RUGBY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3864, 3 April 1928, Page 31

RUGBY.

SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR. Ml BROWNLIE APPOINTED CAPTAIN. WELLINGTON, March 28. The Management Committee of ; the New Zealand Rugby Union to-night appointed M. J; Brownlie (Hawke’s Bay) captain of the New Zealand team to tour South Africa this season, and M. L. Nicholls (Wellington) vice-captain. It was decided that the Selection Committee. for the tour should consist of the 'Captain, th e vice-captain, the manager (Mr W. Hornig), and two players to be elected by the team. Maurice Brownlie was a member of the New Zealand team which toured Great Biitairi and France in 1924. He proved his capabilities as a Rugby leader by captaining the Hawke’s Bay team with marked success from 1922 until 1927. Mark Nicholls, the vice-captain, played in all. three test matches against the South African team in New Zealand in 1921, and was also a member of the New Zealand team which toured Great Britain in 1924.. BOOTS FOR ALL BLLACKS. CHRSTCHURCH, March 28. Resentful criticism of the New Zealand Rugby Union’* action in equipping the A'l Black team to tour South Africa with imported boots and jersey’s was voiced by members of the Manufacturers’ Association. It was claimed that Dominion manufacturers had been given no opportunity for tendering, although a Christchurch firm had supplied each member of the team with the gift of a pair, of boots. The general supply, however, was to consist of English boots. The following resolution was carried:—“That the Manufacturers’ Association views with alarm the fact that th e New Zealand team is to go away with imported boots when those of local manufacture are as good, if not better.” EXCHANGING JERSEYS PROHIBITED. ’ WELLINGTON, March 29. The Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union lias prohibited the Al] Blacks exchanging jerseys with players. “It is a silly practice,” said Air Dean. “ Some players return from these tours with 40 jerseys, and what can they do with them? The players are s to be provided with badges, which they may present to the South Africans.” HAWKE’S BAY MEMBERS. HASTINGS, Match 31. The All Blacks, Maurice Brownlie and Bert Grenside, were tendered a farewell smoke concert last evening by a large gathering of Rugby enthusiasts. Brownlie was hehrtily congratulated on his appointment to the captaincy. VISITS OF OVERSEA TEAMS. WELLINGTON, March 28. It will come as good news to Rugby players and followers of the game to hear that an English team may visit New Zealand in 1930, and that it is almost certain that a French team will tour the Dominion in the following year. The Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-night considered a cablegram from Mr Cecil Wray, the union’s representative in England, in committee. Upon resuming in open meeting the Chairman (Mr S. S. Dean) made the following statement: — “It has been decided that th e committee views with regret the decision of the International Board not to send a team to New Zealand in 1930 and has decided that an invitation be extended to the English Union to send a team to New Zealand and New South Wales in 1930, advice having been received that the English Union is holding a meeting on April 13.” Mr Dean further stated that Mr E. G. Shaw (manager of the New South Wales team) had received advice from Mr C. F. Rutherford (international secretary of the French Rugby Federation) that a French team will accept an invitation to visit the Dominion in 1931. Mr W. Hornig (manager of the* New Zealand team for South Africa) will confer. with the New South Wales Rugby Union in Sydney next month regarding the possibility of a New South Wales team visiting the Dominion this season. BRITISH TEAM FOR DOMINION. LONDON, March 27. The International Board lias inti- . mated its willingness to help the Rugby A Union in promoting a tour of New Zealand in 1930. HOSPITAL EXPENSES. ’WELLINGTON, March 29. A letter was received by the New Zealand Rugby Union from the Otago Union forwarding an account from the North Canterbury Hospital Board for £3 18s for the maintenance of D. F. Lindsay, a member of the New Zealand team in Bottle Lake Hospital during an attack of measles. Lindsay contracted that attack during the progress of the trial match in Canterbury last season. On application being made to Lindsay for payment, lie v te to the North Canterbury Hospital Board stating that lie had been sent into hospital at the expense of the New Zealand Union. It. was decided to inform the Otago Union that Lindsay must pay the account himself. INTERNATIONAL RUGBY. LONDON, March 30. Commenting on the information from South Africa that an attempt will bo

