OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13860, 25 March 1907, Page 3

OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING,

Tlio annual general meeting of Ilio Otngo Itugby Football Union was held at I ho Trades Hall, Moray place, on Saturday evening, Mr V. 11. Campbell in fho en air. Thoro was a. largo foregatherinoof delegates. ° Apologies for absence from Mr Hanlon (tile retiring president) and Mr Morris (delegate) wore announced, TUB ANNUAL KEI'ORT. The first business on the agenda paper was: consideration of the animal report (already published) and balance sheet. The Chairman thought they could congratulate both themselves and footballers generally on the sucoesses of Inst season. They hail not Had a-bolte/ season, taken all round, in the history of Otago\fooiball. Tim interest of the public and"'of the players was keen, and the Otago team in its representative matches acquitted itself very well indeed-iii fact, belter than many of them had anticipated. The institution of a "country week" had been amply justified, and it had been determined to havo another country week this year. The cost, so long as it was not exorbitant, was a small consideration provided they improved country football. Many of them had had their eyes opened by what they saw of the country footballers, and one result of the country week was the inclusion of fourcountry players in the Otago team. School football was not satisfactory, either in regard to the conduct of matches in town or as far as the intcrproriiicial match with Southland was concerned, lie complained of a want of interest among the public school teachers. The Rugby Union officials did all they could; they ccmlil not give more time than they wore giving to public school football. ' Footballs were presented as prizes by the union, and the youngsters themselves were very keen. "])ufc the fact remained that there'was a lack of interest where, (hey liad a right to ex|>ect to find it. Referring to the matter of ro]K)ited players, lie was happy to'notice fliat Hie committee had expressed tlio opinion that there had bson .very little to complain about in the conduct, of footballers. Ho hoped that this year tlio

committee would have no cases at all it. 'There had been n difference of opinion in the union for some time regarding the proper conduct of inquiries. Tho year before last a case was stated to the New Zealand Union to be sent Home to Iho English Union. Tho question was asked whether tho referee was to bo. the solo judge of tlio facts in respect of .the conduct of a player whom ho reported. A reply was received last month. Inslerul of giving a direct nnswer to the question tho English Rugby Union said it thought that the reported player should get a copy of tho referee's report. The reported player already received this. They should now ask ihe New Zealand Union to lay down a definite rule in regard to the conduct of inquiries. If the" English Union would not face the matter, the New Zealand Union was quite capable of doing nil that was necessary. He hoped that the delegates at Ihe annual meeting of the New Zealand Union would bring tho matter up with a view to coming- to a clear understanding;. The finances of tho union were very satisfactory. There would bo many visiting teams this year, and wilh good weather, if they were so favoured, and good football, £700 or £300 should 1)0 cleared. What, money they made would be spent wisely for the good'of the game, 'i'ho £115 paid out by tho union lo the Accident Reserve Fuiid was nioney well spent. The benefits lo players were too great, perhaps, for tho amount they paid. A player should not, get more when' out of work Ihan in. Ho moved tho adoption of tho report and balance sheet. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. APPLICATION' FOP. JIF.MDERSHIP. Mr Corcoran moved and Mr Haydon seconded—" That l,lio Diinodin Athletic (Football Club bo affiliated to the Rugby Union." It was decided, before voting on the question, lo hear the views of Messrs Hussey and Ward, deputies from the club. Mr_ Iluescy expressed the opinion that Ihe inclusion in the union of anolher senior team would not lx> overdoing thinps. The point had arisen whether they should not_be played as juniors before playing as senior*. Application had been made for inclusion in Ihe union as a. junior club, but unsuccessfully. The Christian Brothers' School had turned out some good athlete, and they hoped to make the school a mainstay of the club. Association football was now played by the schoolboys, but on leaving school many of them would no doubt turn to Rugbv football. If admitted, tho club would endeavour to keep its end up in tire matches. The Chairman asked whether tho Athletic Club would bo content to play as a junior if not admitted as a. senior club. Mr Hussey said ho could not give an opinion on that point without Consulting his club, but believed the members would be agreeable to play junior if not admitted to senior rank.' A Delegate inquired whether, in (ho event of the application beinp successful, tho boys of the Christian Brothers , School would bo prepared to give up Association football and go in for Rugby. Mr HiiEscy said his remarks about the school had evidently been misunderstood. He did not intend to convoy the idea that they would get, tho boys as a school team io go in for Rugby, but that they would got recruits from hoys leaving school. The resolution was Ihcn piit, with tho result that 23 delegates voted for the admission of tho Athletic Club and 20 voted against. Tho Chairman: The rules state " ono black ball in three to exclude." Tlio club is therefore not admitted. the taiem iiovers. Mr .Wilson moved—" That tho name of the let Battalion Rifle Volunteers be deleted from bye-law 2 and tlio name Taieri Rovers put. in its place." Mr Lilburno seconded. Several delegates spoke lo the resolution, which was eventually carried, tho voting being: For, 26; against, 14. SELECTION COSHIITTEE. Mr W. Ross moved—" That bye-law 6 be amended to read as follows:—'A Selection Committee of three shall bo appointed by the. Committee of Management.'" The motion was seconded, and after discussion on the respective, merits of a single selector and of threei selectors, was put, when it was rejected by 23 votes against 20. CAMSBROOK CKOUKD. It was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Mr Harris—" That the committee be empowered to purchase iho lease of the C'arisbrook Ground on the terms submitted by the Duiicdin Amateur Ground Company (Limited)." TUIi NEW riIESIDBXT. Mr Q. W. C. Mncdonnld was unanimously elected president for tho ensuinpr year, and at once took tlio chair. He remarked that Rugby football was new on a much higher plane than was the case some years ago. Among the large number of Rugby players fully 95 per cent, consisted of straightforward, manly fellows who "played the game." There wer? thus not more than 5 por cent, of players who did not "play the game" in the way it should be played. Football in Otago stood on as high a. level as anywhere in. New Zealand. They had broadened the basis of football very much by their action in bringing in country players. The resolution just carried in respect to Carisbrool: Ground was a stop forward, and should havo far-reaching elFecte. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Messrs Munro, Campbell, Hutchison, and M'Laren were elected vice-presidents. Mr 11. Harris was re-elected treasurer, and tho following wero chosen as a committee to act during the ensuing year:— Messrs J. Duncan, G. Thomson, Priest. Cavauagh. W. Wilson, W. Rose, Hamcl, Lilburne, Dcy, and Dunn. THE ACCIDENT FUND. , It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Dey, to couveno a mooting , on Wednesday night next to consider the question of reorganising the accident fund. lIE.NEFIT MATCH. It was resolved—" Thai it bo an instrue lion to the incoming committnc to nrrans , a match during Ihe season in aid of the widow and children of the lats Mr IPKewen, of tho Alhambrn Club."