OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION,

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 61

OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION,

The adjourned annual meeting of delegates ■to tfce O.F.A. was held in ihe Orphans' Club looms on Monday. Mr T. Ashton (vice-presi-dent) occupied the chair. The Secretary of the Maori Hill Football Club wrote that his club desired to play Second Grade team only this year. The uniform chosen was .avhit«^ knickers and shirt, the latter being oi navy blue and white squares. — Resolved that tha co-lours named be registered. The Kaitangata Club intimate^ that it had decided to affiliate and enter three teams — first, second, and third, and suggested that the Third Grade Championship be decided on one round, one match to be played every second Saturday. This would allow the Third Grade to compete without the Dunedin teams having to travel at all. The special cup which Kaitaugata won last year could be given to local teams to compete for on off Saturdays. — It was resolved — " That the Kaitangata Second Grade Tse admitted on the same terms as +he Third Grade teani, and that a special trophy be awarded to the Third Grade."

Moved by Mr W. Soundy, seconded by Mr OC. A.shton— '' That the hon. secretary of each club must send the results of each grade match to the hon. secretary of the association, with the names of the team competing therein, by the following Monday after such match. — Carried.

Moved by Mr J. Duncan, seconded by Mr W. Morrison — " That the control of the grounds hitherto in the hands of the O.F.A. bs handed back to the various clubs concerned, the O.F.A. retaining only the control of new grounds as in the interest of the game it may seem fit to acquire." — Mr J. Wilson opposed the 'motion, which he thought was a sign that the true spirit of sport was departing from their midst. Three clubs had ■benefited by the association's influence, which was often worth more than money, and it was very unfair now to ask that the grounds should be handed back to the clubs. — Mr P. Braith•waite pointed out that *if the old grounds •were handed back to the clubs they would themselves raise money to put their grounds in order. — Mr Sligo said that whatever nioney ■was spent on the old grounds was in the interests of the game. The sooner the grounds were handed back to the clubs the Ijetter. — After further discussion the motion was put, and lost by 10 to 9. At the Chairman's reauest, only two delegates from each club voted.

Moved by Mr Martin, seconded by Mr Braithwaite — " That the five-a-side additional and altered rules framed by the O.F.A. Committee last year be adopted." — Carried. Moved by Mr J. Duncan, seconded by Mr P. Braithwaite — " That the following words tie added to the classification by-law: 'Also, that a- player shall be deemed to be in the same grade as the previous season unless such player's transfer is granted by the O.F.A.' " — Carried.

Moved by Mr W. Morrison, seconded by Mr H. Brickell — " That no player shall play for more than one club unless he receives the consent of the O.F.A. Committee. Any player •wishing to transfer his membership from one club to another shall first of all apply for .the written sanction of his club, and also for the written sanction of the club to which he proposes to be transferred. He shall then forward an application for transfer to the association's secretary, accompanied by the ■written sanction of the two clubs concerned, and the association's secretary shall forthwith issue a transfer. In case the sanction of one club be withheld, such club may be required to show cause to the O.F.A. Committee for its action. The withholding of the sanction of one club shall not prevent a player proceeding with his application for transfer before the O.F.A. Committee, who shall, in its discretion, refuse or approve fiuch transfer as to it may seem best. No transfer shall be granted after the completion of the first round of the championship matches. In the case of a club being applied to by a player for transfer to another club, it shall notify its consent or refusal to the player within six days. In the event of a club entering more than one team for the same competition, no player having once played for one team shall play for any other team in the same competition without the consent of the O.F.A. Committee." — Carried. Mr J. Wilson moved — " That by-law 6 be altered to permit of the appointment of joint secretaries." He pointed out that splitting up the secretarial work would relieve th© ton. secretary, who was overworked, and was tempted to neglect his own business for that of the association. He did not see how the association could afford to pay a secretary, seeing that last year they only had a small credit balance. — Mr F. Ussher seconded the motion, which was carried. A notice of motion given by Mr P. Braitli■waite for the ijaynient of an honorarium to the secretary of the O.F.A. was withdrawn. Mr W. Soundy was appointed hon. secretary on the motion of Mr P. Braithwaite, seconded by Mr F. Ussher. A discussion.

followed in connection with this appointment, the general opinion being that a paid secretary was necessary. The matter was finally left in the hands of the new committee. The opening day of the season was altered from the day previously decided on to the Cth May.