made during- the visit of the New .Zealand Rugby players to that country to convene a meeting of representatives of the unions of South Africa, New Zealand, and New South Wales, to discuss what' is regarded as an extremely unsatisfactory state of affaire, Mr C. W. Packford, of Sporting Life, expresses the opinion that this is a danger signal, and he believes it will mean a complete break-up of the International Board. This will not matter much so long, as association is retained with the Rugby Union, which should b 6 represented at the meeting. ■ Sporting Life, editorially, says that there is little doubt that dominion Rugby players are no longer going to submit to the indignity of being treated by the International Board as though they were completely incapable of assisting in the government of the game. The board’s attitude is doing a disservice to Rugby throughout the Empire generally, and it is hoped that the Rugby Union will come to the rescue and prevent a regrettable split between the dominion unions' and those in authority here.OTAGO UNION. The annual meeting of delegates to the Otago Rugby Football Union was held in the Returned Soldiers’ Association s rooms on Saturday night. The president (Mr D. M. Stuart) occupied the chair, and there were 40 delegates present. REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET. The President said he was very pleased to see such a large attendance, and he was specially pleased to see so many representatives of the sub-union present. In moving the adoption of the tepoit and balance sheet,-he stated that he was ui the happy position of'being able to report a most successful season from eveiy point of view, -The different competitions had all been keenly contested, and the committee was pleased to be in a position to say that there had been practically an entire absence of rough and illegal play. The public interest and enthusiasm in the game had become greater as the season went bn. The tour of the Dominion last year was most successful, and although the Otago team did hot win all their matches they worthily upheld the honour of the province—on the field and off the field. Mr Stuart said he felt sure that the conference of delegates from the sub-unions which was held last year would be the means of bringing the union into touch with its country friends. It had always been the object of the union to do whatever it could for the sub-unions, but in the past it did not know what was required. The union had always been faced with the problem of representative and other matches interfering with the club com petitions. This difficulty became more, acute every year, and it was evident that a halt would have to be made ere long. With the ever-increasing number of players taking part in the game the question of grounds had been a problem in the past, but he was pleased to say that in addition to the capital playing areas at East Park the union had i number of grounds allotted to it at Logan Park. The comfort of patrons at Carisbrook had been cared for by additional accommodation in the stand. The keenest interest was being shown in the tour of the New Zealand team, in connection with which he had to offer the union’s congratulations to its representatives—Messrs Hore and Lindsay, whose doings they would all watch with great interest. While one and all were desirous of the New Zealand team meeting with success on the tour, they must not lose sight of the fact that football was only a game, and in the event of South Africa beating the New Zealanders they must be ready to extend their congratulations to the victors. He was afraid that at times they were apt to take their sports too seriously, and to attach too much importance to the win ning of the game. After all it was the game that counted. The report of the secondary and State primary schools which was appended to the annual report wouM give delegates an insight into the nature of the competitions and the good work being done by the teachers in fostermg and caring for the game in the schools. A matter which merited attention was that of school boys taking part iu grade competitions. Personally, he bovs °should ° r P '? l T that S rowin g school ooys should not be encouraged to nlav " lore than one game on any one day. He the e< lam at P had retired from R»f o S » would join up with the Referees Association. In conclusion h. wished to th«„k th, dob, tor E lojal support given the O.R.F.U. low?. e * r . e . asurer ’, s rc P«i’t was as folof 7 S nT S assets show a balance Vi aS K gai - nSt last year 17s ’ M thiis showing a decrease of J’s ,4d- Tins is largely brought about by Lie depreciation allowed on buildings, and also by the large amounts spent on Carisbrook, including special painting contract of £291 10s and special toio'Vq rp P a ? rs aud alterations forivlJ 18s 6d, which are not taken in ns . a ” aS ’ et ’ think it can safely be said that the list of receipts and expenditure is very clearly outlined in the balance sheet, and should be easily followed bv the delegates, who must be impressed by the large sums now being handled by the union during the course of the football season. One pleasing feature on the receipts side is the amount of £2748 Ils 3d for grade matches. This is by far the largest amount obtained in any season. Representative matches showed only £lO3l Ils, as against £2787 16s for the previous season. The fact that only a couple of representative matches were played here is the cause of the difference/ The incoming season should be a good year for representative matches, as Auckland,. Wellington, Canterbury, Southland, and’ possibly others wjl! visit us this season also the Payne Shield matcli will be

