OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12933, 28 March 1904, Page 2

OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

Tho annmil general mooting of dolcgatos to the Otago Rugby Football Union was hold in tho Stock Exebangp on Saturday night. Tho president' (Mr .1. HutchLrou) occupied tho chair, aiiil the following dcloi gates wero present: Allnmbra, 0. rliillips, I A. Doy| Kaikorai, J. Duncan, \V. Sinclair; I Zingari-Kichmond. J. T. liilburno, (J. I Dunn; Union, J. Hope, W. Beadle; iJunedin, J. Dtmno, T. Seurr; University, G. Thomson, H. Shand; Piritpv, J. \V. Afctthewson, ,T. S. Hislop; Southern, R IJrigcs, A. Miscall; Oamaru, J. Brown, W. .Munro; Athletic, J. Caradus, A. Gregory; Excelsior, L. Anderson, J. T. Thomson; \\aitnki High School, Pi. Baxter; Peninsula, J. Picfionbrock; Port Chalmers, W. J. Wilson; Kavcnsbourno, A. It. Low; Green Island, Atkiiii-on; Taicri Rovprs, D. Gibson; West Taicri, J. White; Tokomairiro, J. E. Ward; Waiwera, 11. M'Donald; Balcluthft, P. IILslop; Lawrence Star, T. Lcydon; Clyde, 0. Eyre| St. Bathans, R. C. Proctor. Tlio members of tho commute© present, ill addition to tho president, wero; Dr Hunter, Messrs G. M'Laren, A. 0. Hanlon, F. H. Campbell (vice-presidents), P. S. K. -Mnca.ssey, I*. J. Priest, W. A, Wilkinson, G. W. Macdonald, D. XI. Munro, H. Harris, G. Smith (secretary), and V. 0. Cavanagh. ANNUAL hepoht.

The report and balance sheet, which liavo already been published, woro taken as read. Tho Chairman, in moving tho adoption of tho report and balance sheet, said; Tho report; deals, as you will rccogniso, nornewhafc fully with tho oraita < of the past year, but with your permission I propose t-i run over oomo of tho features presented in it. You will observe that the committee did not feel justified in holding tiiat the standard of play that was shown last year was equal to that of previous years. They are satisfied, nevertheless, that the Otago standa.rd was not inferior to that of other portions of tho colony, this being shown, indeed, by tho results of tho interprovineial matches, in which Otago won four contest; out of seven played, ono being drawn, and scored 55 points to 29. Tho principal disappointment in connection with tho interprovineial inat'jhus was ftirnhhed by tho Auckland match, which, attended by tho largest crowd tlmfc has evor witnessed (in intcrprorincial match here, produced ft most indifferent exhibition, in which, I cannot help thinking, the Otago team was hampered by tho attronpt to adopt a style of piny that was different from that usually employed here. Apart from that match, the play in the interprovineial games did not indicate tlmt there was any cause for us to deplore an inferiority in the play of Otago as compared with that of other portions of Now Zealand. But I think it is fair to say that the standard of play nml tho style of play were not what they used to be. Passing among the forwards and concerted' dribbling rushes have almost beeomo memories ill our football, and in tlio endeavour to master eomo of tho socalled fino points of tho gamp, of which we bear occasionally, players seem to liavo to a largo extent ncglwted features of the gamo which, while they are attractive fo tho public, are also highly profitablo to Iho team that adopts (hem. And I am bound to say, and I say it with profound regret, that thero has been a marke<l deterioration in tho spirit in which tho game is played. Tlio committee was greatly exercised last year over tho number of canes of foul play that camo under ils notice, and there wero probably rpiito as many eases that did not come under its notice. Nor wore cases of tho kind confined to tho purely local games over which tho union cxorci-ios control. There wero unfortunately gravo occurrences of foul play in interprovineial matches, and I do not hesitate to say that in two of these matches that were played on tho Caledo-

