General Gossip.

NZ Truth, Issue 97, 27 April 1907, Page 3

General Gossip.

Allan Adams of the Otago Varsity p»a<rn has declined to again skipper the Royal Blues this season. Adams Will be going home early next year to prosecute his medical studies m 'm. Tjrider sphere. ' Charlie Sla'titery, the old Poaeke and Wellington representative three- ' quarter arid who, on taking up ihis residence m Dunedio, threw m his lot with Alhamibra, has been transfered to Port Chalmers, commonly known as "Dogtown" which probably means his services being Riven to the Port combination. Some unaccountable delay m holding "the annual meeting- of the Wairarapa Rugby Union is exercising the minds of members m South Walra--1 rapa. In most places cup fixtures are m actual progress, whilst Wairarapa Is lagging behind, and , the district will be badly handicapped, m .contests with outside Unions when the season is half 'through. The responsible officers reside, m Masterton, and it is much to be desired that they should "get a move on," and enable footballers to acquire the form that club matches only can furnish. With such a. large number of young players coming forward this season St can rea-sonaibly be anticipated that we will have a season of dainty rugby tit-bits and good men. A Cadyrallaxler, the Wairarapa rep. says he is going to leave football to the younger generation, but he was a conspicuous fipure on the touohlme on Saturday, and it is safe to say that he twill not see his old club stuck for a player, should necessity arise. E. McKenzie has also joined the- reserve, but it is probable that enthusiasm for his club would induce hto to turn out, if required. Although there has been a considerable alteration m the residential qualification of Auckland players during the year, there are no removals of the "big guns" from the district and all those who represented the city Jasti 3*ear will be again avail-, able, if required. At the m'setinig of the City Club, Dufty, the goldflelds player who represented Auckland as full-back, and the North Island team m the same position last season on which occasion his prowess as a goal-kicker Was dimmed almost to extinguishing point, was elected a member of the' dub but he has returned to the country, and will not play for the townsmen. , One O'Connell, from the Petone Club, has thrown m -his lot with the Auckland club this season. Wellington referees and officials of bhe Rugby Union may be interested to know that the Footballers' AcciCident Insurance Committee has resolved to make members of the iOtago Referees' Association horiorarv Jnemb^rs of the committee. In case of accident referees will receive medical attendance, but no payment. Local referees, however, are anxious to obtain the full benefits of the InSXirance Society, and at a recent meeting of the Association it was reBOlved to; ask the Insurance .Comtaittey.lf,' on- payment, of the required fete, referees might Join a fund .-.and obtain all' the benefits therefrom. At the annual, meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union an- amendment;/ to 'the sick and accident fund was carried providing that an mjiited player should be allowed free..filedi6mes and hospital and dental expnges m , adHition to the paymen-t of £1 per tocfek (9i ten weeks> aS w«ll as m«di-«

cal attention, as already jprovided for i under tjhe rules; . . At a special meeting of the Southcertain charges made by a member land Rugby Union to investigate of a deputation from a local club to the Union protesting against the re-grading" of the club to the junior ranks m which one of the selectors of the .Union was slated by the deputationists, the latter did not turn up to substantiate his charges, sending an apolo^v which stated that he did not intend to proceed further m the matter as his informants had made exaggerated statements to him. It was resolved Ihat the apology he not accepted, and further that he be notified that he must withdraw the charges forthwith, and publish apologies for the statements he had.already made. On d?t that the present New Zealand Rugby Union Executive will suggest at the annual meeting of the Union next month that applications be invited for the position of manager of the team to visit Australia m July. The experiment proved' such a brilliant success m the case of the "All Black" combination that it is up to the delegates to accept the suggestion without demur. Nuf sed. That old rugby warhorse, Fred G-iven, is turning out again to play for Alhambra this season and he will skipper the red and black m their several engagements. Fred has been actively chasing the leather for some years now but there seems to be plenty of vitality left m him yet. Billy Jc'hnson....of the "All Black" vanguard will also . be found amongst the Alhambra vanguard. Another veteran of standing m Bob Bennett has. also decided 'to have another flutter m his old position of centre three-quarter. , A good move is that instituted by the Canterbury Rugby Unicn to have a series of games • played between sub-Union teams to be contested m Christchurch and subsequently play a combined country team against a town one. It will serve to bring to light talent and at the same time give patrons of the sport an acceptable variety from the monotony of club games. 