NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13419, 17 May 1912, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

ALTERATIONS TO RULES

Wellington, May 16. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union was hold to-day. Mr. Goo. Dixon, president, said that the outlook for Rugby football was _.x----tromely satisfactory. The following pincers were elected : Patron{ -Lord Islington ; pi-esidont, MtG. H. Dixon; vice-president. Messrs. F. T. Bollringer (Taranaki), G. F. O. Campbell (Wellington), H. Harris (Otago), Thos. Clarkson (South Auckland), A. E. Dorore (Auckland), F. Logau (Hawke's Bay), D. IC.. Logan (Wairarapa), A. N. Gibbons (Maiuwatu), G. H. Mason (Canterbury), W. B. MilLer (Poverty Bay), J. G. Hawkins (Horowhenua). A. Shirtcliffe (South Canterbury), G. Spriggins (Wanganui). R. W. Stiles (Nelson), M. Vane© (Bush District*;), E. Kussalis (Bay ol J'kMity). C. J. H. Dobson (West Coast), Hon. J. Colvin (Buller) Dr. Ritchie Campbell (Southland), Dr. J. F. Bennett (Marlborough) ; management committee. Messrs. R. M. Isaacs, M. G. Crombie. N. Galbraith, J. H. Laughton, A. Ijaurenson, ¥. B. Walburton, and Dr. P. F. McEvedy; hon. treasurer, Mr. Edgar Wylie (Weiington) ; appeal council (to bo located in Auckland). Messrs. J. Arncil, G. 11. Dixon, H. Frost; auditor, Mr. 0: G. Komber: representative on English Union, Mr. C. Wray Palliser.

For the purpose of encouraging school Rugby football the grant was increased from £100 to £150.

The Poverty Bay Union wroto asking that the disqualification be removed from certain Hawke's Bay players who had played the Northern Onion game It was resolved to write to the English Rugby Union for permission to re-in-state all players who had signed up to the present any form of affiliation with the Northern League, or played the League game, on those players standing down for a year from the date of disqualification.

The following remits from Wanganui concerning alterations in the laws of th« game, were carried: "That the value of a, penalty goal be reduced to two points : that after any score by either side play bo ro-conimen'cod by a kick off (placo kick) from half-way."

A proposal to secede from the English Union was defeated by a large majority. It was resolved to recommend the management committee that rules be printed in Maori.

The management committee was authorised to advance a further sum of £1400 to the Southland llugby Union provided a satisfactory security ig. given tho loan to be at 4 per cent on call. It was decided to adopt the same course as last year in the matter of sending North and South Island country; teams on tour. It was resolved that the North v. South Island match bo played in July 13th. The location of the game was loft to the management committee, with the recommendation, that, if feasible, it be played in Wanganui or Hawke's Bay.

It was decided to ask for the ruling of the English Union as to whether any union has power to make a by-law authorising persons other than the rofereo to report rough play, etc. It was adopted as a recommendation to the management committee; that an effort be made to send a New Zealand team to America in the near future.

A recommendation to unions was mad'o to the effect that tho rides allowing a game to be played in four spells of twenty minutes each should^ be put into force only when in the opinion of the referee the weather conditions warrant it.