ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 64

ASSOCIATION

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, April 26. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association opened to-day, the Hon. C. E. Statham presiding. He con gratulated the association on its work, especially in regard to overseas visits, and expressed his appreciation of the encouragement of the game in the schools. He regretted the number of suspensions during the season. Mr Varney, in moving the adoption o* the annua! report, said the association had 501 teams in the field, an increase of 11 per cent. He believed before long it would be the premier game in New Zealand. Ih popularity had been stimulated by immigra tion. He said it was wrong for Soccer to be held hack in the schools by the will ot head masters. The Dominion should not be dependent on the visits of Scottish am English teams for the development of the game. Efforts to obtain a vi.-it from an international team had broken down. / proposal had been made for a Scottish team to come to New Zealand. The association was to pay its own expenses from Glasgow to Glasgow, plus an amount for out-of porket expenses. An offer had been re «,ved from Australia for a team to visit the Dominion for seven weeks in retun 10 ' 25 prr l ' ent of the profits. the association instructed the eonnetl to reorganise the New Zealand Referees' Association. The Auckland Association, in Its annual report, criticised the New Zealand Association for its lack in replvev«miO»iorrCS'’on',enw' and in forwarding examination papers. I„ regard to the suggested appointment of an assistantsecretary. Mr It. Salmon, the secretary B ‘h"* “"less the paragraph nas withdrawn or freely altered he would sever ins connection with the association. Mr A. Menzies (Auckland) protested against the threat conveyed in the letter, and sai l that numerons letters had not fieen replied to. He moved that the council reorganise the New Zealand Referees’ Association. Mr G. Cox (South Auckland) seconded the motion, and after discussion it was carried without dissent. Mr Menzies (Auckland) moved the following remit:—“That council be asked to approach the English association and ask it for a dispensation to allow the New Zealand Association to replace injured players during matches so as to meet local requirements. After discussion the motion -was defeated. The question of a North Island tour of a Fijian team was mentioned. The Auckland delegate said the Fijians standard of play was higher than that of the Chinese. The tour would cost £6OO. It was suggested that the team should visit Auckland. Wellington, Wanganui, and Palmerston North. If the council did not wish n central tour he asked that the Auckland Association be allowed to take it over in the Auckland province. The matter was deferred until further information was secured. PLAYER SUSPENDED. CHRISTCHURCH. April 29. The Canterbury Football Association last evening suspended F. Trotter, of Sunnyside, for six weeks for striking another player during a match The referee reported that he had ordered Trotter off. AUCKLAND MATCHES. AUCKLAND. Mav 2. The following are the results of Saturday's matches:— Nortlicote 2. Thistle 1. Tramways 3. North Shore 1. Ponsonby 2. Y.M.C.A. nil. WELLINGTON GAMES. WELLINGTON, May 2. Senior. Y.M.C.A. 7. Brooklyn 1. Hospital 3, Waterside 2. Marist 1, Thistle 1. Institute 2, Diamonds nil. Senior B. Johnsonville 8. Y.M.C.A. 1. Thistle 3. Hutt 2. Petone 3, Swifts 2. Seatoun 3. South Wellington 1. CHRISTCHURCH COMPETITIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, May 2. Sunnyside 3. Nomads nil. Kainpoi 8. Villa 3. Western 9. Lyttelton 2. Thistle 2. New Brighton 1. Technical Old hoys 5. Addington 1.