OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION. THE ANNUAL MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 59

OTAGO RUGBY FOOT BALL UNION. THE ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Otago Rugby Football Union was held in the Stoct Exchange Buildings on Saturday night, when Mr G. M'Laren. president of the | union, presided, and there was a large I attendance. The President, in moving tl.e adoption of the twenty-fourth annual repoit (already j published) and balance sheet, said— As the report points out. la=c season was cno of the most memorable in the history of the union. The special feature of the season was the long-looked-for visit of I tin? Briiish team, and the koenly-foxighfc-out i game played on the Caledonian Ground 1 agairiSt a combined Orago and Southland team w still fiVL-h in our memories. Although on that occasion our representatives met their Wateiloo by 14 points to 8 ' they were not disgraced. I venture to say that if our men had played with the same dash and spirit that they displayed toward

the close of the game the result would havo been different. We were led to believe that tho British team would give iis a really good display of scientific football, but on that seoro we were exceedingly disappointed. I have no hesitation in saying that Stoddart's tea.n as an all-rourd combination, was vastly superior to our late visitors. Our representative team toured New Zealand, playing six matches — winning four and losing two. We succeeded in defeating Southland, Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, and Wairarapa. but in turn we were defeated by Auckland and Wellington. The Auckland match was a runaway victory for our northern friends ; but I am convinced ■ihat there were not 15 points difference between the Otago and Auckland teams of last year. How Otago lost the Ranfurly Shield against Wellington is now a matter of history. Otago. after scoring 13 points to nil in the first spell, was in the end defeated by 2 points. How Wellington managed to turn a certain cJefeat into a victory will be better answered by the Otago players themselves. I take this opportunity of congratulating Wellington on its brilliant victory. The two representative matches played in Dunedin against Southland and Wanganui resulted in our representatives defeating Southland by 11 points to 8, but the match against Wanganui was lost by 5 points to 4. The past season, from a playing point of view, was a very successful one. You will notico by the report that North Otago and South Otago have formed themselves into sub-unions. I consider this a step in the right direction. It will enable them to manage their own local football, and will make them take a keener interest in the welfare of the game in their respective districts. In connection with our school football, it is a matter for regret that the number of schools playing Rugby football is not what it should be. If wo desire to see the grand old game of Rugby football flourish, and hold that high position in oui outdoor sports which it is justly entitled to, then let us encourage our school boys in every possible way we can. They tall tis that Association football is graduallygaining ground, and in a short time will supersede Rugby; but I say Never. While wishing nc harm to the Association game — for I believe there is room for both games to flourish — I feel that our first duty as a Rugby Union is to foster and encourage our own game, for in our opinion it is the better game of the two ; and I think it would be a step in the right direction if the Rugby Union at the commencement of each football season was to present each school with a Rugby football. One regrettable feature in connection with the committee's report is the paragraph referring to the misconduct of players during the progress of matches. In several eases the com-mttee found it necessary to come down o.i the offenders with a very severe hand, end I think it was quite justified in doing so. Surely it is unnecessary to remind players that the introduction into the game of rough and foul play is calculated to destroy the value of football as a pastime. l We have not to seek very far for the cause, for I feel certain that the introduction of the gambling spirit into the game has a lot to do with it. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the Referees' Association for its valuable services during the past season. I hope that during the coming season a large number of our old experienced players will come forward and don the white sweater. You will see that a representative team is to be despatched to Great Britain. We, as a committee, opposed this, but seeing that the New Zealand Union had decided upon it, we, as true footballers, should give the team every support and wish it every success : but judging from the manner in which the New Zealand Union is managing affairs I do not think the movement will be the success it miaht. I was asked to draw up a confidential report on Otago players, and did so, and afterwards an Otago player was excluded from the team. I am waiting the Now Zealand Union's reply to a letter I sent it, and then I shall say what I have to say about that xinion. The Accident Insurance Fund has come to stay, and we are deeply indebted to the gentlemen in whose care this matter has been. You will notice that Forbury Park is in the market for sale. If the citizens of Dunedin allow Forbury Park to be sold and cut up into building allotments it will be a lasting disgrace to them. I along with several hundred others want to see Forbury Park acquired as a recreation reserve. I noticed that at a recent meeting of the City Council this was mooted by Cr Braithwaite, and he suggested it would be a good means of earning revenue from the cars. I saj' by all means increase ycur revenue if you can; but has the city got a valuable asset in her young men, and is it not the duty of the City Council to see that the youth of die city have p r cper facilities placed at their disposal to build up their muscles and brains, for what are the use of brains --without a strong body? It is my intention before the close of this meeting to move a resolution to the effect that the Mayor be asked to cill v pvl Ho meeting of the citizens and athletic bodies generally to see by what means TTorbm-y Park cau bo secured ?s a recreation reserve-. As you will see, we come out on the right side of the ledger with a credit balance of £1234- 16s sd.

