RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 28 March 1929, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

HOROWHENUA DISTRICT /COUNCIL. PREPARATIONS FOR IMPENDING SEASON MADE AT ANNUAL MEETING. FEWER COMBINED REP. MATCHES DESIRED. The annual meeting of delegates to the Horowhenua Rugby District Council was held in the Wistaria Tea-rooms on Tuesday evening. There was an attendance of over 30, and the. picsir dent (Mr W. Hannan) was m the chair. -An apology for absence was received from Mr Martin Winiata. who forwarded a message that his services would again.be at the disposal-of the Council if they were wanted. The clubs were represented by the following numbers bf delegates: Wanderers five, Weraroa five, Hui Mai four, Foxton five, Shannon six, Waikanae two, Paraparaumu two. ,The annual report, as already published, and the balance sheet were read, and were adopted on the motion of Mr F. Robinson, seconded by Mr S. -Hooper. , '"FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The audited balance sheet showed a .credit in the general account of £l6l 16s sd. The receipts, including a credit of £153 Is 7d, with which the yeai started, totalled £555 15s Bd. They were made up as follows: —Club gates— Levin £lOl 12a 6d, ShanntJh £34 14s 6d, Foxton £23 '3s 6d, Manalcau £6 ss, Paraparaumu £4 9s, Otaki Is 14s, total £l7l 18s 6d; representative gates — ■Manakatu at Shannon £4O 9s 6cl, Ran--gitikei at Foxton, £35, Bush at Levin £35 8s 6d, Maori-Pakeha at Levin £ls 15s fid. total £129 13s 6d; other receipts £lOl 2s Id. The expenditure amounted to £390 19s 3d. The principal items were: Rep. football £72 14s, grtftmd fees £35 18s 6d, advertising £32 2d, grant to primary schools £3O 3s Id, referees '£2B 17is Bd, Combined Union expenses £26 5s 6d. The insurance 1 account showed a credit • balance of £93

2s 4d, as compared with £59 18s Ad at -the beginning of the year. The ve- - ceipts were: Premiums £43 2s 6d, District Council grant £lO, interest £2 3s. The expenditure was made up of compensation £2O 10s 6d, refund £1 ls,,and bank-fees 10sl The Council’s liabilities were nil, and the assets £427 18s 9d, composed as follows: —Cr. balance general account £164 16s sd, er. balance insurance account £93 2s 4d, jerseys, footballs and hose £ls, trophies £l5O, bags, bell, stationery, etc., £5j The recently formed Waika.nae Club was admitted to membership of the

Council. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The election of officers for the ensuing year .resulted as follows: —Patrons, Messrs J. Linklater and W. H. Field, M.’jsP. (re-elected); president, Mr W. Hannan (re-elected); vice-pre-sidents, Messrs J. W. Procter (reelected), Thos. O ’Rourke (re-elected), and A. Richards; secretary, Mr J. Casey (re-elected); treasurer, Mr J. W. Rimmer (re-elected) management committee. »Messrs F. Robinson (Foxton), G. Mitehell (Shannon), S. Hooper (Weraroa), F. Meyers (Waikanae), W. C! McLean (Paraparaumu), J. McGill (Otaki), W. F. Hayes (Foxton), 11. G. McDonald (Schools), and W. G. Phillips (Referees); auditor ./Mr W Bull (re-elected); senior selector, Mr M Winiata; junior, selectors, Messrs Thos Watson and S. Hooper; third grade selectors, Messrs H. Bolton and Tho:;. Leitch. All the selectors were re-elect-ed. i i

Mr Hannan had declined re-nomina-tion for the post of president, but af-

ter several delegates had been, proposed and had made it plain that they " were not prepared to step into the . position, Mr Hannan acceded to the general wish of the meeting and resumed the reins of office for the coming, year. Several qf those present spoke in high terms of the manner in which he had discharged the onerous duties attached to the dual portion last year, of president of the Council and of the Manawhenua Union, and in thanking them for the sentiments they had expressed and the honour done him by his re-election, he stateil ,that this year he would not be able to give the time to the position that it merited, so if he failed in any respect he hoped that they would excuse him. (Applause). SUBSIDISED COMPETITION FOR A FOURTH GRADE.

The management committee recoin

mended shat. a fourth grade competi- ' tion be subsidised up to £7 10s for travelling expenses, and that there be an age limit of 16 years on April 30th The, chairman stated that the recommendation had been brought down as the result of an investigation of the needs of the case by Mr Casey and Mr Procter.

