FINANCIAL LOSS DURING YEAR

Southland Times, Issue 23773, 22 March 1939, Page 12

FINANCIAL LOSS DURING YEAR

POOR ATTENDANCE AT RUGBY MATCHES EASTERN SUB-UNION MEETS In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet at last night’s meeting of the Eastern SouthI land Rugby Football Sub-Union, the chairman, Mr J. W. Aitken, said that the sub-union had suffered a substantial financial loss during the season. He did not know what had been the cause of the * poor attendance of the public at matches, but he was sure that the standard of football produced during the season had warranted more support from the public. He expressed the hope that more interest would be taken in the competition matches during th? coming season. , Mr Aitken said that the district representative team had played very well during the season and had only been defeated once. The team had been beaten by Town in a match at Gore but it had been no disgrace to be beaten by a team such as Town had fielded that day. Tire game had been one of the finest exhibitions of football seen at Gore for many seasons. In conclusion Mr Aitken congratulated Messrs B. Herron and G. Graham on .gaining inclusion in the Southland team. Those present at the meeting were Messrs J. W. Aitken (chairman), F. M. Murray, H. G. Wallis, A. H. Davidson, and the following club delegates: Messrs G. D. Robson and H. J. ml (Mataura), F. J. Townsend and W. Southern (Albion), W. Forbes and J. Cunningham (Pioneer), T. K. Clark (Wyndham) and J. M. Boyne (Gore High School). , The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. . Mr G. D. Robson moved a notice ot motion from the Mataura Club that the officers and executive committee of the sub-union be elected each year from the delegates appointed to represent the various clubs in that particular year. Mr Robson said that it was the opinion of his club that it was necessary for the club to have direct representation on the sub-union. He stated that it was possible for a club not to be .represented on the management committee and his club considered that the officers and committee should be elected from the delegates appointed to represent the club. The notice of motion was seconded by Mr H. Hill. There was a brief discussion and on a ballot being taken the motion was defeated by eight votes to three. The following officers were elected: President, Mr J. W. Aitken; vice-pre-sidents, Messrs N. McLeod, A. H. Davidson, F. M. Murray; treasurer, Mr H. G. Wallis; secretary, Mr S. B. Taylor; committee, Messrs W. Forbes, S. J. Townsend, J. Cunningham, J. A. Edwards, T. K. Clark, W. Southern and G. D. Robson; auditors, Messrs W. D. Shelton and C. M. Wilson; grounds committees, Messrs Clark and D. MeCaughan. (Wyndham), N. McLeod and J. Adam (Mataura), S. J. Townsend, H. G. Wallis and J. Cunningham (Gore); senior selectors, Messrs W. Forbes, N. McLeod and S. J. Townsend. Mr R. G. Watson was appointed supervisor of school football. Messrs J. W. Aitken, F. M. Murray | and A. H. Davidson were appointed delegates to attend the annual meeting of the Southland Rugby Football Union. It was decided to begin the competitions on April 22. Entries will close on April 11. COMMITTEE MEETING

At a meeting of the management committee held after the annual meeting the following sub-committees were appointed: Fixtures committee, Messrs J. M. Boyne and S. B. Taylor; postponement, Messrs F. J. Townsend, H. G. Wallis and J. Cunningham; permit, Messrs F. M. Murray and H. G. Wallis. The Pioneer and Albion clubs were granted permission to use the show grounds for their opening practices next Saturday.

GOOD ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL MEETING SOUTHLAND REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION Mr W. O. Ward presided over an attendance of 30 members at the annual meeting of the Southland Rugby Referees’ Association, and after extending a welcome to members, congratulated Mr J. R. Hanan on being elected Mayor of Invercargill, and on his marriage. A welcome was also extended to Messrs A. Bolton and H. Hendrick, two new members from Dunedin. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows':—President, Mr R. W. Murray; senior vice-president, Mr J. R. Bell; junior vice-president, Mr W. 0. Ward; hon. secretary, Mr H. C. Shand; hon. treasurer, Mr F. Cheyne; hon. auditor, Mr J. R. Bell; appointment board, Messrs H. C. Shand and J. R. Bell; gear and records clerk, Mr G. H. Frampton; delegate to annual conference, Mr F. Cheyne; delegate to Southland Rugby Football Union. Mr W. O. Ward; delegate to School Sports’ Association, Mr G. Agnew; executive committee, Messrs J. Aitken, G. Agnew, A. B. Binnie, C. A. Kerse, C. C. Kenward and F. Daubney; examination committee, Messrs A. B. Binnie, E. C. Kelly and W. O. Ward; Press secretary, Mr W. D. Jenkins. The resignations of Messrs J. E. Salisbury and M. P. Sheehan were accepted with regret, and a minute of appreciation for their excellent services as members over a number of years was placed on record. Mr H. Hendrick was accepted on transfer from the Otago Rugby Referees’ Association. Mr and Mrs W. O. Ward were congratulated and thanked for an excellent social evening arranged for members and their wives.