OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19443, 31 March 1925, Page 4

OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Otago Football Association was held in the Returned Soldiers’ Association rooms last night. The president (Mr H. J. Duncan) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance. THE PAST SEASON. The President, in moving the adoption of the annual report (already published) said that although there had been several volcanic eruptions on the executive during last season they had managed to overcome their difficulties. There was a healthy atmosphere in the contests, and the clubs were up to the mark. Little trouble had been experienced regarding breaking the laws, and in this they were greatly indebted to the Referees’ Club. Indeed, the club was doing a public duty to them in managing their games. The chief innovation during the year was the visit of the Chinese team. The visitors came perhaps a little bit stale after their travelling, and physically they were hardly lit. The players had been treated well, and had left the colony with happy recollections. The school games had been very successful, but he would like to see more boys playing the Association game. Possibly some of the teachers would have a little broader aspect this year and let the boys follow their inclinations. The speaker congratulated 1 the Seacliff Club, which had

worthily upheld the code of Association football. In conclusion, he pointed out Unit a guarantee of £4OO could bo found by the association for the visit of an English team, but he -lid not think the team would come here. Mr Denchrnss seconded the motion. He congratulated the secretary, Mr Grace, on the good work ho had done. If the delegates were ns enthusiastic this year as they were last year he was quite sure they would have a very succssful season. The motion was carried.

The Chairman moved the adoption of the balance sheet. He said they had gone back a little this year, as they had had a lot of unusual expenses. They had got no return from the Chinese match, and nothing had come forward from Wellington. They had got a guarantee from the Chinese residents, but much to the association’s surprise the Chinese had had a private entertainment, and had taken £4O or 450 out of the guarantee. The association had not been prepared for this expenditure. Still, the Chinese residents had been very good to them, and. had given thorn a trophy. The motion was carried. GRADING PROPOSAL REJECTED. Mr E. Anderson moved:—“That the team occupying the bottom position in the A Grade Competition shall be relegated to the second grade, and the winner of the second grade competition shall be promoted to first grade.” Mr It. Brown seconded the motion. The Chairman explained that the change, if adopted, could not come into force till 192 ii. Mr L. Scott said he was in favour of the motion. They should do something to revive interest in the game, and have a keen competition from start to finish. Mr M’Lean stated that he thought tho motion. if passed, would bo a retrograde step. Tho players in the team put back would leave it and join a senior team. It was pointed out that tho idea would hardly work in tho case of a senior club’s Second Grade team qualifying for Senior Grade. Tho ono club would then havo two senior loams, and it would bar possible for it to ultimately havo three or four senior teams. Mr A. B. Smith said he thought they should try to stimulate the game by playing more interprovincial matches. Mr Scott said that the Maori Hill team, which Mr Smith represented, had arranged with tho club it was to meet on the occasion of tho visit of the English team to default. He thought a thumping fine should be imposed to prevent this practice.— (Laughter.) Tho Chairman said ho did not think tho time was opportune for the change. There was no doubt, however, that they had sympathy with tho minor clubs. The Second Grade competition might be a poor one, and yet the winner would bo put up to tie Senior Grade. Mr Anderson, in reply, expressed surprise at the obstacles that had been placed in tr way of his motion. If Mr M‘Lean said in all seriousness that a team would either play First Grade or not at all he (could nob believe him. They played Second Grade simply because they could uni: reach tho higher grade, and if a team . ... . „-*• Cf f r .- R should GTO further down. Indeed, the association had mu ,;tuii strict enough in governing its own business. A team simply wrote emd