nian Ground last season tlio retejee would, ill caeh instance,, if ho had fearlessly dono

liis duty, have ordered two or throe players off tlio ground. A stricter enforcement of tlio laws of tlio game and of tlio spirit in which tlio gamo should bo played m most necessary. The duty in tin's respect rests primarily upon referees, and a duty lies upon tlio Ku(;by Union also to aeeord to referees all tho support that is in its power. This leads mo to refer to a case that, as delegates will remember, occurred last year, and that excited at the timo a considerable amount of interest—a caso ill which a- majority of the committee came, in offcet, to the conclusion that the referee, in reporting a player, must have made a mistake. Tho principle involved in a decision which practically rejected the statements of tho referee on a jp.-.tter of fact was felt to bo s;> important that the Referees' Association appealed to the. New Zealand Union on tho subject. Tlio KpfprofH 1 Association, however, had no locus standi in tho matter, and the New Zealand Union felt itself powerless to deal

with the appall, but it recorded the opinion, which K I am satisfied, absolutely sound, that evidence for the purpose of disproving tho refcroc.'s decision on a matter of fact is not admissible in an inquiry. That

opinion will necessarily have to guide tlio union in any future case, and in tlio fact that it has been placed on record the case in question will foini a very useful procodeut. As you aro aware, somo friction occurred last year belwecn the N'ew Zealand Union and tho Otago Union over the operation of thw union's by-law permitting the reporting of players by players other than referees. Prior lo last season tho position was that the New Zealand Union, whatever it may have thought regarding fill) by-law, was precluded by ite own constitution from entertaining any appeal against a punishment indicted under the by-law. It seems, however, to have made yp its mind to discover, if possible, somo way l)y which it could exerriso its authority in respect to the by-law, and consequently it- approached tho English Union on the subject. I am bound to say that tho New Zealand Union did not. act so frankly an it might have done

in the matter, for, while it made to the English Union tho representations of which I have spoken, it did so without informing tho Otago Union that it had done so, and without giving yuur committee tlio opportunity of placing its side of tho question liC'foro tho English Union along with the communication from the Now Zealand Union: and when tho New Zealand Unijin received an opinion from the English Union which it interpreted to mean that the by-law was ultra, vires it iirccceded to enforce this view in a rather high-handed and objectionable mnnnor. lint, as the report shows, wo riubsequcutly received a letter from the English l. T [lion wbirh was in its terms perfectly satisfactory to us, sii it sustains us in the position wo had adopted. The action of the New Zealand Union in this matter ; may bo contrasted with its inaction in another matter—that of the substitution of friv'h players for disabled. As to this, a practice has grown up in the colony which is at. variance with the English practice, and is not i-anctioned by the English Union.

Tho practice is, in fact, apparently a Yankee notion. Let me read an extract from au article, in ouo of till l last issues of an

English magazine; --"The winning of a game being tho only cud (hat au American player has in view, he subordinates every ether consideration lo this, and cheerfully rclinquishcn such old-fashioned ideals as ' style,' or ' good form,' or the other shibboleths which have become antiquated in tho land of their hitth, and aro scarcely known at all in newer countries, lie feels, for inHanco, that lie cannot will without a full side: and, as the peculiar methods of his game aro so dangerous that, only tho most courageous of young men will face tiie rislti? involved, lie'makes every preparation for the inevitable accident. The doctor's halo of bandages and .1 bucket of antiseptics aro common objects of tho playing-giound. A line of eager substitutes in long coats si-finds ready to spring into tho fray and take the place ,of every

casualty thi> moment ii player is ' knocked out.' 11l Kilglaml wo still abido by our accident", and play short if a man gots lmrt." Well, we luul got info llio way of not playing short in this colony. But bceau.=e tbo Hnglish decision and praetiou are clear on the subjoct your committee

ihwlcd that, no tlw-t tho laws might bo obeyed in their entirety, flicy would set their faces last year the introduction of substitutes in a game. Unfortunately, a want of loyalty to the union on

the part of the (Hugo captain anil tho meekness of tho referee prevented our decision fl-om being carried out. on tho oocur-

