RUGBY UNION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 118, 24 June 1914, Page 3

RUGBY UNION.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Canterbury Kugby Union was held last evening, when there were present:—-Messrs G. H. Mason (president), S. F. Wilson, F. D. Kestcven, A. K. Byrne, C. Evans, A. M'Phail, C. Hasell, A. K. Baker, W. J. Morgan, and C. Buchanan.

The Hawke's Bay Union applied for a match during the Canterbury Union's Northern tour. The president said that since the opening of the Main Trunk line Napier had become rather an out-of-the-way place, and the finances of the union hardly warranted such a match. The tour was arranged to extend over 18 days, and to play a match in Napier would necessitate an entire rearrangement of the tour. It would require another three days. The team would leave Christchureh on August 12, and play at Auckland on August 15, Taranaki August 20, Wanganui August 22, Wairarapa August 27, Wellington August 29. The match could be arranged, but the difficulty would be in playing Taranaki on August 20 and at Napier on August 22. / It was decided to reply regretting that the match could not be arranged. The president, reported that tne New Zealand Union had forwarded a cheque for £lO, as Canterbury's share of the grant for encouraging school football, and it was hoped thatt the union would be able to increase the grant next year.

The University Club applied for the use of the Oval on August 22, for a match to be played between the Canterbury University team and Sydney University.

Mr Baker explained that the University Club had to guarantee expenses to the amount of £BO, and if there were no •,' gate'' allowed the match could not take place'. It was resolved to grant the request. Mr Baker explained that the expenses : and profits, if any, of the Sydney University team's tour were to be pooled by the' four University centres of the Dominion. The total cost was expected to be £250, of which Canterbury's share would be £BO. On behalf of the University Club he suggested that the union should .give the.club a guarantee of £SO on the expenses, the money to be refunded from the combined profits of the tour. The chairman pointed out that the use of the Oval, with the right of gate money, had been given; and he did not think the club could be expected to do any more. ■ On his motioih-it was decided to defer fixing the Charges for the ground until aftei\ the match had been played. - i ' Mr G. Dobbs wrote, stating that as a representative of Canterbury against Otago in 1888, he was entitled to a representative's cap, but had,never received it.—lt was decided to reply that the-matter was too remote for the committee to-consider it. . -•■•'.

In response to the union's request for the usual ladies' passes, issued by the Lancaster Park' Board of Control for the use of ladies attending to refreshments at club matches, the board replied that it could not. see its way clear to grant such passes in future. The president, speaking also as a member of the board, said he thought it was hardly fair for the union to ask for these passes, since it was equivalent on representative match days to giving away money which the board needed, aud other sports bodies using the park might feel entitled to a similar con-, cession. After considerable discussion the letter was received.

With regard to a complaint from a referee that the spectators encroached on the line at Sydenham Park, the Sydenham Club stated it, had done its best to keep the line clear.—Received.,

It was decided to inform the Canterbury Football Association that it could not' have "the use of Lancaster Park next Saturday, and that it was impossible to fix a ; later date. A letter was received from South Canterbury, confirming August 8 as the date for its match against Canterbury at Christchurch.

The Peninsula Sub-Union wrote, asking for a match with Canterbury. The letter stated that the Sub-Union considered Peninsula players were neglected by the union, and that it might be advantageous to Canterbury if some players were, chosen from the Peninsula. A suggestion was also made for a Peninsula representative match to be played before the junior representative team was chosen. —The matters were referred to a special committee. Mr H. Burson wrote, pointing out that his son had been summoned for failing to attend camp on June 3, on which date he was playing in the sevenaside tournament. —It was stated that the boy could have been exempted had he made earlier application to the Defence Department, and it was decided that no action could be taken.

It was decided to make enquiries into the case of N. A. Tikau, who applied for reinstatement in the union, on the ground that ho had played in not more than one League match. The Merivale Club' stating that the estimated profit from the Piki benefit was .£IOO. —It,.wan, resolved to send congratulations to the ; club on its arrangement of the match..; It was decided to write to.the Taranaki Union, asking thatthe- CanterburyTaranaki match in August should be considered a Rugby Shield match.

The request of a local clothing firm for the loan of the D.C.L. Shield for advertising purposes was acceded to, subject, to the consent of the Old Boys' Club, the present holders of the shield. . The president drew attention to the fact that school matches, being played late on Saturday afternoon, resulted in the boys getting home late. The matches might be played in the mornings if it were possible for the masters to take charge of the games at that time, but this was not always possible. —lt was resolved to suggest that school matches should be played on Saturday mornings if referees could be obtained.

SATUBDAY'S GAMES. The following are next Saturday's senior games:—Meriyale v. Old Boys, oval, Lancaster Park, Mr J. T. Weston; Christchurch v. Sydenham, south ground, Lancaster Park, Mr J. D. Eraser; Albion v. 'Varsity, Merrrale. ground, North Park, Mr L. Hardie; Linwood v. Marists, west ground, Lancaster Park, Mr A. Alexander. The lower grade matches fixed for last Saturday will be gone on with. THE RANTURLY SHIELD. Press, A .■iguciation. WANGANUI, June 2,5. The Taranaki Rugby Union has accepted the Wanganui. challermo for the Ranfurly'Shield, and the match will be played at llawera on Saturday next if Wellington does not take the Shield on Wednesday. 'f . ■