RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 23180, 22 April 1937, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE NEW ZEALAND UNION ANNUAL MEETING (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 21. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union was held today. Addressing the delegates the outgoing president, Mr E. L. Smith (Bush District) referred to the passing of Colonel Campbell, the Hon. A. F. Hawke, Messrs Jack Spencer, C. T. Collins and D. McKenzie. The South African team, he said, was assured of a most cordial welcome. “There is an inclination among a number of us to adopt an inferiority complex when we discuss our Rugby of today and compare present day players with the giants of the past, with the exception of outstanding players, who, unfortunately, only seem to come in decades. lam of the opinion that our players of today are just as good and as capable exponents as those of old. It behoved them all to look to the comfort and welfare of _ the South Africans during their visit, and he hoped they would carry back only the happiest and most pleasant recollections of their visit. New Constitution Proposed changes in the constitution of the union were before the meeting, Mr A. iM. Ongley, on behalf of the Manawatu Union, taking the lead and explaining the suggested new order of things. The proposals provided for a Rugby council being substituted for the Management Committee. The present rule about the Management Committee it was suggested should be deleted and a rule substituted to provide for a council of 14, one of whom should be the president and the others elected at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union, six of whom must be necessarily resident, three in the South Island and three in the North Island, no union to nominate more than one such representative. The seven others to be elected and form the executive committee. It was proposed that the removal ..of any member of the council from Office should be on a two-thirds majority of the votes at a special meeting, the election of the new council or member to proceed forthwith, the council to be the Management Committee and the decision of the Executive Committee to be final and binding on all matters delegated to it, unless appealed against in accordance with the rules of the union. For the year 1937, it was proposed that the president, vice-presidents and members of the council should be elected from the delegates to the annual meeting iand for the succeeding years from persons nominated by the affiliated unions, the council to elect the chairman at its first meeting. The new constitution was adopted

with minor adjustments. International Rules Delegates decided to adhere to the amended rules for the present season, but agreed that international rules be played during the trial matches to select the All Black team to meet the Springboks in the Tests, when international rules will be played. Mr J. N. Millard, on behalf of the Wellington Union, moved that it be a recommendation to the New Zealand Union that all club and representative matches this season be played under international .rules regarding kicking into touch until after the conclusion of the South African tour. Dr W. S. Seed (Canterbury) moved an amendment that the game be played in New Zealand this season under international rules only in trial matches. Mr N. A. McKenzie (Hawke’s Bay) supported the amendment, remarking that amended rules led to more unorthodox play than did international. The Springboks knew the international mips by heart and New Zealand would have a better chance of beating the South African team by unorthodox play. ... Dr Seed at this stage withdrew his amendment. ■ On being put to the vote the Wellington remit was lost. Mr Millard then moved that trial matches and the inter-island match be played under international rules. This was carried. The following remit was put forward by Taranaki: “That „in the coming season the New Zealand Rugby Union revert to the 2-3-2 scrummage formation with a wing-forward.” Mr J. Sullivan, in moving the remit, contended that the 2-3-2 scrum was infinitely superior to any other formation in New Zealand. Mr McKenzie said Hawke’s Bay was in sympathy with the Taranaki remit. New Zealand had now tried three men in the front row of the scrum and had not made a success of it. It was impossible to send a short pass to the backs with the present farcical scrum formation., Mr M. F. Nicholls (Wellington) said he considered that two men could not get the ball from three men in the front of the scrum. The remit was lost on the voices. Prices To See Springboks

Mr S. S. Dean announced the following charges had been decided upon for the visit of the South African team: —Admission to ground.—Provincial matches 2/-, Test matches 2/6; school children, provincial matches 1/-,. Test matches 1/-. Enclosures.—Provincial matches 3/6, Test matches 5/6. Ternporary stands. —Provincial matches 5/6, Test matches 7/6. Main stands.- Provincial matches 7/6 and 10/-, Test matches U/- and £l. Some delegates considered the charges for the stands too high. Mr Dean pointed out that the charges were the same as those for the English team’s tour. He did not consider the .charges excessive. , . Mr H. Frost (Auckland) asked it there was any agreement as to the duration of spells in interprovmcial matches. Some unions played 40 minutes and others 45 minutes. The extra ten minutes made a great deal of difMr H. Harris (Otago) moved that all interprovincial matches in New Zealand this year be played in 45 minute spells. The motion was carried. Mr A. E. McPhail (Canterbury) asked that the question of a tour of New Zealand by an All-Japan Rugby team be further considered, and moved in that direction. The New Zealand University Rugby Council would like to see the New Zealand Rugby Union give further consideration to the question before turning it down finally. Mr Dean said the Management Committee of the New Zealand Union had gone carefully into the cost of bringing a Japanese team to the Dominion and considered it to be too expensive in view of the drawing power of a- Japanese team. He considered the loss on bringing a Japanese team to New Zealand would be nearer £2OOO than £lOOO. On Mr McPhail offering to guarantee any loss on the visit from a Japanese team the motion was carried. It was decided to allocate £750 to school football for the year. It was decided to grant 100 guineas to the King George V Memorial Fund. Under the new constitution the following officers were elected: —Patron, the Governor-General (Lord Galway); president, Mr R. T. Meredith (Southland); vice-presidents, Messrs A. M.

Ongley (Manawatu) and M. McKenzie (Marlborough); council, Messrs A. A. Adams (West Coast), D. M. Spedding (Otago), A. E. McPhail (Canterbury), G. A. Maddison (Hawke’s Bay), A. St. C. Belcher (Waikato), Doctor G. J. Adams (Wanganui).