OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 60

OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

A meeting of the Committee of the Otago Rugby Football Union was held in the offices of Messrs Grace and Wilson on Monday, there being present — Messrs G. M'Laren (in the chair), D. Munro, G. Dunn, V. Cavanagh, H. Sincock, E. F. Foster, A. Dey, P. J. Priest, H. Harris, J. Hutchison, W. J. Wilson, Dr Crawford, and Dr Hunter. The Alhambra Club wrote that it would play a Wednesday team this year. — Referred to the Flag Committee, which was instructed to draw up rules for Wednesday afternoon play. The Forbury Park Land Company wrote that the park would be required on the 29th and 30th inst. — Received and referred to the Flag Committee. The Alhambra Club wrote stating that it would play four teams this season. — Consented to.

The Australian Pioneer Club wrote accepting an offer &a to the sub-letting of one of the grounds at Tahuna Park. — To be written to explaining that it could not have the ground referred to, but could have the smaller ground of the two.

Mr Campbell telegraphed from Christchurch suggesting the sending of one or more delegates to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union, with which suggestion Mr Isaacs agreed. — It was mentioned that Mr Campbell desired to apologise for his absence from the meeting. The Secretary of the New Zealand Union forwarded a memo, asking that the names of delegates might be forwarded. In the course of a discussion that followed on the Chairman calling for nominations for the position of delegates, Dr Hunter said he would like to see some of the delegates sent from Dunedin. — Mr Dunn moved — " That the delegates who served last year, if available, be re elected." He did not see what good would be done by sending delegates from Dunedin. — Mr Wilson seconded the motion. — Dr Craw'ford moved as an amendment. — " That the Otago Union send two delegates from Otago," and this was seconded by Mr Foster. — In replying to some remarks made by Mr Cavanagh, Dr Crawford said he did not think the Otago Union had any grievance against the New Zealand Union, but he thought it would be well to send two delegates from here just to see how things were going. Men in Wellington soon became permeated with Wellington ideas. Some of the delegates representing the Otago Union in the past had done good service, and some had been dummies. — Mr Foster said where men were living at Wellington their ideais became merged with those of the Wellington people, and they were quite unwittingly biassed in favour of Wellington. It could do no hami to send someone up to directly represent them, and would obviate any little unpleasantness stich as there was last year. — Mr Dunn would like to hear some of the olde- members speak on the subject. If there w»s anything wrong, let them hear it. It was no use keeping anything; back. — Dr Hunter did not understand why Mr Dunn should think there was anything behind the desire to send delegates from here. Personally he would like to see the whole five men po from Otago. He referred to the play in Wellington, and said that, since they were going to remedy it, if representatives were sent from Otago they would ba able to ses what could be done in the way of regulating the play. — The Chairman said there was nothing to hide, but he thought direct representation was best. — Mr Hutchison said the most interesting matter to come before the union would be sending a team Home. There seemed to be a deficiency of £2000 to be met before the union could send a team, and it might be as well to h.ave_ representation from he.ie _to

tell them v.hai was proposed. He pointed out that the Canteibury Union had thought fit to send delegate-? direct, and that that union evidently consideiccl it clcsiiable to do so. The question wa.s . Could they get members of the committee to go to Wellington. The expense would probably be JE6 per delegate.— Mr Foster mentioned that the Napier people had guaranteed £1000, and an attempt was to be made to raise the other £1000.— The amendment was then put and carried, and Messrs R. M. Isaacs, A. Laurenson, T. A. Hunter, J. Hutchison, and Dr Hunter were appointed delegates, on the understanding that the last two named found it possible for them to go ; failing their ability to go two other delegates to be appointed. Mr F. H. Campbell wp.s appointed vicepresident of'the New Zealand Union. Permission to play teanas in the country during the Easter holidays was granted to the following clubs — Pirates, to play at Hakataramca; Green Island, to play at Clinton; West Taieri, to play at Middlemarch ; Port Chalmers, to play at Milton; Taieri Rovers, to play at Lawrence. Permission was also gianted to Port Chalmers to play a, match at Port ajjamst the Albion Club, of Gore, on Easter Monday ; and the Kaikorai Club to play the Timaru Star Club at Bishopscourfc. It was resolved to accede to a request from the Shag Point Club for affiliation with the Ul Th"' (Mv Engineer wrote that permission had been "granted to the Alhambra, Club to play at Opoho; the Union Club to play, at the Northern Recieation Grounfi ; to tho High School Ckib to play on the Asylum -ground *o 1 • and to the Zingari-Richmond Club to play on the Montecillo Ground No. 1.-Eeceived. Th» New Zealand Union wrote m connection -with a visit from, an Australian team to the colony this year asking on what terms a suitable ground could be got in .ho event oi a match being played against Otago.— it was repclved that the terms be as usual ; Uia-fc was— tho 0ta"O Union taking 20 per cent of the neu gate, exclusive of gatemen, advertising, and entertainment. Messrs Hniris, Sincock and Priest were appointed an Emergency Committee. The Pirates dub wrote asking for a refund of rent owing to being compelled to give up the u«e of the Carisbrook Ground on two Saturdays.—To be held over until it was found what rebate the union obtained from the Ground Company. John Moriison applied for a transfer from the Dunedin to the Kaikorai Club, and C. Stewart a transfer from the Pirates to the Zmgari-Richmoncl Club.— Referred to the Flag Committee.

Mr Hutchison suggested that a sub-com-mittee might" bo appointed to look into the question of obtaining the use of a recreation reserve at South Dxmedm, between Cargill and Macaudrew roads. The question of acquiring the reseive had been before the City Council, a councillor having given notice of motion with regard" to H. — Mr Cavanagh said tho mover of the motion was an Association man, and he was alter the reserve for Association football. — Mr Dey said it would cost a good deal of money to put the ground in order. It was 3ft below street level — "Mr Ccvanagh paid it was only about lft lower than Porbury Park.— On the motion of Mr Hutchison, seconded by Mr Cayanagh, it lesolved that tho secretary write the City Council informing rl,r 1 , that the Rugby Union would be prepared to contribute towards the cost of the preparation of the recreation reserve in Cargill road in consideration of being granted playing rights over the ground when it was fit for use. Mr Wilson referred to a ground at Sawyers' Bay, at present used for grazing purposes, which might bs used for football. It was leased at present, he believed, and tney would be quite prepared to pay something more than thp present occupier. There was roooi enough for two grounds, and also for cattle to be run ufon the ground. — It was resolved that Mr Sincock see the agent in the matter and repert. It was resolved to write to the Otago sob•unioiiF, asking if June 3 would be a suitable date for playing the Xorth Otago v. South Otago match.