The motion was seconded by Mr T. Scurr. Mr F. H. Campbell paid the proportion of school clubs playing Rug-by football was iv>t what it should be. Out of 18 schools there must be 10 or 12 playing the Asociation game, ancl he deplored the fact that Rugby- was dying out in the High School. The incoming committee should earnestly consider this matter.

Mr G. Smith spoke in similar strain. Mr Foster suggested that old Rugby footballers should offer their services to the schools as coaches.

Mr F. G. Cray endorsed what Mr Campbell had said, and considered that what alienated public sympathy from ths Rugby game was the bad language often used on the field. Ho was in favour of suspending for tho season any player found using bad language. Tho motion was then carried.

VOTI2CG POWEE OF THE COMMITTEE

Mr J. S. Hislop, in accordance with notice, moved — " That it is not desirable that the Committee of Management of the union should exorcise votes afc general meetings unless they arc there as dc-egatc=i from a-sociated clubs or sub-unions, and that rules 5 and 10 of the union's bylaws be amended as undnr . Rule 5, by the inclusion of the words 'by the delegates ' after the word ' ballot ' in the fifth line ; Rule 10. by the inclusion of the words ' and sub-unions, but only delegates

shall have the right of voting on matters before the meetings ' after the word ' clubs ' m the third line." Mr Hislop said considerable, dissatisfaction had been expressed at the manner in which voting had boen carried out at annual meetings. The delegates felt there was a certain amount of block voting by tho committee, and some change was desirable. Mr A. D<?y seconded the motion, and thought it only right that at a meeting of delegates tho delegates should themselves elect the officers.

Mr J. Hutchison opposed the motion on tho ground that, i carried, it would prevpnt the v.-i^lvs of the majority of delegates from bcin? earned out. He had been of opinion that tho comnJttee exercised undue voting power, and ho proposed, as a remedy, to increase the voting powers of clubs; the senior clubs should be allowed three delegates and junior clubs two. There were at present eight senior clubs, two subunicn6, and 15 junior clubs ; consequently a full mooting was 49. there being 16 of a committee and 33 representing clubs, so tLat tho delegates w. j re in a majority of two to one. If the motion were- carried a full meeting would be 33, and if the committee must be formed of delegates then 16 would represent the commitee. If the committee did vote en blee, then it was obvious the motion would only curtail the powers of delegates outside the committee.

Messrs W. Wilkinson, G. Smith,- and T. Dunne supported the motion.

Mr G. W. C. Macdonald and Dr Hunter opposed ,the motion Mr R. Gilkison said if the motion were carried and a president was elected who was not a delegate, then they would have the peculiar position o f a. president presiding over a meeting but having no power to vote.

Mr Campbell said it would be a very wrong thing to elect officers and give them no vote.

Mr Macassey "moved, as an amendment, that the words, "the president and vicepresident" be inserted in the motion after the word " delegates." He thought thpt would meet the objection, as the officers would then have voting power. Mr Hislop accepted the amendment as part of the motion. After a long discussion on points cf order, etc., Mr Macassey made a "straightout" amendment as follows: — "That the motion be amended by the addition of the words ' the president and vice-presidents ' after the word ' delegates' in the proposed alteration of rule 10, a.nd that rule- 5 be amended by the deletion of all words after the word ' quorum 1 and' by the insertion of the following words, ' the treasurer and the 10 other members of committee shall be elected annually by ballot by the delegates at the general meeting- in March, and, together with the president and vice-presi-dents, shall have power to fill any vacancy that may occur on_Jhe committee, and to transact any business of the union except that which is otherwise provided for by the laws.' "

The President considered the motion and amendment a reflection upon past members of the committee, and this had « been simmering for years. He asked the delegates not to be led by outsiders. He and the rest of the committee had always voted conscientiously, and in what they believed tj be the best interests of football.

