FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14461, 2 March 1909, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

ALTIAMBRA CLUB. The hvcniy-fifrli annual meeting of the Alliambra football Club, held in (lie 11 .1dev; IJ<tII lust night, was presided over by Mr A. I']. Bcissel (president of the club). Ihc Chairman, in moving the adoption o[ the annual report (already published) and balance shoot, said he wished briefly to eriticisc the events of the year. The First Fifteen had !»en only passable, and was really not up to the standard of the halcyon days of (lie club, l>ut no doubt it would do lietter later on. The Second Fifteen, in view of the fact that it bad been so frequently drawn on to fill vacancies in the First," had done very well. They had really expected the Third Fifteen to do belter than (hey had done. It had started very well 'indeed, but, towards the close of tho senson it hint somewhat, gone to pieces. Xo banners had come to the club that year—a thing thnb had not occurml for a iong while. He thought they should be very well please.-) indeed with the way the secretary and treasurer had looked after their affairs. To-day tlioy were in the position of having Ihe sum of £42-odd to their credit. They hoped in time to-devote the money gained', by earmarking it each year, to erecting a eiul> hall and training hall. He would ask them to give their very best, assistance to their otficeis towards this end. With reference to the Northern Union game, the Alliambra Club was in the unfortunate position of having lost more members through it than had any oilier team in Dunedin. He did not think anything would come of that, game here, an<) ho feared that the members wlw had loft tliein would be practically without a game this season. 'l'liorc had boon a considerable falling off in (lie membership, and they had been able to run only three teams, ns comparc<l wit.li four or five in past years. Personally, he thought t.he number of senior clubs now existing in Duncdin was responsible for this, and it was also due to the olnb failing to obtain young members to fill the tilacrs of old ones who were retiring. The question of senior cluhs was a matter for their'delegates, and in his opinion there wero far too many senior elulis in Duncdiu. Tho young elubs were absorbing members, and the old clubs not getting the patronage tley should. '

Mr A. liosticau*, in seconding tlio motion, which was carried unanimously, spoke enthusiastically of (he work of the secretary and the treasurer, and pointed out that tliey had just doubled their credit balance since last year.

Eight new members were elected to the club.

Mr C. Young then moved tho motion standing in his name—"That Rule 16 be amended, to read as 'follows:—' Should any member of committee absent himself, without written excuse, from three consecutive meetings, the Executive Committee may deem a vacancy to have occurred, and shall have power to iili any vacancy so or otherwise occurring.'" lie pointed out, that this left it to the discretion of the committee to declare the vacancy.

The motion wa.s seconded by Mr H. Whj-te, ar.d carried unanimously. Mr Young spoke of the difficulty which tho selectors had in becoming thoroughly acquainted with ibe members of the junior fifteen*. He moved—"That this meeting recommends tl® Provisional Selection Committee to appoint one or more younger members to .assist it in selecting teams from the lower grades."

The motion was carried unanimously after some- discussion.

The election of office-bearers resulted as follows President, Mr A. E. Boissel; vice-presidents-Messrs •Tames Allen, M.P., J. il'Doirald, D. Fitmegan, A. Restieaux, ii. J-ligsrins, J. Peri-iam, Morrison. 11. Whyte; Jion, secretary, Mr C. Young; treasurer, Mr G. Nelson; assistant scorelarv, delegate all( i secretary to the Accident Fund- Mr H. Mackenzie; General Committee—Messrs R. Bonnet, T. 'Brooks, A. Martin, il. Ki"s; auditors, Messrs J. T. Hamanti and G. Davidson; .delegate to the Sports Protection Association, Mr G. Nelson; delegates to the 0.H.F.U.-Messrs A. Dev, C. Young, and J. King; Temporary" Match Committee—Mkssrs G. M'Kenzie, ■!. King, arid H. \vhyte. A discussion took place on the question of training at night on the Carisbrook Ground, and tho "following motion, proposed bv Mr (!. Nelson, was carried:— "That tho secretary be instructed to writo to tho O.R.F.U. <u=kinr it to go inlo the matter of lighting the Carisbrook Ground for at least one night in tho week from Kilster to August for tho U6e ot affiliated olubs."

His Worship tho Mayor, who was present towards the close of die meeting, met with a very hearty reception. Ho returned thanks for liis re-election as a vice-presi-fj-Mit, and, in the course of a few refcrospectivo remarks about his connection with the club, emphasised the importance ot regular training and practice in a hall.

It. was decided to held an opening: practice on the 20th of tho month if the Opolio Ground can bo obtained.