FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 43

FOOTBALL.

KOTEH BY FORWARD. C. Purdue and P. "Ward, the well-known Southland representative players, have left the colony for Sydney. Mr J. M'Rae Gallaway has been elected for the fourth year in succession as president of the Otago Rugby Union. Mr D. Duncan enters on his fifth year as hon. treasurer and Mr J. Hutchison on his sixth as Iton. secretary. Messrs F. 11. Campbell and W. J. Strong have each commenced their fifth year of service on the Committee of Management. "J. M. " writes from Spreydon, Canterbury : " Dear Forward, — Will you kindly grant space for the following four reasons why a New Zealand team should not meet j the Englishmen in New South Wales : — (1) | Federation not being an accomplished fact, j any honour attached to a game played in that colony would probably be annexed by - that colony. (2) New Zealand being the foster 'home of southern football — its grounds good, ; its men . not altogether unheard of with ' outside their own isle — it is the ■ duty of a visiting team in search of laurels to, come where they are kept. (3) New Zoa- \ landers can afford to wait till this fact dawns through the dust of professionalism, with no fear of getting rusty. (4) An honour that isn't worth crossing a duck pond for, isn't worth doing the some distance to receive. New Zealanders, take it, would not fret themselves into ill manners by being beaten by a better British team ; but there is no call to piecemeal them to help another colony. Australia for the Australians! And until Federation comes — New Zealand for New Zealanders!" The opening practices of the clubs in Dunedin were held on Saturday, and were well attended. Three of the senioi clubs in Otago took no copies of the O.R.F.U Annual last year, and two of the leading junior clubs have taken none for the past two years. This discreditable fact was mentioned by the secretary at the. annual meeting 6f the Rugby Union. Mr s*. W." Mitcnell, who fo. the past two seasons acted as a delegate from Otago to the New Zealand Union, mentioned at the annual meeting of the Otago Union last Saturday night, in returning thanks for the reference made to the worl' done by him at Wellington, that when he first attended the meetings of the New Zealand Union almost a block vote, was "iven against anj proposals brought forward by the Otago delegates ; but matters had changed for the better now. In fact, one of the members, of the New Zealand Union told him not long ago that they were now pleased at the way in which the Otago members kept them up to the scratch. The first meeting of this year's Committee of Management of the Otago Rugby Union %vo£ held on Monday, and attended by Messrr Gallaway (president), Wilson, Morris, Hunter, Campbell, Duncan, Harris, Payne, Strong, Young, and Hutchison. It was Agreed to nominate Mr Gallaway as vicefettident of the New Zealand Union. A let- *■{ +fw received from, the English Union,

