a lead as to what they should do, and so clear up the Australian matter. The speaker also emphasised the determination of the council to eliminate ungentlemanly conduct on the field of play, and the council would support the associations to the utmost in this direction. They must keep the game clean. Mr F. Campbell seconded the adoption *f the report, and said the council had tonsidered the question of the tours very earefully. They were willing to take risks to get an overseas team, and he thought some scheme would have to be brought forward to arrange these tours a year or two in advance It was of no use trying to arrange tours in one year, and the cables were very expensive. There had been differences with some of the associations, but success aould only come from loyal support. COMMENT OUT OF PLACE Mr A. Menzies (Auckland) said he refretted the reference in ihe report to replacements, which should not have been commented upon, as it was the subject of a He hoped it would not occur again. He congratulated the association upon the work achieved, and said that if the association could guarantee the club's expenses in the Chatham Cun they would get more entries. In Auckland they had been endeavouring to introduce Soccer into the secondary schools, and had succeeded at Mount Albert Grammar School, but not at Mt. Eden. The latter thought ir might defeat Rugby, but Mt. Albert, whore Rugby and Soccer were played, had defeated Mt. Eden at Rugby. The Auckland Association thought the boys should be allowed to represent their schools on the Soccer field. The association wanted the game played in the schools, but did not want to oust any other game.

THE GIFT HORSE Mr R. B. Bunt (Canterbury) supported, and referring to the new trophy presented by the English Football Association, said it Was a pity some representations were not made to the E.F.A. to give them the money instead of the trophy, as the money would have enabled them to do valuable work, such as employing a man to give instructions in school football. Regarding suspensions he thought the council should endorse them without question, leaving it to the players to appeal. Mr B. L. Salmon spoke on tho subject of the game in primary schools, and said he hoped the* meeting would instruct the council to nominate a board to watch this phase of tho game as was done in England. Mr Geo. Cox (South Auckland) informed the meeting of the action taken in regard to schools football, and supported the Auckland delegate in deprecating the comment made on the remit in reference to replacements. The report was then put and adopted. FINANCE Mr H. I. Graves moved the adoption of the balance-sheet, and that a year ago they were up against it financially. They wore in tho position of trying to arrango an overseas tour with «£26 in the bank, but by tho art union ha/1 raised nearly .£2OOO. He hoped now that they would never look back. They did not want to touch that capital, but wanted subscriptions paid as Noon a* funds were available. The outstanding balance of £'97 owing by associations had "been reduced to £59. The assets were invested in gilt-edged securities at 6

cent., upon which the bank would advance money if wanted. , Mr F. Campbell said bo hoped the fact that the association had now funds in hand would not load the association to expect a reduction of subscriptions, ae the funds were needed. The game locally depended on tho local associations and they would be supported by the New Zealand Council when necessary. Mr Menzies hoped tho council would continue to ask for tho guarantees in regard to overseas toura. The statement of accounts and balancesheet were adopted. ELECTIONS The following were elected on the council:—Messrs W. G. Bryce, P. Rose, F. Campbell, A. Varney, A. J. Hyder, J. A. Milburn, B. L. Salmon, F. Saunders, and J. J. Roberts; hon. treasurer, Mr H. I. Graves; hon. auditor, Mr A. G. Barnett; representative of E.F.A., England, Mr A. E. Gibbcs; representative in Canada and 0.5. A., Mr 11. N. Holmes; the appointment of an Australian representative was left in. tho hands of tho council*