played here, so we can look forward to good revenue from this source. The motion for the adoption of the annual report was seconded by Mr H. Harris, who said he thought they were inclined to devote m< re attention to the ■winning of matches than to the fostering •of the game. He noticed that a suggestion had been made to send extra players with the team to South Africa. There was a feeling that the number of games should be limited, and he understood That it was now proposed to play 22 matches. The last New Zealand team played 32 matches, with 26 players, so that the team for South Africa, which would not play in Australia, would have more players and ten fewer matches. The grounds in South Africa were much better to-dav than they w’ere a few years ago, and were not much harder than those on which New Zealand teams had to play in Australia. The team in South Africa would not have, to play so many hard matches as a number of people imagined, and he thought it would be found that sufficient players were being sent away. It was not desirable to have many men standing on the bank. Mr T. O’Shea urged that consideration should be given to the question or pr f iding facilities for players on the outlying grounds. He thought that too much money had been spent on Carisbrook, and that before any more was spent there something hould be done on the outlying grounds. His contention was vhat the welfare of players should be the first consideration, and he wanted to see those in tin lower grades getting th: same treattion as the others. - ~ Mr P. O. Smellie endorsed Mr O'Shea’s ■.remarks, and said he thought the union should remember that there, were outlying grounds which needed attention. They were doing their best to improve the grounds at Green IsTard, and any assistance which the union could give would be very much appreciated. • Mr W. Allan said he thought that £3BOO had been spent at Carisbrook. He was sure that it was only a matter of time till the clubs received every consideration. It was very essential that they should have facilities at Carisbrook this year. The money would ill come back to the players. The nublie went to see the games, and they were entitled to facilities. . Mr O’Shea: Are we to make it into a for the benefit of the public? The President said the position was that the union must have revenue. In the last 18 years every club 'that had approached the union for assistance had received it. If any club asked for assistance the union would be only too pleased to give it, but the clubs must Let the governing body know what they wanted. The motion was carried. OFFICE-BEARERS. -The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr D M. Stuart; vice-presidents—Messrs W. Brown, V. G. Cavanagh, S. G Styche, and J. Mitchell; treasurer, Mr G. A.’ Nelson ; coinmttee—-Messrs J. King, H Harris, J. Wootton, W. Allan, Spedding, W. Holden, Haynes, W. J. Strong, A. M'Donald, R. C. Proctor,' D Jolly, and Dr Perry; auditors—Messrs Monkman and Greenfield; Selection Committee— Messrs A. M'Donald, H. Harris, and Dr Perry. GENERAL. The opening day was fixed for Saturday,April 21. Mr O’Shea expressed the opinion that rperesentative matches should take second place, and that the union should encourage club football as much as possible Mr Holden stated that he had received a letter from the Eastern Districts’ Sub Union, thanking the union and the Referees’ Association for their services last year. He said it was very nice to know that the sub-union appreciated the assistance given. Mr Wootton moved that the privileges at present granted should be discontinued, and that the union should make a grant of £2O to each club. Mr Allan moved as an amendment that it be a recommendation to the committee to take the matter into consideration with a view to fixing a minimum charge to carry the privileges now granted. The amendment was carried. It was announced that a conference between members of the Management Committee and the country delegates would be held at 10 o’clock this morning. MANIOTOTO SUB-UNION. RANFURLY, Mar.h 29. The annual meeting of the ariiototo Rugby Football Sub-union was held at Ranfurly on Wednesday last, and was attended by Mr Aitcheson (chair), Dr Scrymgeour. Messrs .T. Lynch, J. M'Gill, F. M'Knight, O. Murphy, W. Howell, tv Gibson, and G. Black. .. The balance sheet showed a small increase on last year’s ■ credit, which was considered highly satisfactory, as the union had done a good deal of travelling with its county teams. The President, in moving the adoption of the balance sheet, referred to the high appreciation that the union had for several men who had placed their cars at the union’s disposal for the conveyance of county players. The balance sheet was adopted. On the motion of Messrs M'Gill and M'Knight, Mr Heffernan, of Dunedin, was appointed union’s delegate for the ensuing season to the O.RIF.U. Mr T. Lynch was appointed delegate to attend the annual meeting in Dunedin, and to act as the union’s delegate at the conference on Monday. . It was decided to accept Waipiata and Ida. Valley, as First Grade clubs, ana also to accept Middlemarch as a Second Grade club.

The following office-bearers were elected for thq ensuing season :—President, , Mr A. Aitcheson vice-presidents—Messrs T. Mitchell and William Davis; secretary, Mr J. M. Millar; auditor, Mr J. I. Fraser; treasurer, Mr T. Mitchell; Management Committee—Messi’s T. Lynch, R. Mee, F. M'Knight, R. Gibson, G. Black, W. Howell, J. M'Gill; Emergency Committee—Messrs Aitcheson, . itchell, and Lynch; county selectors—First Grade, Mr T. Lynch ; Second Grade Mr J. M'Gill. The opening day was fixed for April 21. It was decided to supply footballs to schools as in previous years. The following is the draw for April 21—If irst Grade—lda Valley v. Becks; Ranfurly v. Gimmerburn; Waipiata v Naseby. Second Grade: Hyde v. . Ida V alley ; Naseby v. Patearoa ; Middlemarch v. Ranfurly. The secretary was instructed to write to , their lists of players on or before April 13.