1 The sub-Unions will be studying their own interests as well as those of their players by falling into line with the proposal of the Metropolitan.. Union. FJarry Kiernan has been chosen to skipper the Gralton Club's senior team this season. There is joy m Nelson Rugby Union circles over a balance on last year's operations of £29, a state of things unknown for many years past. The sum of £302 represented the receipts while the expenditure totalled £17-3. Mr G. F. C. Campbell has been selected as the Union's delegate to the N.Z.R.U. m place of H. Hitching, who was a veritable "wooden man" at the best of times. By a curioiis coincidence, on a recent* Saturday, two '"brothers named Blackwood each sustained a fractured ! collar-bone .while playing football . One brother was playing for Timaru Star against Kaikorai at Dunedin and the other was playing at King-, ston. A sporting tailor of Greytown has comic forward with an offer to simply the local club's senior team with a set of knickers so as to have a uniform appearance on the field. It. is a pity that some of our local club's can't come across a practical friend of the same kidney. It was stated at the annual meeting of the Nelson Ru^fey Union that the question of the improvement of rugby football m the Nelson '- district bad been exhaustively dealt wlith and the district, scheme not finding favour with delegates, a trial would be given this season of a classification scheme. Indications point to the new management of the Manawatu Rugby Union being all workers. The personnel of the committe is inspiring more -confidence among players than heretofore. All seem to have made up their mjnds to make things -'''go" and to keep the game on as high a level as p^ssfMe. At this eaxlv stage of the season matters look bright for a successful time. C. Grouber the ex-Melrose fiveeighth has noticeably filled out, and bas learnt many new things by his sojourn m Wellington,- and he will be a decided acquisition to the Carterton Club this year. It is rumoured that the Masterton Club will be considerably weakened this year. *Logan is located at Martinbidrougib, and it is whispered (though the whisper. at present lacks confirmation) that Joe "O'Leaxy will throw m his lot with a Wellington club. Spackman, the best Masterton forward, will also be absent, so that last year's winners will not present a formidable front. Rumour says that it has been seriously proposed by George Dixon m his "wiliest" vein to agitate for the formation of a vendetta vigilance brigade, armed with clubs, a fiery zeal, and on murderous intent, same to be loosed upon the scribe who has bad the sublime audacity, if .you please, to let daylight m on his past little games. The details of the evolutions to be performed by Dixey assisted by "Gaily" and Walleburton have not yet bsen made public property, but the display of these warriors m their picturesque antics should compel an immediate surrender on the part of the offending scribe. Gladstone purposes enterine, a team for the Wairarapa senior championship this year. The combination will be mostly Maoris and will include half a dozen players from Te Aute College, and others from the Tuhirafigi Club, which died a natural death after winning the junior championship last year. It is said that Alf. Booth and Jackson will be aimong the players, and m the circumstances the new combination will be entitled to respect. Pahiatua cannot raise a team this year, an astonishing thing m"a i-'iace of such importance. In support of its otfjecticn to be ree-arded as a junior club, \k? Jirltannia, Club ,of Invercargill pointed out that for thirteen years it had put a first fifteen m the field and had never forfeited a game, while for this season a second fifteen was available. Last season the club pot four forwards m the rep team and its record m inter-pro games was equal to any other .club m the district. The Athletic Club worked itself into a "devil of. a stew" over the decision- of the Union to give it an "Irish rise" m status, and over 100, (members attended an indignation meeting to protest a&fiinst the fiat of the Southland Rugby Union. 1$ -is .to be hoped that selection committees of the clubs will give an

eye to their junior players, many of whom by their promising displays last season gave promise of being heaps above the "reputation" gent who somehow sticks on with the determination of a leech long after his usefulness m the playing arena warrants him ta<king his place on the bank. Some selection committees appear to be afraid to turn the old hands off and 1 replace with juniors of youth, hope, and dash. Not that the writer counsels turning over an old tried veteran for a new one, of merely merit, but it is an undeniable fact tiiaii cliubw could very well do without the services of men who have donned the colours of their club year after year, and are most known to followers cf the game as being "done." Still the match committeeman often shut their eyes to that fact, aiwl retain the drones to the detriment of their club's success. The old stagers having done yeoman service m the past should recognise that age will tell its tale and by quietly dropping out give new blood a chance to come m and distinguish itself. The multiplicity of old "crocks" m some Combinations is most astounding. If ever there was an argument m favour of giving 'young players the opportunity to distinguish themselves it was m the case of the Otago rep. team, whose forwards made r a name for themselves against Wellington at the Pa.rk last season. ' ' Speaking at the annual meeting of the Graf ton Football