stating that there was nothing in the laws of the game to prevent forwards standing outside a scrimmage so long as they do not obstruct their opponents' half backs as in law 11 (h). Mr F. W. Mitchell's resignation of his position as delegate to the New Zealand Union was accepted with regret, and the secretary was instructed to convey to him the thanks of the committee for his services in the past. It was resolved that in the Flag Competitions there should be three grades: — (1) Senior grade, comprising the first fifteens of senior clubs; (2) junior grade, comprising the first fifteens- of junior clubs, exclusive of the High School Club; (3) second grade, comprising the second fifteens of senior clubs, and the first fifteen of the High School Club.' A subcommittee was appointed to submit at next meeting rules for the conduct of the matches. A letter was received from the Scottish Metropolitan Assurance Company, with reference to the insurance of players against accident in Flag matches, and it was decided to reply that the matter was one for the clubs rather than for the union. The Wakari Association Club opened the season with the match, President y. "VicePresident, on Saturday. Before starting three cheers were given for Mr W. J. Wright, the vice-president, who set the ball in motion. After a well contested game, the president's side were returned victors by 5 goals to 1, some of the younger members showing excellent form. THE VISIT OF AN ENGLISH TEAM. SYDNEY, April 8At last night's meeting of the New South Wales Rugby Union the committee's report stated that arrangements had been mode for an English team to visit Australia, but that the time at their disposal would not allow them to visit New Zealand. Mullineaux's football team sails for Australasia by the Oceana. OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION. The eighteenth annual meeting of the Otago Rugby Football Union was held at the City Hotel on Saturday night. Mr J. M. Gallaway, president,oecupiod the chair, and the following clubs were represented: — Alhambra, Athletic, Caversham, Dunedin, Kaikorai, Oamaru, Pirates, 'Union, Zingari-Richmond; Excelsior, Northern, Otago High School, Pacific. Palmerslon, Port Chalmers, Prospectors (Naseby), Ravonsbourne, Milton, and Star. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, which has already been published, said he thought the game of football, instead of falling off in the appreciation of the public, was really gaining ground. — (Hear, hear.) The great reason for that was the manner in which the game, taking it all round, was played in Dunedin. He knew that in the past there had been criticisms of the method in which play was conducted, but it seemed to him, on fairly and impartially considering the matter, that upon the whole there was very little to complain about. One of tho unpleasant duties of the committee was to consider the differences that arose between the referees and players ; and he had no doubt that players sometimes thought that they were very hardly dealt with. But he was sure that the committee in their past action had got the support of delegates, who no j doubc recognised that the committee must ! be strict in the management of players and Ihe game generally. The union was under a deep debt of gratitude to those gentlemen who undertook the onerous and difficult duties of referee. The history of last season was carefully set forth in the report, and it was not necessary for him to say much about it. Although the Otago players were twice beaten by ! Ir.vercargill, who deserved credit for their victory, the former wore victorious in each of | the matches with Wellington and Christchurch, and this made up for their defeat by Invercargill. It was to be hoped that Otago would have an opnortunity of meeting the teams to which he had referred thi3 season, and that they would do their best to win the matches. Only one rase «f professiunalib'm, since the new rules came into force, was dealt with by the committee last season. It was one in which tho committee showed plainly what view they took of the action of those players. He was sure the delegates would agree with lu'm that it was quito beneath the dignity of footballers to lend themselves to any theatrical entertainment. That was the view the committee took of the matter, and he noped a breach of the rules would not occur again. The great dispute about " wing forward " play had not yet been settled. The New Zealand Union now saw that the question was more important than they thought at first. He thought the Otago Union would stick steadily at it until they J got some authoritative decision on the point. He did not know whether tbe delegates would approve of the action of the committee in regard to the visit of the English team to the eclonies, but it seemed to him that they did right under the circumstances in deciding ta have nothing to do with the proposal to send a team to Sydney. — (Hear, hear.) If a football team which proposed to come to the Southern Hemisphere did not think of cominrf to New Zealand they might just as well stop at Horne — (hoar, hear), — because Now Zealand was certainly the home of football in the Southern Hemisphere. He was particularly glad to see Messrs F. W. Mitchell and W. H. Young- present that evening. — (Applause.) Both those gentlemen had done yeoman's work for the Otago Union in Wellington; and it would be a good thing for football if their services could be retained. They took a deep interest in connection with their duties as the delegates of the O.R.F.U. in Wellington; and it was a pleasure to see by their communications that they were a considerable power in tho New Zealand Union last year. — (Applause.) The working members of the committee, had done splendid work last year, and the delegates would be ready to recognise that fact. It was no sinecure to be a working member of committee ; and he did not believe that there was any part of New Zealaryl in which football affairs were more , carefully administered than they were in Otago by the working members. Mr C. J. Payne seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. He thought the committee should refuse in any way to sanction New Zealand players going to New South Wales, because this was really, as the president had said, the home of football in the Southern Hemisphere. The motion was then put and carried. Mr J. Hutchison (hon. secretary) moved on behalf of the committee—" That by-law 8 be amended by the omission of the words ' second week in April, unless the Easter holidays occur in that week, in which event the annual meeting shall be held during the third week in April,' and by the insertion of .the words ' month of March ' in lieu thereof " He explained that the object of the motion was to enable the annual meeting of tbe union to be held before the football season commenced

Mr A. R. Lawry seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr J. Hutchison also- moved for the committee — "That by-law 2 be amended by the addition of the j?ord ' Excelsior ."' H«

