RUGBY UNION

Southland Times, Issue 21661, 24 March 1932, Page 8

RUGBY UNION

ANNUAL MEETING THE STAR CLUB’S MOTION LOST MR W. BAIRD PRESIDENT The annual meeting of delegates of clubs and sub-unions affiliated with the Southland Rugby Football Union was held in the committee rooms, Rugby Park, last evening. The retiring president (Mr W. Robison), presided over the following delegates. Messrs J. W. Aitken and W. Leitch (Eastern) ; A. H. Lindsay, J. C. Miller and A. Fisher (Western); J. Campbell (Northern) , R. A. P. Cox (Southern); C. A. Kerse (Wakatipu); L. R. Lopdell and W. A. H. Oliver (Invercargill Club); A. J. Geddes, J. C. Prain and T. Batcheler (Pirates); H. Strang, N. R. Brown and J. R. Bell (Star.) , W. Carswell, F. Daubney and H. R. Willcox (Waikiwi) ; A. Mitchell and J. Page (Old Boys); P. Meffin (Marist) ; W. Gilson (Bluff); 11. Shand (Railway); D. K. Torrance (Rimu); A. J. Dcaker (High School); J. Stobo (Technical College); J. Oughton (Refereen’ Association); R- G. Kitto (School Sports Association) ; and T. Meredith (Amateur Sports Trust.)

In moving the adoption of the report- and balance-sheet (which have already been published) the chairman said that in the past season, despite adverse economic conditions, the club competition had been fuh of interest and the gate takings had exceeded those of the previous season. A total, of 240 games had been played, 4S teams taking part in the five town club competitions. Every Saturday more than 600 players had been in action. In the annual report mention had not been made of the sixth grade competition. This had flourished, much of the credit being due to Messrs Mclndoe, Robins and Brother Paschal, the officials who had controlled the competition. From the union's point of view there was room for a little improvement in the manner primary school football had been conducted last season and this was a matter worthy of 'the consideration of the new executive. Past Season Reviewed. Mr Robison briefly reviewed the various grade competitions and congratulated the winners on their success. He said that the executive had recognized the disability under which the juniors played and had equally recognized the excellent play among the juniors. The outstanding event of the. past season had been the visit of the Australian team. The visitors played bright football and were fine sportsmen. Once again Southland had lived up to its reputation and had inflicted defeat on the Australians. Messrs Metcalfe and Purdue had brought honour to Southland by being included in the New Zealand team and these two, together with Mr J. H. Geddes, had been with the South Island team. In representative football the province had done well. The selectors had worked efficiently and had sent on tour a young team which had jierformed very creditably and which had given promise of developing into an unusually good team this season. A lot of excellent work had been done on Rugby Park last season and during the summer, and the ground was now in first class order. In conclusion the chairman expressed the thanks of the union to all club and other officials w'ho had given the executive valuable assistance in the past season. He mentioned particularly the members of the Referees’ Association and the St Johns Ambulance Association. Tire motion was seconded by Mr J. C. Prain and carried without discussion. Notice of Motion. The following notice of motion from the Star Football Club was considered prior to the election of office-bearers:— That the Rugby Union so amend its constitution to provide that only bona fide delegates of clubs and of sub-unions shall be eligible for election to the Management Committee of the Southland Rugby Football Union. Mr H. Strang, on behalf of the Star Club, formally moved the motion. He said that the Star Club had considered that the players would have more direct representation on the executive if only bona fide delegates were eligible for election. The club also considered that all representatives should go to the ballot and not merely be nominatedby the Sports Trust, the Referees’ Association and the School Sports Association. “My own personal opinion,” continued Mr Strang, "is that the present constitution is quite satisfactory. I have had evidence to convince me that some of the best work has been done on the union by men not directly representing clubs. I wish to say that I reserve the right to vote as I think in the best interests of the game.’’ Mr Lopdell said that as the Invercargill Club had approved of the motion he would second it pro forma. The chairman said he had given the matter consideration for some time. It had been spoken of in the past and a few years ago he believed that clubs had had direct representation and this was not a success. As president of the union he was not in favour of the motion, and he would ask for careful consideration by the delegates. If the motion was carried it would mean the undoing of the whole constitution, and would be open to abuse. It would be evident even at the annual meeting that anyone who wished to obtain appointment as delegate had only to become interested in a club a few months before the annual meeting. He might then be elected to the executive, but after a year or two his enthusiasm would wane. The speaker contended that players just retiring from football should show their enthusiasm over a number of years before qualifying for a position on the executive. A Democratic System. The system at present in operation was in his opinion thoroughly democratic, said the chairman. Such excellent members as Mr P. Shaw and Mr A. H. Courtis had not directly represented clubs. It would have been most unfortunate if their services had not been available. The Referees’ Association, the School Sports Association and the Sports Trust all deserved to be directly represented on the executive. He asked delegates to weigh carefully a motion that would alter the whole constitution. Mr J. R. Bell said that it was an open secret that at the Star Club meeting the motion had produced a heated argument. He personally considered that the motion was to a certain extent on the right lines, but he did not think that men such as Mr Courtis, who had been on the executive for years, should be put off. He preferred that a year’s notice should be given. The idea of the Star Club was that the playing of football should be controlled solely by clubs’ representatives, but that in the matter of finance the Sports Trust and the other interested bodies should have representation. The motion was then put to the ballot and was declared lost. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as follows: President: Mr William Baird. Vice-Presidents: Messrs H. Strang (reelected) and L. R. Lopdcll. Executive; Messrs A. H. Courtis, A. J. Geddes, W. Robison, N. R. Brown, A. Mitchell, W. A. H. Oliver, F. Daubnev and P. Meffin. Auditor: Mr D. Cuthbertson (re-elected). ‘lnvercargill is supposed to be the wettest and coldest place in New Zealand, yet I notice that year after year we are the last to commence our club games,” remarked

Mr J. Bell when opening day was mentioned. After a brief discussion a recommendation was made to the executive that the opening of the season be not later than April 23. . In the course of the discussion Mr Geddes said that it would be greatly to the advantage of club football if the representative programme were not drawn .up until the executive had decided the number of rounds to be played in the senior grade competition. To play representative matches in the middle of the club competitions was disastrous to the latter. General. Challenges for the Sports Trust Cup (held by Eastern) were received from the Nortaern and Western Sub-Unions. The chairman mentioned that Fleming & Co. Ltd., had donated a handsome challenge cup for competition. It was recommended that the cup be competed for each season by the winners of the Galbraith Shield and the Sports Trust Cup, the first match to be at Invercargill and thereafter on the grounds of the holders. A recommendation, put forward by Mr Carswell, that no limit be placed on the number of teams to be included in tho senior competition prior to consideration being given to the merits of the teams entered, was carried. A motion was carried that the first Sports Trust Cup match be played during July and a match every fortnight thereafter until the competition was finished. The meeting concluded with a motion of appreciation of the services rendered by the retiring members of the executive Messrs Torrance, Belsham and Willcox.