PROVINCIAL FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1928, Page 4

PROVINCIAL FOOTBALL

RUGBY UNION AFFAIRS PREPARING FOR NEXT SEASON. FORTY SECOND ANNUAL MEETING. The forty-second annual meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Union was held at Stratford last night, when Mr. H. Spurdle (Clifton), president of the union, occupied the chair. The following delegates were present: Messrs. Geo. Bertrand, R. G. Howell (Old Boys), J. McLeod and L. T. Aylward (Star), T. Petty, K. C. Jury, C. Brown (Tukapa), R. Coutts, F. H. Brown (Inglewood), E. Tate, V. Tate and the president (Clifton), R. Masters, R. F. Harkness (Stratford), J. Goodwin, W. B. Fearon, A. H. Guy (Hawera), Dr. Sinclair, W. J. Linkhorn, D. C. Ryan (Athletic), A. O. Casey, A. Picard" (Eltham), D. Murphy, R. Rutherford (Patca), A. Lees, W. A. Guy, A. Birchall (Okaiawa), J. W. Paterson, C. Burke, A. J. Christie (Waimate), A. F. Neilsen (Opunake), J. Guy, E. Scott, G. Guthrie (Kaponga), F. Gable (Rahotu), Jas. Garcia (Okato), A. R. Davies (Tainui Sub-Union), A. J. Papps (New Plymouth High School), L. J. Furrie (primary schools), A. E. Elgar (Wednesday competition), R. R. Tyrer (Referees’ Association), and E. H. Young (Stratford, treasurer). The annual report stated, inter alia: The continued popularity of the national winter pastime throughout the province was evident. Competition in all grades was keen, and a definite improvement in the standard of play, particularly in the lower grades, wae noticeable. The fact that the gate takings at club matches increased from £1583 in 1926 to £2164 last season speaks for itself as evidence of the growing Interest evinced by the public in the club competition. The above figures do not take any account of takings at junior grade matches, the proceeds from which are retained by the clubs in toto. It is pleasing to record that the season was .narked by an entire absence of questionable play, and the conduct of our hundreds of players on the field was excellent. It is regrettable that the same cannot be said of the behaviour of sections of spectators at one or two grounds, and it may be necessary for the union, in the interests of the game, to take drastic action against some individuals, with the object of checking a most objectionable practise, if club officials find themselves unable to control their grounds effectively. Commencing the season with an amount of £651 las 2d in the accumulated fund, a further net profit of £315 12s Id brought the accumulated fund to £967 7s 3d. There is also in hand a cash balance of £75 in the special fund established to meet the necessities of clubs unable to meet their obligations. In view of the fact that the tour ol the South Island cost £546 13s 3d, and that special visits W?re also paid to Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa, the resu't of the season’s operations must be considered satisfactory. Hawke’s Bay made us a grant of £75, and Wairarapa of £oo towards the expenses of these visits, and we made a grant of £5O -to the Auckland Rugby Union to play their return fixture with us. The School football account show’s a profit of £4l 0s lOd, nearly offsetting the loss of £49 5s 8d made in the previous season. Club football shows a profit of £643 9s 7d, after deducting the whole of the expenses of play-off games, refunding £741 19s 6d to clubs, and de voting £l4O Is 9d to the Stratord unemployment fund. From the School fund, the net proceeds of the Te Aute College gate (£207 13s lOd) was voted to the New Plymouth unemployment fund.

The following amounts were refunded 1 to clubs during the season as their share of club gatess Star, £137 17s Ud; Tukapa, £9B 14s 9d; Inglewood, £53 Ss 6d; Eltham, £53 os 8d; Old Boys, £lOB 0s 8d; Clifton, £43 2s 2d; Kaponga, £l9 13s 7d; Hawera, £25 7s Ud; Okaiawa, £34 7s Id; Athletic, £ll 10s lOd; Waimate, £5 17s lOd; Patea, £l4 10s 9d; Stratford, £lOB 15s 4d; Opunake, £27 Us Cd; total £741 19s 6d. During the season 90 teams, with over 1800 active players (apart from many hundreds of organised primary school players) took part in the union competitions. The grade championship winners were: Senior, Stratford; first junior, Celtic (Stratford); third grade, Stratford; fourth grade, Waimate; fifth grade, Stratford. The programme of representative matches was a heavy one, too heavy, in fact, and interest naturally waned at the end of a long-drawn out seison. and the programme w r as eventually somewhat curtailed. The special circumstance of the southern tour compiling during a season with our haviag io accept return matches at home with many other unions in their touring yerr necessarily made it so, but it is unlikely that similar circumstances will arise for many years. The matches played totalled 12; won 5, lost 6, drawn 1. Points for 133, against 156. THE CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the president congratulated the union upon the very successful season, both from the financial point of view, the standard of football displayed, and from the increase in gate receipts by £561, thus indicating the continued popularity of the game. It was pleasing to note that the year started with a credit balance of £651 15s 2d and, after discharging all liabilities and making donations to unemployment funds, finished the year with a credit of £1042 7s 3d. The president paid a tribute to the manner in which the statement of accounts had been prepared, and expressed appreciation of the way Mr. S. E. Neilson (secretary) had carried out his duties. Mr. Spurdie said it would be noticed fhat during the season the sum of £577 3s 2<l was paid for ground rent. Out of this sum, club matches cost £316 Is and representative and school matches £261 2s 2d. It was pleasing to note that the management committee was moving in the matter of securing a ground of its own in New Plymouth, and only required the necessary empowering Act to legalise the transaction. The old system of playing club matches under the north and south divisions had been carried out successfully and he strongly advised that no change be made. The same remark was made in respect to the proposal to abolish the boundary scheme and allow all players to play for whichever club they desired