Tire Secretary explained that the

idea involved was that it would be a o pity to lose the players from the primary schools who were doing so well, and it was thought that this scheme would give encouragement to the boys leaving school. The subsidy of £7 10s would represent the interest on the Council’s fixed deposit. It was proposed to subsidise the travelling teams to the extent of l£>s for each trip, the players finding the balance necessary, at Is per head, to pay for bu 3 hire. If four teams could be obtained, a competition could be run quite well. Mr Procter said that under the pre-

sent conditions there was no chance

for a boy leaving school to play foot- . ball, so that there was the prospect of losing him altogether. This proposal, it was honed, would provide the remedy. Mr T. Moynihan (Shannon) expyessed the opinion that the committee . should reserve the right to classify any 1 exceptional player, even if he came within the scheme. Mr Robinson asked how the pro.p&sal would affect the competition for

the Procter Cup for boys under 16 veal’s. His experience for some years had been that there were boys who were too old to piny for the Proctei Cup and just too 'young to play third grade. Those were the boys who should be catered for. “If you are 60 years of age,” he added, “you can play third grade; there is no age limit there. The chairman pointed out that the agenda contained another recommendation, w'hieh asked that the age limit of thirds be 19 years. Mr Robinson suggested that Mj Procters scheme be enlarged to include boys up to 17 years. This, of course, could not be done without notice of motion. There were boys walking about Foxton who were too small to play third grade and yet just too oil to play as fourths. Mr A. T. Birehall (Shannon), said that the scheme was the same as one that was in force two or three years ago, only in this case the Council was going to assist the boys to travel. Mr Robinson said he supported the idea of assisting the young players, to travel. It was the old problem being faced, of where the district was going to get its footballers. ’ They might find a boy of sixteen who weighed 10 stone, and another boy over 16 who was too' light to play with the thirds and to play against mc-n. The motion, on being put to the meeting, was carried without dissent. AGE LIMIT FOR THIRDS.

A further 'recommeindation by the committee was that the third grade competition be limited to players 19 years and under on April 30th. Mr Casey attention to the disparity between various third grade sides, mentioning that in the northern part of the district the thirds were much smaller than in the southern. Although the proposal was for a 19-year-age limit, the committee was not necessarily committed to that. The meeting might wish to raise it- bv another year on the ground that there were not enough players between the ages of 16 and 20 in this district to make a good competition. Mr Moynihan asked if the proposed grading was irrespective of size. Mr Casey: Yes.

Mr Moynihan: There are men representing New Zealand when they are 19. I think it is too high; you Can get a six-footer at that age. Mr Bolton: I don’t think the boys are available to play. Mr T. O’Rourke (Manakau) said the idea of the proposal was certainly a good one, but he did not think .that the Council would get the players. There were plenty of footballers under 19 who weighed 10 and 12 stone. The Chairman: After this year the fourth grade would be classified, but you ednnot classify the younger ones, no matter how big they are. ■Mr Rimmer: What is wanted is to prevent the Horowhenua /reps.' from coining back into third grade. (Laughter). . The Chairman: Under the old rules it was possible; no.t under' the existing rules. ' Mr Moynihan said that the management committee should retain the right to classify a player.- Boys were apt to keep together instead of rising in grade, because they thought it was more fun playing among themselves.

Mr Robinson said he 'did not think that the Council had the power to classify any player after the end of the playing season. A minute had been passed that all classification be done at the end of the playing season.

The Chairman: It was carried last year, and I was hoping that it would not be carried this year.

Mr Robinson: Years ago the Council used to classify the teani3. A motion was put through that all classification be- done at the end of the playing season.

The Chairman: It only held for that year; it was not embodied in the rules. The committee confirms classifications. The recommendation was adopted by a large majority.

INSURANCE RULE TO STAND

With regard to. insurance, the committee recommended the altering of Rule 5 of the scheme to provide that claims be allowed for injury sustained Avhilst playing in any competition or representative match played under the Council’s control, the existing rule sanctioning the payment in respect of any match under the control of the Council.

Mr Casey stated that he and. Mr Procter were trustees for this fund, and thought that it- wanted safeguarding. The practice of the Council had been to make a proviso in the case of a “scratch” game, that it was not subject to the insurance scheme. If players in such games were to be covered, the Council would get nothing out ot“ it. The position was that the Council would withhold permission for those games if they were going to encroach on its insurance funds. The insurance had been built up, and if the Council could keep anything like a decent scheme going it would be quite alt right and a cover would be available for players. Mr Robinson said' it was very hard if a man who was hurt in practice did not receive any compensation. The player should be protected rn some way while practising. Mr Moynihan endorsed Mr Robinson’s view of the matter. The teams had to practise in order to become fit; the better football they played, the better it was for the Union, and the least they could expect was to have the benefit of the insurance.

The Chairman: ’ln any Union’s scheme you will find that the insurance only covers competition and rep games. You could not carry on if it was' for more than. that. As an amendment, Mr Robinson .moved and Mr Moynihan seconded that the conditions of the insurance scheme remain unaltered, and this was carried on a show of hands.

METHOD OF DECIDING A *TIE. Mr Birchall asked for a ruling as to the method to be followed when two teams tied in a play-off. He instanced

the conflict of opinion, caused by the manner in which the final match for the Licensed Victuallers’ Cup, between Ilui Mai and Miranui, was completed, last season. Previous to that year, he saiclL the prst £force-fl,own of spore would have terminated the extra play after the draw. _ , r The chairman said it was not last year that the change was made. In 1926 the Council" laid it down, that two extra spells of 10 minutes each should be played in the event of a draw in a knock-out competition. ' Mr Birchall said that all lie wanted was an as 'to what would be ,done in the coming season. The chairman said that, according to the rules of Rugby, equal spells must be played. RULE BOOKS.