'lice of n casualty in ono of the interrovincial matelirs, and tbo New Zealand Inion. which had lieen so determir.od in

Ie other case I havo mentioned to enforco

the supposed ruling of tho Kuglish Union, was in this raso quito spineless. In tho cant phrase, jt is sportsmanlike to allow fiti injured player lo be replaced by another.

nit sportsmanship does not allow any inivorsat practice 011 tho subject. It all lepeuds upon the stage of the game at rhieli the accident happens Avhrui a subtitnte is allowed or not. On tho Saturday

before the incident to which I have, just referred, the team to which the injured man belonged war. playm? an intcrproviiicial match ill a sister province, and 1 one of tho side opposed to it was iaijui-c-d and had to leave the lield. That r-ide did not, however, secure e. substitute for tbo injured man.

Xo. The accident occurred 11 quarter of an hour or so before the end of the game, and the sportsmanship, which decides that substitutes shall be allowed, steps short of lierinittiiiE,* (bom to come on when a match i- ncavin',' it-; completion. We are reduced, consequently, to some sueli absurdity as this: that what is sportsmanlike at 4.15 sav. cea'es to be sportsmanlike at 4.16 or 4,17. Really, you must have one thing or

the other—(nibstitutos or no substitutes,~ niitl tho fairest, anil after all tho most sportsmanlike, tiling to do is, as is tlon? in other pastimes, to abide In- your accidents, If any Amendments in tho law* of tho f>am« oro rctniired,' it is, I fool, not in this particular that they are nccessary. Ido beliovo that the £amp would bo all the. bettor for modifications in certain directions, and I Icnorv that I am not singular in this belief. Mr (!. P. C. Cninphcll, for instance, who is president of the New Zea'and Rugby Union, and who was, in hi.; playing days, one of tho finest forwards i:i the colony, is the author of several proposals, which were published about the end o. r last feason. for alterations in tho laws of the game. I do not intend to dbeuss Mr Campbell's proriwals. with somo of which I a*rec, hut with most of which I disagree, further than t-o say that they are very interesting, and open up a fii'hl to wliich discussion may in the near future be very ndvnntageously ' directed. I have alrendv detained you too long, gentlemen, but there aro ono or two other matters not covered' by the report upon which T should like to say a few words. I refer lo tho proposals for tho visit of & New Zealand team to England next year and the proposals for tho visit of an English team to New Zealand this year. Tho report contains no mention of these mattere, heenuso up lo flic time at which tho report

was prepared the committer had received no information respecting them to lay before you. Since the report was circulatcd, hewover, as delegates will have seen in tho newspapers, the Nc-ir Zealand Union ha? agreed to certain proposals in respect to each of theso project*. As to the proposed visit of a Now Zealand team to England, I cannot think tho proposals are satisfactory. They seem to mo to show that the New Zralwid Union is nthcr deficient in tho sense of responsibility. Usually when a person is in pursuit of ,?lory he is prepared to risk something for the gain be has in

prospect. Tho New Zealand Uniqn, however, olarnly propew" to Ihroivn on to t!io individual unions nearly the. whole of the cost of its vfciture. 'J'lio tour is estimated to cost £5000, and. the guarantees from Home are mppoa'd to be equivalent to a value of 53000. leaving: f?000 to ho provided in tho colony. Of this, it is hoped that £200 will to produced by mutchos nkyed by the team prior to its departure. The New Zealand .Union proposes itself to provide 11 modest £300. while it relies