Club, the Mayor of Auckland (Mr A. M. Myers), who m his younger days donned the jersey with credit to himself and his club; defended followers of the game from the reproach that they devoted too much time to football, contending that such an assertion was made without due reflection on the farreaching effects the sport had m building; up the character of our manhood. Ho himself believed that a player, m taking a prominent interest m the game, was not only doing good for himself and his club, but also for his country. There was the possibility of sport m the future being an important factor m .settling national difficulties and disputes. For example, New Zealand and South African teams had toured -. the British Isles, and the result of such international contests was not only to produce a cordiality and esprit de corps, but also a better understanding of the feelings anq the motives of the contestants. Such ? result, he said, would be far-reaching m its effect, and could not be . over-estim-ated. The Mayor concluded by showing his practical appreciation of football by offering the Grafton Club a donation of £5 5s towards the completion of the furnishing to the club's practice shed and meeting room. The New Zealand Rugby Union contributed £35 to the New Zealand Referees' Association's funds last season. A portion of that amount might just as well have figured on the former's balance-sheet as honorarium to RoM>. This item will engage the attention of some delegates at the New Zealand Rugby Union annual meeting hex:t week. Things are coming to a pretty pass, indeed, when secretaries of unimportant outside bodies are recouped for their labors by the governing body of football m this colony. The amount was passed presumably to assist the legitimate operations of the Association, but m an underhand way it goes to swell the banking account of a private individual wih'o lias absolutely no claim on the Union whatsoever. There is plenty of growling about, the, -amount of \ trippiing which our adult players indulge m from one season to another, and employers aie beginning to kick vigorously against the repeated applications for ( leave extending, m m<any cases, to weeks. In the face of this the outgoing committee of the N.Z.R.U. proposes to have an annual contest for the public schools of the colony. To stimulate this appetite for travelling amongst the kiddies is reprehensible from many view points, and if the scheme is put into effect, it will do more harm than good m the long run. The smaller Unions are eternally crying out about the shabby way they are treated by the parent body, which, however, seriously comes forward with one of the most idiotic proposals that has ever been launched upon the footballers of this colony. ' The revised annual report and balance-sheet of|the N^Z.R.U. has not yet made its appearance. There was a desperate hurry evidently to get the contents of the draft report into cold type. A sum of. 100 guineas represented the expenditure for J. Knee's operation what time the South African team was journeying m the old country. Krige, who was a member of the team was badly injured m one of the matches of the tour. Doctors' fees and medical attendance totalled altogether £267. NBedeU-Siywright is likely to retire from the game after this season. Of the £6000 profit -made by the South African tea-m out of its British tour, probably £2000 or £3000 will be earmarked m view of futum possible tours m South Africa and other countries. The New Zealand Rugby Union has a credit of £12,320, yet its Executive m thds season's annual report has the meanness to. point out that the travelling expenses of one delepate from each affiliated Union to the annual meeting has yet to be met. When it is borne m mind that the travelling expenses will not absorb £70 at the outside the ludiccrous declaration of the framers . of. the report will appeal to "Truth's" readers. It is on a par with the action of the committee m refusing to spend a couple of "bob" m pro-~ curing lemons for the thirsty players who took part m last year's InterIsland £am<e. The said committee could chuck away £35 ' on the New Zealand Referees' Association without a blush, but then Dick Isaacs and Jack Lau-tch-ton are members of that body and their presence on the committee would be of material assistance m obtaining self-glorifica-tion for a few "push-me-forward" individuals at the expense of Unions which are sadly m need of financial assistance from the parent body. It is to be devoutly hoped that delegates will throttle the suggestion for a match to be played by the New -Zealand team m Melbourne. Charity begins at "home, and the N.Z.R.U. should set ittfelf out "to foster the game m this colony m places where a Jt.tle encouragement would do heaos of good for everybody concerned- Heaven l:i\ov, r s the missionising influence would v mean ; much to country Unions, and those