stated that the object of the motion was to raise the Excelsior Club from the junior to the senior ranks. He read a letter from the existing senior clubs in Oama^ recommending that this be done. • Sir G. Smith seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr J. Hutchison moved — "That by-law 13 be altered to read as follows : ' The annual subscription for senior clubs shall be three guineas, and for junior clubs one guinea and a-half, which subscription shall be payable to the hon. treasurer at the annual general meeting in March. Should any club's subscription be in arrear on June 1, notice shall be sent to that effect by the hon. secretary, and if the subscription is still unpaid on August 1, such club shall cease to belong to the \mion. Each senior club shall be entitled to receive 50 copies, and each junior club 25 copies of the O.K.F.U. Annual free of charge." He said the object of the motion waß two-fold — to assure the finance of the Annual, and to secure a wider and more even distribution of annuals. Within the last 12 years tho pecuniary loss to the union by the isyue of annuals had amounted to £200, all but a couple of pounds. This was due to tho fact that a number of clubs did not support the Annual in the way they should. Mr F. H. Campbell seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr C. J. Payne (Zingari-Riehmond Club) mcved the addition of the following new by- t law: — "The \inion, upon receiving notice from the secretary of the Otago Athletic Clubs' Protection Association to the effect that any person or persons are, or have been, suspended by that association, shall recognise and give. effect to such suspension, and any such person or persons shall not, whilst under any such suspension, be eligible to play for any club affiliated to the union." The motion v;as seconded by Mr Beadle, and carried. A motion on the order paper 'having for its object the raising of the Port Chalmers Club to the senior ranks was allowed to lapse. Mr A. R. Lawry moved — "That, in the interests of foothall, flag matches should be reinstated." lie thought delegates would agree that football was going back. — {Laughter.) There was not the same interest manifested in football as in 1?91 and 1892 ; and the Cavevsham Club considered that something was wanted to revive the enthusiasm which formerly existed. Mr Restieaux seconded the motion. He thought the proposal should be given a trial. * Mr Crosby Morris held decided views against the motici\. In 1891, when great interest wa3 taken in football, there were no flag matches, and he did not think that flag matches would create any greater interest in football now than there was then. After further discussion, the motion was carried by 22 votes to 14. Mr F. H. Campbell moved— " That it be "referred to the incoming committee to frame rules for the conduct of flag matches, with power to act. and that the contests be divided into thrse grades, to consist of--(i) Senior grade, comprising the first fifteens of senior clubs; (2) junior grade, comprising the first fifteens of junior clubs, exclusive of the High School Club; (3) second grade, comprising the second fifteens of senior clubs and the first fifteen of the High School Club." Mr M. Cohen ttconded the motion, which wa-3 supported by Mr Payne. Mr Lawry suggested that there should be two grades— juniors and seniors. Mr Farquharson moved as an amendment — " That it be referred to the incoming committee to frame rules for tho conduct of flag matches, with -power to act." Mr Mitchell seconded the amendment, which was accepted by Mr Campbell in the place of his motion, and carried. Mr Molloi moved — "That the following words be added to the motion: — 'And that there be two grades.' " This, on being- put to the meeting, was • lest. I Mr Payne then moved — " That it be a lei commendation to the incoming committee to fix the three following grades: — (1) Senior grade, comprising the first fifteens of senior clubs ; (2) junior grade, comprising tho first fifteens of junior clubs, exclusive of the High School Club ; (3) second grade, comprising the second fifteens of senior clubs and the first fifteen of the High School Club. Mr Cohen moved as an amendment — "That I the incoming committee be recommended to I establish three grades." ! Mr Restieaux seconded this. Mr Payne accepted it in the place of what he had moved, and it was carried. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year: — President, Mr J. M. Gallaway ; vice-presidents — Messrs Holier Newton, A. Wilbon, Crosby Morris. T. A. Hunter; hon. secretary, Mr J. Hutchison; hon. treasurer, Mr D. Duncan: committee — Messrs F. H. Campbell, H. Harris, W. J. Strong, G. M'Laren, C. J. Payne, and W. H. Young ; auditors, Messrs J. Crosby Smith and W. T. Monkman. Mr Sr Sleigh was appointed as the union's delegate to the English Rugby Union. { The Chairman said unless tho Referees' Association was increased this season it would be almost impossible to carry it on with the increased work that would be entailed by flag matches. Ho hoped the clubs would take the matter to heart, and get good men to come forward to act as referees. Mr Minn moved — " That it be an instruction to the incoming committee of the O.R.F.U. that they write to the New Zealand Rugby Union requesting that Mr W. Harris's disqualification be now removed." Mr Beadle seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Lawry moved — "That it be an instruction to the Match Committee that representatives lie picked from players who have played in their respective positions during the season." This was lost by 18 votes to 10. Mr Beadle -then moved the motion in another form, substituting the word " recommendation " for " instruction." This was alsp lost by 16 votes to 13. On the motion of Mr Mitchell, 8 vote of thanks was accorded to Ihe retiring committee, and to the chairman, after which the meeting terminated.

OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. The following is the report of the Otago Football Association, to be presented at the annual meeting: — Your committee, in placing before you the ninth annual report, desire to tender their thanks to the various clubs that rendered them such invaluable assistance towards placing the association in such a highly satisfactory position as they now stand in. The example shown by the clubs in their disinterested efforts for the welfare of the association is one that might well be emulated by all clubs, for as it is only by combined and unselfish play that a club can come to the fore and get possession of the coveted banner, so is it that only by combined work and dropping all aoliish interests that we can hope to see the association game in the forefront of winter sports in Dunedin. New Clubs.-rThft season wae opened i» a