nu tht> subordinate unions providing £SGO in cash and floating debentures, for which the.v will themsolvos 3x> wpeclivolr responsible, to tho value of £1000. These debentures are to be redeemed, so fur as tho New Zealand Union is concerned .only in the improbable event of thero being any profits upon the tour. That is to fay, the subordinate unions, brsidos voting awav considerable sums of money absolutely to tho fast of pending tho kam Homo, are also to havo all the anxiety that may lie felt recmrdiivr Hip financial success of the tour. For if the tour if not successful they will know that the amount represented: by the debenture indebtedness is ijono as irredeemably m Iho money tliey voted straight out. Tho proposed method of financing. tho trip may. however, bo viewed in another way. Is it conceivable that if all the unions throughout the colony are to contrilmto

towards the expense they will not consider 1 that they should receive a quid pro quo in the form of representation in the team? Jndcod. it may, T thin!;, bo safely affirmed that if the subordinate minus of the colony are to provide contributions towards tho cost of this expedition, those contributions will have to bo proportioned to tho ropre. : scntalion (hoy receive in (he team. And I need hardly point out to this meeting that a team composed' oil such a system would not. lie at oil likely to bo thoroughly representative nf the colcmy. As to what would • happf'U if the (our should cost, mow than • the £5000 estimate] by tho New Zealand Union, and the gate takings-in the United ICincdom should not produce more than tho sum reckoned upon. I don't know. It is, however, not impossible that tho cost of the tour mav exceed £5000. I f.hotild bf* inclined to think, on the basis of tho cost of sending the team to Australia last year, tho expense incurred in rending a more I numerous team Homo would certainly excood | £5000. It is iin view of this possible coll. ' tingctjcy that a clause in the circular recently issued by the New Zealand Union become* intorosliug. It is humiliating to wo that tho New Zealand' Union counts : upon obtaining special aid from tho Premier :

—by which it mer.ms that it hopos to have .1 sum of money voted to it by Parliament. Tn other words, it is seriously contemplated that a portion of the expenses of tho tour should be borne by the general taxpayers of the colony. What the taxpayers v.ould

linvo to pay if the (Joverrmient were to proposo anything of tho hind I cannot, of course, positively assert, but I have a very strong suspicion that the settler in tho back-blocks, who is toiling on under tho disadvantage of having no road to his door and no railway to within miles of his holding, would express bin opinion in terms of

strong indignation and deep disgust. It"- ' carding t-lio question not from the uoint of ! view of the taxpayers, Imt from that cf the . football player and the football public, I say miliK-itatinsrly ih.it the New Zealand Union argues itself to bo larking in the ■some of shame if it harbour; for a.moment the kbit of thiwi'lij on to the. colonial exchequer any portion of the expvnse of its enterprise. Foul ball is the most popular of all pastimes in the colony. It is tho ; .'.fame above all others in New Zca-

land that lias money in it. And if the project to send a New Zealand team Homo is a good one. then I contend that the football public will supply, and should supply, the funds that may bt> required.' If the public will not supply the funds that is tho proof that the' project is not a good ore, or that it is premature and

it should bo dropped. And what general benefit ia football in' New Zealand to derive from the lour? 1 venture to say, ivhat I said, I thinlc, from this placo last year, that it would be of very much more advantage to the game in New Zealand if an Knglish leam toured tho colony than if a colonial team toured England. Concerning tho proposal for Iho visit of an English team to the colony, the committee has reeoived no information; but delegates will have observed that the New Zealand Tnion has offered term; to the New South Wales Union for a series of five matches ill New Zealand. ]f, however, anv difficullica should arise to prevent the I'fnglish team from coming to New Zealand, I hope that no countenance whatever will be given to any suggesiiou (hat. a New Zealand team should be sent in Sydney to play the Englishmen. The way to encourage a team to come to New Zealand is not to send a New Zealand team 1200 miles across the sea to meet it; and it stands to reason that this colony would not ho fully in a match played in Sydney as it would be in a match played in New Zealand. Permit

me, moreover, to say that a distinct danger lurks in proposals for the travelling of football teams here, (here, and everywhere. Take tho case of an Otago player worthy of a place in the New Zealand representative