Mr Birchall wished to know if any rule-books ivould be available to clubs this year.. The Shannon Club was prepared do pay for a good quantity of them at the cost price to the Council. The chairman explained a shortage of the New Zealand rule-books owing to the parent body postponing an order so that new rules might be included. The Council would endeavour to ascertain if any rule-books were obtainable from the N.Z. Union this year, and if, so wquld supply them to clubs at the cost price. OVER-TRAINING OF REPS. A question affecting the training of rep. tiams was discussed as the result of an opilnion expressed by Mr Moynihan, who said that a great deal of time was lost last season through j the training of the Mauawhcnua team. Some of the members were away from their work for weeks at a time, and two or three 'had lost their jobs in consequence. He did not think that the Combined team last year needed all the training that they went fh for; he believed that- it had had a detrimental effect on football and on the men too. If some of the money spent on assembling the team had been applied to the other grades, better use would, have been made of it- Whilstthe A team was away on tour the B team could have had'a trip somewhere. The money should have applied down through the grades even to the encouraging of school football. He asked what was the position with regard to Manawhenua .playing two minor unions.

The Chairman: They are bound to do that; they are classified as an A grade Union and will have to carry it out this year. It is possible to play the B team

Mr Moynihan: I think it would be & good idea if the B’s were sent away. A motion was moved by Mr Moynihand that it be a recommendation to the Manawhenua Union that 'the. A team be not assembled for training purposes, except for two days in the event of a Shield match. ■ Mr Birchall seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. The Chairman brought up the question of classification of players as affected by,the Combined Union’s rules. He stated that at present the rules provided that a senior player was-one who had represented any Union in senior football within the last two years, or any player who had played more than twice in senior contests in the past or present seasons. The management, committee of this Council wished to have the words “past and present seasons” deleted, the effect of which would be that once a man was a senior he would always be a senior until reinstated by the management committee. That would do away with eld players, whose presence was not an encouragement to younger players. The same system should apply to juniors, thirds and fourths. He accordingly moved that the delegates io the Manawhenua Union be instructed to support a recommendation to strengthen the classification by-laws. 'The motion was seconded by Mr Mitchell, and carried without dissent. LINE UMPIRES. Information was sought by several delegates as to the* qualifications entitling persons to act as line umpires, attention being drawn by one speaker to conches having officiated in this capacity. The Chairman said it might happen that when a team were travelling they only had the coach with them. The referees were supposed to select other referees as line umpires when such men were available. He a'dinitted that in some Unions line umpires were appointed for the season. The majority of coaches were vpry fair, and if people less competent were allotted the du’tiqg umpires it would be equivalent .to tying the referee’s hands. He thought it would be just as well to leave the position as it was. Very often the referee left the appointment to tho club captains. He did not think there was much to complain of; the. referee could override the umpire’s decision if the latter made a mistake, and if the refeiee was not satisfied with the way the duties were being carried out lie would not appoint the same man again. Mr Birchall moved that the separate northern and southern competitions in the third grade be (lone away with and that a straight-out competition be held. He pointed out that there were now only two third grade teams in the northern division.

A short discussion ensued, in the course of which it was stated that there were likely to be seven or eight third grade teams in the district. As definite information as to the prospects was lacking, the matter was left in the hands of the management committee, to deal with when the teams have been nominated.

RAGGED END OF CONTEST

Mr Birchall asked if something could be done to improve the closing stages of the competitions. The public, lie said, would not come to matches if :hey knew that half the players were away. Would it not be a good idea if the four leading teams played off before the rep. games started?

The Chairman: It .is cutting our season down. I do not think there will be as many rep. games as last

year. It is the wish of the larger Unions to cut out some of the rep. games. In the latter part of last year the Manawatu Council recognised that there were too many rep. games. I think if you leave it to the Combined Union, if it is possible to cut them down they will do so. If we did away with rep. football altogether for a couple of years, we would, 1 think, be in a better position.

Replying to a question by Mr Birchall as to the right procedure on the part of a referee if a man was about to take a kick just as time was up, the Chairman said that the N.Z.R.U. had ruled that at that instant the game was over unless a try had just been scored, in which case the kick was allowed to be taken. OPENING OF SEASON.

On the motion of Mr Casey, seconded by Mr Hooper, it was resolved that the opening day of the season be (Saturday, April 20th. It was also decided that nominations close on April Bth.

CARNEGIE SHIELD. Mr R. Watt asked for the Council’s assistance in obtaining possession for Wanderers thirds of the Carnegie Shield, which they won in a seven-a-side tournament at Dannevirke. The period for which it was supposed to be held was twelve months, and it had to be defended at Dannevirke.

The Chairman: We will take it up and see if we can get them to send it along. The meeting concluded with a hearty vote of thanks to the retiring officers and the President, moved by Mr Birchall and carried by acclamation.