RUGBY CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13070, 9 May 1913, Page 5

RUGBY CONFERENCE.

HALL FOR GISBORNE

{Per Press Association.) : WELLINGTON, last night. The annual conference of delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union was held to-day. Mr G. H. Dixon (Auckland), president, occupied the chair, and there were present: Dr. Mcfevedy, Capi Dawson, and Messrs A. te. Devore (Auckland), H. J. Field, J. H. Laughton (South Auckland), D. Cowan, W. Hales, W. Spencer (Poverty Bay), W. T. Parata, D. Weir, A. E. Wilson (Bay of Plenty), R. T. Bailey, F. Laws, E. P. Smyrk (Hawke's Bay), F. Britland, F. P. Pelling (Bush District), M. J. Crombie, J. McLeod, F. T. Bellringer (Taranaki), A. Laurenson, G. M. Pawnall, G. Pawnall, G. SprigginS (Wanganui), R. Jacobs, R. Manning (Manawatu), W. J. Prostor (Horowhenua), W. E. Booth, D. K. Logan (Wairarapa), E. O. Hales, G. Howe, J.'T. King, J. Lynskey, E. Little. F. C. Campbell (Wellington), N. Galbraith, N. A. varcome, C. H. McKay (Nelson), J. F. Sullivan- (Marlbor^ ough), V. A. Meredith, R. Sproule, J. B. Heffernan, W. Perry' (West Coast), G. H. Mason, F. T. Evans, F. Walburton, H. Amos, Drake, E. Wyllie (South Canterbury), J. R. Burt, A. Day, R. M. Isaacs, P. S. K. Macassey, T. W. Woods, C. G.' Wilson (Southland).

The Chairman, in moving the adoption ol the report and,, balance-sheet, said that in Australia, South* Africa, and America the game;; was more than satisfactory, and as f ar ' :asV;New Zealand was concerned it had progressed -on sound lines. The bulk of the players in the Dominion were actuated by fine sporting spirit. He had had the ' privilege of witnessing a number of the interprovincial matches last year, and he had seen fine football and fine*, players, and when the JJew Zealand team came to be selected tthis -year he was convinced that they 'wobld -have a side that wonl4 ; •.compare VmbTe -than favorably' with >those' 'of the past. It was a matter for cohgratiilattbh that the longstanding dispute with the New South Wales Union had now been settled, and the interchange of visits would be resumed this season. He thought this would do a great deal of good for the game in New Zealand. j Turning to the balance-sheet, the loss for the season was £1194. Of this £817 ls 6d was attributable to the visit of the American University team, and really dated back for a couple of years, thus making the actual loss £36G 19s 10d on the season. Then there was the North v. South island match and the country teams matches, whicth actually brought the loss on the. season's operations to £48. In 1906 their credit balance was £12,027, but at the present time it stood at £10,024, which was a fairly considerable reduction. If they proceeded at this rate the Union would be in the same position as it was some years ago. in any ordinary commercial institution sound finance was held to mean living within .the income, and he hoped the delegates 'and the management committee wduld take these matters into consideration. It was, of course, a fact that they lost £800 over the American University tour, but ;he hoped 'this would be recouped by' a visit to America in the near future. For a long time he had advocated* that: a should go to Africa in preference' to :*a longer tour. . Mr Macassey seconded the motion. Mr Woods said the executive had done very well, but they might have done better in the matter of funds. He did hot think that it was sound finance to lend money to public bodies at all at a .low rate of interest when they might get a great deal more by investing it In other ways. He considered that the country teams' tour should be abolished, and that they should increase the* schools grant. Regarding expelled persons, , it had been promised by the Union that they would get the English Union to remove these discjualiflcatipns; but nothing had been done. He thought the management committee should take the sub-unions more into its confidence.

Mr E. Wylie pointed out that the management committee was restricted by the delegates. He agreed that there should be wider powers of investment,' but their hands were tied. Mr Isaacs .said that the funds were invested on -Sound* lines.' Mr Woods was ofte of the members who moved for the Southland Union to ,have a large suref "at' the^ same Interest -as the building! society charged. Mr Smyrk (Hawke's Bay) said that his' union suggested th?tt trophies, such a- - / caps, s hpuld- be given io encourage school football. /' ,'*■ Mr Dey thought the. local unions should help to fostep the game among school children in, their districts." •

, Mr.'W."Perry endorsed Mr Dey's remarks. He ppinted out that three year_{ ago &200 had I ' been voted for school foot-: ball, and at .the'^ollowing meeting it 'was' found that 'some' unions had only spent half the amount allocated. Then it was reduced to £100 at tho following annua! meeting, and last year raised to £150.

Mr' G. H. Mason! (Canterbury) deprecated the idea of trophies, and said the sooner they v Were- -done away' with the better for the game. If a flag was given the winning teamwtyh the name I the team inscribed on it. it would be Just as much appreciated as a- leaden fcup.

The report and v balance-sheet were adopted. , ...

The following officers were... elected:— Patron, Lord Islington;' •president, Mr G. H.-'Mason; vice-presidents, Dr. J. F. Bennett {Marlborough), Messrs A. E. Devore ( Auckland) VT.- darken (South -Auckland). W.: B. Miller "(Poverty Bdyj, E7 Kusabs (Bay of Plenty), F. Logan (Hawke's Bay), F. j)'*i Pellini" (Busti _istric_"), F. T. Bellringer (Tarariakl);* G; S^riggens (Wangahui), A>: $lj Gibbons ;(Manawatu)" A. (Hbrowhenua),' D. K. Logan (Wairarapa), G.,'p; C. Campbell, iWe^lington), R'. w. Styles (Nelson),, ir, _olvin.'-JBuller). J. S. Vile (West Coast), "FV ■_"■. Evans (Canterbury), A. Shirtcliffe (South Canterbury). H.: Harris (Otago), H. Tressider (Southland), management committee, Messrs G. H. 1 * Dixon, R. M, Isaacs, N. Galbralth, F. M*. ...W.albucton. A\* Laurenson, C. G. Wilson, J. H. A. Laughton; appeal council, Messrs "G.'H. Ma's6h, W7'G*. Gerrard, F. T. Evans; appeal committee, Messrs G. C. -T"ache. E. O. Hales, J. H. Lynskey, V. Meredith, E.. Wylie; auditor, Mr O. Kember; hon. treasurer, Mr E. Wylie; representative on .; English Union, 1 Mr C. Wray Palliser. It was decided that the Appeal Council should meet in Christchurch and the Appeal Committee in Wellington. On the motion of Mr Dixon a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Palliser for his services on the English Union.

The Poverty Bay Union applied for a grant of £300 for the erection of a trains ing hall. They stated that they would give the New Zealand Union a mortgage over the property. Mr D. Cowan explained why the money was necessary. He pointed out that liis union had .. supported the New Zealand Union when the All Black team went Home, and this was the first occasion on which they had asked the New Zealand Union for support. — It was decided to grant the amount. . It was decided that there should bo no country representative team this year. After discussion, £200 was voted for the encouragement of school football, the allocation to various unions being left to the management committee. ■ •'