very satisfactory manner in that the annual meeting saw two new clubs apply for affiliation — viz., Wakari and Southern. These clubs were formed by prominent members of the Eoslyn and Rangers Clubs respectively, and the thanks of all players are due to these gentlemen for their efforts to spread the game. Your committee are sorry, however, to report one lapse from our ranks — viz., the Queen's Park Clvb — but desire to express their gratitude to the gentlemen from this club, who showed such sportsmanlike spirit in giving one of the weaker clubs a helping hand, and hope they will re»p-a reward for their kindness this year. Inter-club Matches. — It was predicted early in the year that no club would go through ihe season without a defeat, and this prophesy proved to be correct. The effect of this was that players were kept on the gui vive of excitement, never knowing what might happen as Saturday succeeded Saturday. This is a very desirable state oi affairs, and it is to be hopad that the games will be quite aa open, and a* keenly contested this season. Final Tie for Charity Banner. — This fixture brought to a climax thf> excitement that had been developing during the year, and proved to be the most interesting contest that has taken place since the inauguration of the Banner matches. The teams eligible for the match were curiously enough the ex-premiers Roslyn and the offspring therefrom, the Wakari. The game was played on the Caledonian ground, and after one of the best displays of socker ever given in Dunedin, the match ended in a draw, each side having scored two goals. This, of course, necessitated the playing of another match, and this time the younger club asserted their superiority, the scores being : Wakari 1 goal, Roslyn nil. Owing to counter-attractions the attendances at these _games '-verf? hardly aa Urge as had been expected, but the sum of two guineas was handed over to the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society as the proceeds of the firs', game. Five A-side Tournament. — This has now ccuie to bo one of tho leading events on our football calendar, and is looked forward to with keen interest by players. To judge of the growing interest in these games, it is only necessary to mention that there were 22 comDeting teams last year, as against 14 the previous yuar. Your committee thought it advisaale to depact from the usual system of condueling the tournament by making a separate cuss for juniors. This proved to be a step in the, right "direction, and was duly appreciated by the juniors, while at the same time the competition was keener than was the case under the old system. Trophies were giveu to the winners in both classes, and were won by Rangers JSTo. 1 and Roslyn No. 3, while the runiiers-up were furnished by the Wakari and Rangers Clubs respectively. tfefeiees.— 'lhe thanks oi all players are due to the gentlemen who kindly assisted as refeiees during the season. Now Zealand Tournament.— The annual tournament was held at Wellington, and your committee felt in duty bound. to send a team. Several of our most prominent members were unable to obtain tho necessary leave, but noverthelens a fairly strong combination was got together. The team comprised the following players: — Messrs Davie, Ashton, M'Clellaad, Nagle, Dobson, Sparrow, Brown, Ussher. Sligo/ Jackson, Morrison, Dodd, and Lang. Leaving Dunedin on September 12 the team arrived in Wellington on September H after a very rough passage from Lyttelton. Shortly after landing the team proceeded to Athletic Park to witness the game between Wellington aud Ruahine, in which the ' home team were victorious. On tbe following day Otago met Auckland under conditions anything but favourable for football playing, and suffered defeat by three goals to one. It is needless to- again write the history of the game, suffice it to say that your representatives did their utmost to uphold the honour of Otago, and had the weather been anything like reasonably fine they would undoubtedly have given a very good account of themselves. On the Saturday the final for the Shield between Auckland and Wellington was played, and after a rather poor exhibition o ( the game Auckland were declared winners and holders of the Brown Shield for 1898-99. The visiting team were banqueted by the Wellington Football Association on the evening of tho final, and were also invited to a trip acioss tho harbour on the following day. During the stay in Wellington a meeting of delegates, at which your association were lepresented by Messrs Ashton and Sligo, decided to make the tournament a biennial instead of an annual affair. The next tournament will therefore be hold in Auckland in 1900. Too much cannot be said of the hospitality of the Wellingtonians, who seemed to vie with one another in their efforts to make our stay enjoyable, and it is almost unnecessary to add that our delegate, Mr Leslie, was indefatigable in this respect.

Finance. — Your committee have much pleasure in drawing your attention to the balance sheet to be presented by the treasurer, which shows a credit balance of nearly £8. This may not in itself seem anything extraordinary, but when it is remembered that vre commenced last season with a debit balance of some jEIO or more, and that we were put to a considerable expense in sending the team north, it will be readily granted that the balance sheet is highly satisfactory. It will bo necessary 'to be very careful of expenditure, for there will be a large amount of money required if we intend to send a team to Auckland next year. -, Thanks. — The press of Dunedin are to be thanked for their kindness in giving the free use of their columns for reports. Our President. — Mr S. Myers, for the use of his rooms for committee meetings, also deserves our beat thanks, as does also our delegate to tho New Zealand Council, Mr Leslie, whose services are much appreciated by the Otago Football Association. In conclusion, your committee trust that all !o\era of the game will join hand in hand, and do their utmost endeavour to popularise the game.