said that it regretted it must default to a certain team, and the matter was the! passed over. The motion was then put and lost b; 14 votes to seven votes. The position, therefore, remains as durinj the past season. HOME AND HOME MATCHES. Mr W, Cocking moved—“ That homi j and home matches be continued, and tha 1 the Seaclilf Club play Kaitangata.” ; A member pointed out that on two Satur days last season there was only one senio ' match in town. He did not think tha was in the interests of the game, i Mr Brown said the motion was obso ) 1 lutely out of order. They should haw I rescinded the motion standing on thei j j books. He could tell them now that th j Seacliff Club was going to come to Dun r odiu every second Saturday.—(“Hear 5 hear.”) They therefore need go n( L further. His club would come into town.— 5 (Applause.) They would like to play Kai tangata in Dunedin. ! The motion was then put and carried, i The Chairman said he desired to thanl the Seacliff Club for its offer. ! OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers resulted a: follows Patron, Mr S. S. Myers; presi dent, Mr H. J. Duncan (re-elected); vice presidents—Dr M'Killop, Messrs J. Deuch rass, E. J. Smith, A. Haynes, L. Scott, G. E Pollock, E. Anderson, Sew Hoy, J B. M'Oallum, and M. G. M‘lnnes; socre , tary, Mr E R. Grace; treasurer Mr T, MacGillivray; vice-presidents to New Zea land Council—the Hon. O. E Sttatham ant Mr' C. F. Ward; Selection Committee— Messrs MTnnos, MCallum, and Brown, CORRESPONDENCE A telegram from Wellington stated thal it was not possible to give definite details of the Chinese accounts, but Otago’s short would be very small. There was no prospect of an English team visiting the dominion. The Taieri Football Club applied for permission to change its name to Mosgiel Association Football Club.—The request was granted. A letter from Green Island stated that it was intended to revive the old Green Island Club by putting first, third, and fourth grade teams in the field. Application was made for affiliation.—Hie request was referred to the executive, as the notice was not sufficient. Old Boys’ Club wrote saying that it wished to send a team to Timarn to play the Rangers Club on Easter Saturday, and on the return journey on Monday it was proposed to play at Oamaru with the Rangers Club there. The association’s approval was asked.—The request was granted. Technical Old Boys applied for one of the Oval grounds for training and practice purposes during the season, and also for permission to send a second grade team to Christchurch at Easter.-—Permission to send the team away was granted, provided the manager’s name was submitted, and the first clause was referred to the executive. LATE VISITORS. Mr R. Brown complained that some of the teams from town to play at Seacliff did not arrive till about 4 o’clock. Seacliff had agreed to come in to town and. would play at the time fixed, and his club certainly expected the town teams to do likewise. If they could not do so ho proposed to penalise them. Voices: You can’t do it. One member wanted to know what Mr Brown would say if his team were to meet with an accident while motoring in to Dunedin and were subsequently penalised for the inevitable delay. It would be unfair. The matter then dropped. THE BROWN SHIELD. Mr Brown, suggested that they should put in a challenge for the Brown Shield. Ho considered mat they had as good players in Otago as in any part of New Zealand. The present holders were Auckland, A member pointed out that these challenges were purely a matter of finance. Mr A. B. Smith moved—“ That it be a recommendation to tho New Zealand Council that a competition should be introduced for the four centres on the lines of tho Plunket Shield competition. This competition could be apart from the Brown Shield contests. Mr Deuchrass seconded the motion. An amendment was moved that the Brown Shield should bo played on the lines of the Plunket Shield matches, and that the cup which it was understood was being presented by the English Association should be devoted to tho minor associations. Mr Brown moved—“ That Otago challenge for t’ae Brown Shield.” The last-named motion was carried. The first motion was then altered to read that the Hew Zealand Council be asked to put the Brown Shield competition on the same lines as the Plunket Shield competition,—Th© motion was carried.

It was decided to leave the opening of the season to the executive to fix a date, _ It was decided to recommend the executive to arrange for two matches with tho navy team. A recommendation that the executive consider the question of a classification of the teams was referred to the incoming executive. It was decided to leave the question of the number of senior teams to the incoming executive. REFEREES’ CLUB. The Otago Football Association Referees’ Club held its annual meeting on March 24, when there was a good attendance of members. The report, which was adopted, 'was gratifying. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing season resulted as follows:—President, Major Fleming; vice-presidents, Messrs Brown and Fogarty; hon. secretary, A. Mann; executive—Messrs Pollock, Reay. and Stanaway; Appointments Committee, Messrs Brown and Fogarty; Examination Board—Messrs Brown. Pollock. M‘Galium, W. P. Smith, and Fogarty; Social Committee—Messrs Davidson, Moorhouse, and Moorwood; representatives to 0.F.A., Messrs Davidson and Mann.