AFTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 334, 4 March 1915, Page 8

AFTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

MR G. H. MASON RETIRES.

At the conclusion o£ last evening'a meeting of the Managiug Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union, the president, Mr G. 11. Mason, stated that he had no intention of standing for the office of president at the union's annual meeting this month. Mr Mason pointed out that he had now completed 25 years of service for the union as a member of the Managing Committee or as an officer, pre thought that lie had "dono his whack" and that a quarter of a century of work was all that should be expected of any man by the union. He wished to record his appreciation of the way in which he had been upheld by the committee and the players of this and past years. lie hoped that the Rugby game would go ahead as rapidly in the future as it had done in the past, and that it would be as popular with players and spectators alike in the next quarter of a century as it had been in the past quarter. Mr F. T. Evans said that, as one of the oldest of Mr Mason's colleagues on the union—he had put in over 20 years of service himself—he was quite certain that he echoed the opinion of members when he expressed keen regret that Mr Mason had come to this decision. He knew that lately there had been some differences of opinion between- Mr Mason and members of the committee, but, whatever those differences were, they recognised that Mr Mason had done a tremendous amount for Rugby football. He felt Mr Mason's decision very strongly, but he was sure that if Mr Mason were not with them in body he would be in spirit, and would continue to help the game along. Even Mr Mason's greatest foe must admit that Mr Mason had worked hard and loyally for the union. (Applause.) In reply Mr Mason said that he was ncs looking for hand-shakes or pats on the'back, but he thought it was due to the committee that he should intimate now his to retire. He did not attach any importance to any little differences of opinion that there had been. It would be a very weak-minded committee that would agree on everything. He was not resigning with any grievance, but he had no inclination to contest any election for the position of president of the Canterbury Rugby Union. He was sure they would admit that after 25 years of service he was entitled to retire. He would never lose his interest in the game. (Applause.)