The amendment was then put, and carried hy 18 votes to 17. Upon being put as a substantive motion it was lost by 20 votes to 19, the voting being as follows : — For the motion : Messrs Hislop. Macassey, Phillips, Dey. Briggs, Cavanagh, Wilson, Wilkinson, Scott, Hanlon. Duncan. Foster, Hislop, Lilbourne. Dunne. Smith, Irving, Smeaton, and White. Against the motion : Messrs Ci mpbell, Hutchison. Ross, Sincock, Scurr. Munro. Harris, Gilkison. Thomson, Priest, Macdonald. Cray. Fullarton, H. Harris, Rowlatt, Leonard, Morris, Strong, Dr Crawford, and Dr Hunter.

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT,

Mr Hutchison proposed the election as president of Mr F H. Campbell, who had been a member of committee since 1896 and vicQ-pre-sid-ent for two year*.

Mr Wilkinson proposed Mr Hanlon on the ground that Mr Hanlon was senior vicepresident.

Mr Campbell said a oommitte-e meeting was h-eld a fortnight ago at which he was nominated for the position of president on the grounds that he was the oldest vicepresident, but h& noticed afterwards that Mr Hanlon was senior vice-president. He (Mr Campbell) then asked the committee to withdraw the nomination, and the committee agreed to allow the nomination to stand open. He felt now that he should go to the poll, for his opinions on football and reporting players were different from Mr Hanlon'=. Ho (Mi Campbell) thought that if a referee reported a player to the commitfceo and said he saw that player do a certain thine the leferee's statement must bs token as fact.

Mr Hanlan said the question of policy of the president should have little to do with the question, because the president was only one of a committee. He held that the interpretation of the rule referred to by Mr Campbell was that on questions of fact regarding the frame as played, the referee's word shoold be taken as final; but when it came to a question of doing- as the committee had done in the past — holding a reported rjlayer before it and asking him to state his case, and call witne c ses, and then to quietly say it (the committee) would not consider thai evid-enoe, he CVfr Hanlon) said it wa? wrong and inequitable*.

A ballot was then taken, and as a resultMr Campbell was elected, and he briefly returned +hanks.

Messrs A. C. Hanlon. J. Hutchison, G. M'Laren, and G. W. C. Macdonald were elcr-ted vice-presidents. Messrs W. I*. Monkman and T. Chalmer wore re-elected auditors, and Mr H. Harris was re-elected tica^urer. The following gentlemen were elected on the Committee of Management: Metsrs Cavanogh. Wilson. Sinrock. Dunne, Munro, Priost. Foster, Dey, Dr Cray.ford. and Dr Hunter.

GEXERAL

ALsx&ncJpr Smith. dor>vitv-pav>tain of the Jtanfurlv Perwvorance Poofball Club, wrote statins? that tho pres-ent system of arranging match- 1 ? in Maniototo County had proved unsatisfactory, and the various clubs thought improvement would be effected if the union would allow flag competitions in the county. He had r or\varded letters from tho clubs in the county showing: that th<*y were in favour of fiacr oomDetitions. J\ was proposed that a Committee of Maiu.etement be formed on which each club in the county should be allowed two representatives, and the union was asked to permit the committee to arrange all fixtures for the flag matches and to sanction or disallow any

match outside the flag fixtures ir. whici. any eluh or clubs in tho Maniototo County intended taking part: if a plajcr be deserving of disqualification the committee to d»sa: with the matter: pronoun 6e temporarjdisqr.alificatioii. and report to the Otago Union. Tho Sf- Bathans Football Club, the Cambrian-, Club, and the Naseby Prospectors' Cub all wrote to the same effeoi. It vas agreed, on the motion of Mr Moiris, to refer the coire«f.ondence to the incoming oommitt-ee with a recommendation to favourably confide* the l-equest. On the motion of Mr Smith the meeting resolved to recommend the committee to appoint a ffub-commiTtec of thie-e to conxro s school football.

A business report from Oamaru Sub-unitii was approved, and the Oamaru delegate ex-pressed satisfaction with the new arrangement. He hoped to see a match arranged for this coming season between a team from North Otago and one from the southern portion of the province. — On Mr Hutohi son's motion it was resolved to expres* satisfaction with the report furnished by iff, Oamaru Sub-union, and that the match i£ question be referred to the committee fo* favourable consideration.

Mr Dey ur^-ec' upon delegates the necessity of pressing upon clubs tho claims of the Accident In^tirance Fund.

The meeting decided to recomm-end to the committee that in drawing up rules iCf Rig matches it should insist upon th* nlayers being insured. The President then presented the Senior and Second Giade flags to the representtives of the Southern Cub. the Third Grad<? flag to the representative of the Taieri Rovers and the Fourth Grade flag to tha delegate from the Union Club. Votes of thanks to the retiring officers concluded the business.