team. He will wish to go with the Otago team on its northern tour this year—that will take three weeks; if a New Zealand team were sent to .Sydney, and ho weio chosen for it, that would he another three weeks; and if the inter-islnnd match were played anywhere t'l-o (ban in Dunedin. wlioro it assuredly should bo played, the best part- of another week would lie taken up. At anyrate, he could reckon on having to be six or seven weeks away from bis employment. And if the New Zealand Union should succeed in getting its team away to England next year, and this player should be selected, six months' absence from Ilia employment would have to he looked | for. It would hardly be a matter for sur- j prise if that player's employer under such circumstances should be tempted to conclude that it was not worth his while to keep in his service one whose proficiency in football involved rueh heavy demands on his time. I would take this opportunity of acknowledging tho obligations the Otago

Rugby Union ia under to employers of labour in this community for tho generosity with which they have in the nast treated those of thoir employees for whom it has been necossary to obtain leave of absence* to ooflblo them to talto part in intcrprovineial and other matches; but I recognise that there is a risk of presuming too much upon tho forbearance of omii-oyors, and I would warn delegates that- any marked increase in tho amount of tripping which playora may bo called upon to perform may quito possibly lead to a general curtailment o£ tho privileges that are now liberally granted by employed to their servants'. Further than that, I would emphasise from this chair what was said a few months ago in a very different place—at the. Science Congress in Ihmedin by the president of that distinguished assembly: ''We should bo tho last to discourage any healthy sport. But when we worship in the cricket or football fields the wood and the leather wo must romember that they are but idols, and must not lot them occupy tho chief slirino in our hearts." Dr Hunter seconded the motion. In reply to Mr M'Dcnald, the President paid tho Accident Fund was run by a separate organisation, which would present it-3 balance ehoet to a meeting of its own. A-flcr a brief discussion the motion was carried.

CONSTITUTION OF TITE MEETING. After a discussion on a question raised by Dr Hunter, as to whether the meeting was properly constituted, is was 10 olvoa that threo delegate! present who had not received written nominations from the eluba they lonreeentod ho allowed to remain at tho meeting. | ELECTION OF CLTTBS. Tim Cambrians Club v.'fls clccfcd, Tito application of St. Jrs'-phV (Dunodin) was re-foriT-d to tho committco for consideration. The l'irates Junior (Oam,mi), 011 a ballot, was not oiceted.

/.I.TEIiATION OF BY-LAWS. Consequent upon tho inability of the> •union to obtain registrsncn under "Ti:a TJnc'.ansilicd Societies' Registration Act, 1895," the President moved that by-laws 1, 3, 5, and 7 bo struck out, and that other by-laws ho adopted in lien thereof. Tho by-laws adopted in place of tho four struck out were, after discussion, agreed to as follows:— 1. The union shall bo called "The Otago llugby Football Union."

The list of senior clubs may ha revised r.! the nmraal general meeting on the recommendation of the retiring committee, provided that no club in Duncdiu or suburbs shall bo qualified to rank as sanior club unless it slmil havo pinvcd two fifteens regularly throughout the previous season. • 5. The Committee of Management of the union shall consist of a' president, four vieo- ' presidents, a treasurer, and 10 other members, nono cf whom shall be p'itymg members of clubs during the current season. Four shall form a quorum. These oflicevs shall bo ciocted armir.'iy by ballot at the general meeting in April, and shall havo power to fill any vacancy that may occur on the committee and to transact any business o! the union except that which is otherwise provided for by the by-laws. 7. Tho Committee of management shall appoint three trustees, in whoso names they may from timo to timo invest any funds of the union.