on the West Coast of the other island, without going to the trouble of exploiting Victoria, which can easily fall took on New South Wales and Queensland to render ■ it ' Rug-by assistance. The proposal savours of nothing else than a holiday jaunt for the Maorilanders ami Cornstalks. Mr .J 4 M. Reardofl lias been chosen to replace Mr Goldie as the delegate of the Bush Union on the New Zealand Rugby Union, so that the desperate efforts of a few local residents to pull off the job themselves has counted for nothing. Mr Reardon knows the requirements of the country Union thoroughly, having been its secretary for some years. The members were sorry when his removal to Wellington necessitated him handing over the reins of office to another, and to mark their sense of his sterling work while m office they presented him with a handsome gold medal, bearing an appropriate inscription, which now adorns Ins wa-tchchain. Mr Reard-on is wellknown m local labor circles and he may be 'depended upon to say something at the colonial levee on May 2nd as to the smeliful happenings of "Gaily/ Dixon and Co. "Soapy" George vjnll hunt him up, no doubt, m order to convince the Bush Union delegate, m his own peculiar indiiarubber style that he is the victim of a deep laid conspiracy to injure his Rug-by reputation. Poor "Dixey." a score of buckets to accommodate those 1 tears has been ordered m readiness for May 2nd. The defection of Grollan and Callum from Poneke, and' the transfer of their .-services to Wellington was not unexpected m certain quarters. Gollan was content with nothing less than junior status, while Callum's withdrawal Was for. reasons which interest nobody outside of himself and the Club. This much is to be said however, that the time is past when, reputation men from other centres are to replace old-tried warriors of a Club or its most promising juniors m the preceding season. Let outsiders of uncertain (quantity show their mettle m the lower grade ranks before being elevated right away, to senior honors. Many a bright, junior has been lost to a club by reason of the "reputation gent," having first call. In very •> many cases the latter has turned out a rank duffer, while the local boy has proved a trump card for the opposing .organisation which snapped him up. The sale of rule books of the New ■Zealand Rugby Union has brought m the priticelv revenue of twelve shillings and sixpence. Significant extract from, the New Zealand Rugby Union's annual report : "There have been, no appeals to the Appeal Council during the past season." In. view: of the composition of the Appeal Council one can understand the reason why Unions or individuals affected prefer to let things slide rather than seek the opinion of the , most fossiled judicial Rugby bench m existence m the Australasian colonies. Their showing with the whistle m the Empire City is enough to damn their reputation without anything else being raked up against them. Others have gon-3 right out of touch with the game. . Davie Gallagher has been re-ap-rointed sole selector of the game. When things were going so swimmingly last season Davie was praised up to. the skies as a heaven-born judge of footballers and their merits. It is too horrible to contemplate what opinions would have been expressed about Dayie had Dufty failed to materialise m some of the most important enga.gemehts of the season. 1 ; The delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union wall no doubt appreciate the kindness of the outgoing Executive m terminating the engagement of one, Merrie (who was appointed to work under the supervision of -Edgar Wylie), as from the 30th of April m order to give t?iem (the. delegates) a free hand m choosing a successor to Edgar who notifies his intention not to offer liimaelf for election again as lion, secretary. And tlie probability is that the delegates would have had a big say m deciding what should be done m the circumstances, ciuite irrespective of what the Executive's views were upon the subject. The reasons which prompted the Executive m its choice of the -'picturesque" Merrie will be sought after by delegates, who will also want to know the way it went to worte m getting, hold of this individual. Anyhow, Merrie was dear at the price, nnd dozens of infinitely better men could have been obtained to undertake the whole of I the clerical duties if the Union had only gone the right -way to work mi n the first instance. Two years ago, on the motion of Mason, of the Canterbury delegation, the Executive was instructed to take into consideration the desirableness of having a paid secretary, but the present misi management crowd was afraid to Jake the "bit m his m o uth." and nrererred to adopt the hybrid policy of j getting Merrie to assist Wylie, with [results such as we witnessed m the case of Atkinson, of the Athletic Club. Some lovely samples emanating from the Union have been handed to the writer for inspection, and all he has to say is that they were a downright disgrace to any athletic body of prominence. One might go so far as to say, m fact, that they would have promptly secured the "sack" for the rawest recruit m any business establishment of that city. Glancing over a draft copy of the balance-sheet, I find that "clerical assistance" cost the Union £37 10s. There ia some talk of Peter Harvey playing again behind the scrum for " Ohristcmirch ' Club. The little chap would be a tower of strength to the red and blacks who are credited with possessing this season the strongest pack since the days of Harry Frost and Humphries. Mitchinson got a lovely bump on his nasal organ last Saturday. The first impression was that his smeller had fceen oroken, but fortunately it was not the case. The Poneke boy promuses to be a champion of champions this season. D; McKay, of the West Coast Rugby Union Management Committee is coming to Wellington to act with Billie Coffey m. looking; after the interests of his Union at the New Zeafand Rugby levee next week.