OTAGO RUGBY UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25800, 22 March 1945, Page 9

OTAGO RUGBY UNION

ANNUAL MEETING MR A. H. CAMERON ELECTED PRESIDENT The sixty-third annual meeting of Ihe Otago Rugby Football Union was held last night. The president (Mr W. J. Pearson) was in the chair, and there was an attendance of 37 delegates. Reference to the services given to the game by Mr J. McLeod (a past, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union) and Mr W. G. Garrard (a past secretary of the Canterbury Rugby Union), who had died during the year, was made by the chairman, who also expressed regret at the deaths of Messrs D. Cunningham, R. C. Procter, and J. B. Waters, past members of the committee. Acting Major B. Jones and Messrs J. C. Ward and M. J. L. Phelan, former representative players, were killed on active service, and other past representative players who had died during the year were Messrs J. Miller, D. Boreham, D. Caradus. and B. Spiel's. Mr Pearson also paid a tribute to the memory of the large number of players from the various clubs who had died while serving overseas. Last Season Reviewed The adoption of the annual report and balance sheet was moved by the chairman, who said that the fact that after five years of war the union could still conduct competitions from First Grade to Fifth Grade spoke volumes for the way in which the game was administered in the province. It was not to be expected that the standard of senior football would be equal to that of pre-war days, but all round it was good, and public interest had been maintained. The standard of junior football had never been better than it was at the present time, which augured well for the future. The representative season had been a good one Otago winning three of its four matches. Matches had been played between a metropolitan team and the South Otago sub-union representatives, and South Otago was to be congratulated on winning one of the two matches played. South Otago, which had also defeated Southland, was to be commended on the way it had maintained interest in football in the district. The union appreciated the efforts being made to carry on the game and it would be its duty to do all it could to restore country football to its old standard. Referring to the finances of the union, Mr Pearson said that the season had begun with a credit of £393, and after a payment of £2OO in reduction of a mortgage to the New Zealand Union, it had ended with a credit of £616. The chairman paid a tribute to the work that was being done to foster the game in the primary and secondary schools. There were, he said, 31 teams in the four grades of the secondary schools’ competitions and 36 teams in the two grades of the primary schools’ competitions. The union was endeavouring to bridge the gap between primary school football and the grade competitions by the reintroduction of the Sixth, or President’s Grade. The prospects for the season were reasonably good, and he hoped every opportunity would be given to the returned men to take up the game again. Mr I. Grant seconded the motion, which was carried without discussion.

Appointment of Selectors

The following motion, notice of which had been given, was moved by Mr D. C. Jolly: “That Rule 11 be altered to read— ‘A selection committee of representative teams shall be appointed by the Management Committee of the union.’ ” Mr Jolly said that the present system had not been the most satisfactory. For many years the Selection Committee had been appointed by the Management Committee, but a few years ago the system was altered, the selectors being appointed by the delegates at the annual meeting. The selection committee should be under the jurisdiction of the management committee, but at the present time it was not. Mr D. M. Spedding seconded the motion.

Mr A. H. Cameron, opposing the motion, said that for the selection committee to carry out its duties fairly it should be free of the union’s jurisdiction.

The motion was carried by 25 votes to 12. Mr J. Donnelly (Vincent) moved that it. be a recommendation to the Management Committee that sub-unions be represented on the Selection Committee.—Mr Jolly seconded the motion pro forma.—After a brief discussion the motion was defeated. Election of Officers The following officers were elected:— President, Mr A. H. Cameron; vicepresidents—Messrs R. W. S. Botting, H. Harris, V. G. Cavanagh, sen., and A. Grant; treasurer, Mr D. M. Spedding; committee (15 nominations)—Messrs I. Grant (Alhambra), H. G. Munro (University), S. R. Inglis (Southern), E. Kerr (Taieri), D. C. Jolly (Vincent), W, S. Robertson (University), A. C. Haynes (Dunedin), O. Knox (Alhambra), I. Glendining (Pirates), H. C. Williamson (Union), B. Collie (ZingariRichmond), and L. Williams (Kaikorai); auditors—Messrs Brodrick and Chalmers and Mr R. J. Cook. Mr Pearson, as immediate past president, will also be a member of the Management Committee.

A minute of appreciation of the services of Mr Pearson as president for the past two years was recorded, and in proposing a vote of thanks to the retiring officers, which was carried by acclamation. Mr Spedding spoke of the good work done by Mr J. B. Wootton as a member of the committee for many years. It was decided to commence matches in all grades on April 28. Senior Competition The delegates from the following clubs intimated their intention to field senior teams: —Alhambra, Pirates, Kaikorai, Southern, Zingari-Richmond, Dunedin, University (two), Air Force, Union, and Port Chalmers. It was mentioned that Training College was unlikely to field a senior team. Mr Spedding moved as a recommendation to the incoming committee that the senior competition be played in one section for the first round and the matter then reconsidered. The motion was carried. Encouragement of Schoolboys A discussion on the encouragement of schoolboys by clubs was introduced by Mr D. Palmer, who suggested that ciubs might consider the scheme pursued so successfully in Wellington, where schoolboys were associated with clubs. Prominent players gave talks on football, a certain amount of practice was indulged in, and motion pictures were shown. “We have been lagging in fostering the interest of schoolboys compared | with the north.” said Mr Collie. Mr A. Grant said that the main problem was to bridge the gap after the boys left the secondary schools. There had been 600 boys playing in secondary school competitions last year. Where did they go to after leaving school? he asked. Mr Donnelly said that it might be a mistake to regiment the boys too much in their early years. . Expressing agreement with this view, Mr Jolly said he believed that if there was less competition in school football there would be more players coming forward to play senior football m later years. The discussion then lapsed.