In by-law 5 it was proposed to add after tho word "ballot" tho words "of tho delegates," with tho view of giving only to tho delegates the power to appoint officers —a power that is now also enjoyed by the retiring officers. Tho proposed amendment was lost. In regard to by-law 6, .Mr Baxter movod (hat it >!''• rewinds!, and the following sul> stituied in lieu thereof" A sole selector shall bo appointed by the said Committee of Management." -Mr Macassey moved as an amendment— " That a Mateii Committeo of one or morn members, as tho Committee of Management! thinks Ht, thai] bo appointed by the Committee' of Management, but in making such appointment tho Committeo of Management shall havo regard to tho wishes of tho captains of senior club? in Duncdin," Tho amendment lva3 l cs '> and the motioa csnied. ' SECRETAItT ASH TREASURER. Mr Campbell moved—" That the committeo bo instructed to invite applications for tho secretaryship of the. O.Jt.F.'tl, at a salary not exceeding £50, the secretary nob to havo a voto on tho committee." Mr Duncan seconded tho motion, which was caricd.

i Mr Baxter moved—"That at tho annual general meeting a treasurer shall'be appointed nt a salary of £15, with no vote on tho committee." Mr Lilburno seconded the motion, which was lost.

svn-r.-.io xv. | On thp motion of ?Jr Anderson, it wia agreed—"That North Otago be allowed to affiliate with the Otago Rugby Football Union as a sub-unicu thereof, and that the Committee of Managc-.ucut bo instructed to frame tho amendments mccssary to give effect to this decision."

KiiEcnox oi J ornrEßs. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follow: —President, Mr G. if'laron: vieo-prcsidenta—Jfesir. «T. Iliitchison, A. 0. ll.mlmi, P. S. K. ilacasscy, and I'. 11. Campbell; lion, treasurer. Mr 11. Harris (ro-plcetc-d); auditors, Messrs W. T. Monkman and T. Chalmcr; Committee of Management—Mcssns J. Duncan, G. Smith, J. Hislop, I'. Priest, V. Cavanagb, J>. Munro, W. A. Wilkinsou, J. Dnnlie, AY. J. Wilson, and Dr. Hunter.

Mr M'Laren on taking the chair, thanked the meeting for the honour they had conferred iiiioti him. Ho had l:«n connected villi football in Duncdin for many years, and hail now readied tho top of tho' tree. 110 would endeavour, in the discharje of bis duties, to advance the welfare, of llugby football in Otago — (Applause.)

CiKXERAL. Tho retiring secretary (Mr C}. Smith) was granted a bonus of £10 for past services. A motion of sympathy with Mr J. 11. Chanman in lir> rcccnt illness was unani-

mously agreed to. Mr 11. l'\ Sineoel;, hoc. secretary of tho l'ootl.-a'lcrs' Accident Keservo Fund, forwarded the. audited lwianc? sheet of tha fund. During tho season 538 playc-rs were covered, distributed over 23 clubs. Tho claims settled amounted to £111 18s against fAO 7s collected in premiums, leaving a deficit of £T9 16s. He- did not think tho schemo on ita present footing was satisfactory, and suggested that town clubs should secure the scrviws of a doctor for the year at a settled figure. Country clubs coulil Ix? dealt wii'h specially. Tho committeo could thou form a fairly closo estimate wf tho amount likely to he required for medicine, and thr> premium would ba fixed accordingly.—Ti'-0 matter was disbut no steps were taken. The lings won last season were, presented as follows:—To Mr A. Hoy, on behalf of tho Alhambm Club; to Mr W. J. Wilson,

Port Chalmers Club; and to Mr J. K. Ward, Tckoinairiro Club. A vole of (hanks was paved lo tho officer* for their services last year.

(Pj:r U-\'itki> Piras Association.) WANGANUI, March 27, The animal nwoting of the Wanganui j Riisby Union was held last evening. Tho | report and balance Slmc-t showed that Hie 1 year had boon very succsssiul. Mr W. j Empson was elected patron, Mr G. tiprigI gons president, Mr W, Hall secretary, nncl Mr A. Montfort treasurer. Messrs J. Ilyajiw and i'. Beamish v.-cje appointed ' delegates to tho Now Zealand Union. Tiio union proposes tofsend a team through tho South Island during- tho coming season.