RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 21659, 22 March 1932, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WESTERN DISTRICT SUB-UNION, (From Our Correspondent.) The annual meeting of the Western District Sub-Union was held in Mr Matheson’s office, Otautau, on Friday evening, and was attended by the following delegates: Messrs D. Cameron; Kitto and J. Wilson (Ohai), J. Laurie and E. Matheson (Western Star), A. Fisher (Orepuki), McCoy and McKenzie (Nightcaps), McNaughton and Buchanan (Riverton), D. C. McCrostie (Referees’ Association), W. Arnold (schools’ representative) a«d J. C. Miller (Otautau). Mr A. Lindsay, president, occupied the chair. The balance-sheet was read, showing a credit balance of £3O 16/1. Out of this, however, had to come approximately £5 for last year’s travelling expenses. In his report, the president stated it gave him great pleasure to welcome the delegates. Considering the depression and the times they were passing through the Sub-Union had come through very successfully. He thanked the delegates for tie manner in which they had attended the meetings last year, often at considerable inconvenience and expense. They were also indebted to the referees for the manner in which they had carried out their duties, and he hoped they would come forward again this year. The school teachers were also deserving of special mention for getting off the Mills Shield matches, and he extended a welcome to Mr Arnold, of the local school. The president threw out a suggestion that those clubs who were financially fit to do so might assist any players who were not in steady work, as the Sub-union had to go canny with the finances, as their income was not very large. He had much pleasure in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. In seconding the motion Mr D. Cameron said the financial position reflected great credit on the management (the president, secretary, Mr J. C. Mdler and the executive). They had been in the happy position of having Mr Lindsay as president for the past two years, and they had every reason to congratulate themselves. Despite the depression there should be an improvement in football. It was rather a good suggestion for clubs to assist players who were in difficulties, as by so doing they would be working'in the best interests of the game. Mr Fisher endorsed these remarks and said he had much pleasure in advising that the club he represented (Orepuki) had decided to ask permission to enter a senior team this year in place of a junior. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. In vacating the chair Mr Lindsay said he had been president for two years, and he had come to the conclusion that the office should be a rolling one. He thanked delegates for their assistance during the past two years. In again nominating Mr Lindsay for the office Mr McKenzie said he had always found him a gentleman. On taking the chair Mr Lindsay said this was the third occasion he had been elected to the position. Football was his weakness, and he would do his best for the sub-union in the future as he had done in the past. Other officials appointed were: Vice-presidents, Messrs Cameron (Ohai), Eccleton (Riverton), Carmody (Nightcaps), J. C. Miller (Otautau), Laurie (Orawia), and Fisher (Orepuki; delegates to Southland Union, Messrs Lindsay, Miller and Fisher; signing officers, the president and secretary; secretary, Mr John Kirk, at a remuneration of £10; auditor, Mr G. B. Burns. It was resolved that it be a recommendation to delegates to the Southland Union to ask for a complete allocation of Country’ Day proceeds, and also for a share of last year’s gate receipts, and that the matches for the Sports Protection League Banner be played earlier. It was resolved that it be a recommendation to the executive to consider the holding of a seven-aside tournament between the first and second rounds with the object of assisting the finances. It was decided that home referees be appointed for matches for the current season. . Delegates to the annual meeting of the Southland Union were instructed to support the resolution forwarded by the Star club that only bona fide club and subunion delegates shall be eligible for election on the management committee of the Southland Union. Before the meeting terminated Mr D. Cameron stated that this was the first occasion for many years that Mr S. Hirst had failed to attend the annual meeting. He referred in eulogistic terms to the part that gentleman had played in the interests of football, stating that he had fostered the game through all the years when locomotion was not so fast as at the present time. He had done good work for the district, and he moved that a minute of appreciation of the long and valuable services rendered by him be recorded. In seconding the motion Mr Miller said it was only right to acknowledge the work done by those who had borne the burden and heat of the day. The president-, in endorsing these remarks, said that Mr Hirst in the early days had represented the Western District as five-eighth, and he was a good man. Presentation. Mr Lindsay said as they all knew the meetings of the Sub-up ion had been held in Mr Matheson’s room for a number of years, and he was one of those independent Scotchmen who would take nothing for it. On behalf of the Sub-union he asked him to accept a case of pipes as a slight token of appreciation of the services he had rendered for a number of years. Mr Cameron said it was a happy thought on the part of those responsible. The least they could do was to show their appreciation, and he jocularly remarked that they might never see such a thing happen by a Scotchman again. Mr Matheson had done valuable work for football in past years, and had acted as secretary. He expressed the opinion that the presentation could not have been made to a worthier representative. In reply Mr Matheson said he had been connected with the sub-union for a number of years, and had endeavoured to do his best to put it on a sound footing. As regards the use of the rooms he hoped they would be available as long as ho had a leg to stand on. In letting the subunion have the use of' them in the past he had done it without any thought of recompense. He appreciated the gift, however, and would accept it in the spirit in which it was given.