by permitting them to shift from one club to another. This, he said, would not be in the best interests of football. CONGRATULATIONS TO P. WARD. The representative team played 12 matches, and though not so successful as in tlie previous year, it put up a very creditable performance by winning five matches and drawing one. The thanks of the union were due to Mr. Arthur Guy, sole selector, for the manner in which he carried out his duties under trying conditions and congratulations on being appointed one of the selectors for the All Black team for South Africa. Pat Ward was the only player from this district selected for the All Blacks, and to him the union extends its congratulations and best wishes. Congratulations were extended also to the Okaiawa seniors on winning the southern championship and th® Stratford seniors on winning the northern ehampionship and the final honours, and he expressed the same to the winners of the other grades. It was pleasing to note that football during the past season had shown a vast improvement in the standard of play. No less than 90 teams competed with a membership of over 1800. The committee had endeavoured to make arrangements for the incorporation of the union, and these were now practically completed. All clubs had been asked to incorporate, the union to bear the whole of the legal charges; the clubs were asked to pay only the registration fees, £2 10s in each case. He had every reason to believe the clubs, in their own interests, would take advantage of the opportunity. The president extended his heartiest congratulations to the referees for the able manner in which they had carried out their duties. In conclusion, he thanked the management committee for the courtesy and consideration shown to him personally during the three years he had occupied a seat on the committee. It had been a pleasure for him to have been associated with the committee which was composed of a body of men who had the interests of football at heart and to the best of their ability had endeavoured to meet all differences In a fair and reasonable manner. In handing over the chair to his successor, Mr. Spurdie wished him and the union every success for the future. SEASON A SUCCESS. In seconding the adoption, Mr. McLeod, chairman of the management committee, congratulated the hundreds of players in the province on the manner in which during the whole season they had convicted themselves both in play and behaviour. During the past 20 years he had known nothing approaching the lightness in the number of complaints, and both referees and players deserved credit for this circumstance. Players were liable to get out of hand if not pulled up at the right moment. Financially the season had been very good. The rise in club receipts had been satisfactory, and if this condition of affairs continued there was no reason why the union should not obtain grounds throughout the district belonging to the players themselves. Now they were more or less in the hands of borough and county councils. An innovation that had proved satisfactory was the fund to help the clubs with small gates. There was £75 In hand and there were two applications for distribution. A question for decision was that of finding means to help players incapacitated. The committee thought it impossible to establish a big insurance scheme, but it did believe that players should be freed from responsibility for medical liabilities. One of the most satisfactory features of the season was the smooth working of the advisory committee. Its work had been extended from that of making arrangements for the second grade competition to include the third and fourth grade competitions, and as a result of the close touch kept very little in the way of disputes these competitions had come before the management committee. It wae hoped that the same principle would be applied to the Wednesday competition, and thus greatly benefit football generally throughout the province. NEGOTIATIONS FOR GROUNDS. Negotiations were almost completed in New Plymouth for taking over the Tukapo ground. The Borough Council would put through the necessary empowering Bill and for £4OO the union would gain possession of the ground, which had cost over £lOOO. It would be free of rent for all time and would belong to the union. It was hoped, too, that a satisfactory arrangement would be come to between the union and the Hawera A. and P. Society regarding the use of the showgrounds. Unfortunately, there had been some friction in connection with the Bayly Scholarship. The Primary Schools’ Union had taken the arrangements for the scholarship fixture and between that union and the Education Board there was a slip, resulting in certain schools in South Taranaki not being notified. It could not be said where the slip had occurred, but it was most unfortunate as the schools concerned had nominees. Arrangements had been made, however, to ensure that there would not be a similar mistake in future. Mr. McLeod went on to congratulate P. Ward on his All Black selection.

With regard to incorporation; the executive urged clubs to push on with the matter as soon as possible. There was an idea in some districts that the proposal was not in clubs’ favour. That idea was entirely erroneous and he advised clubs to consult solicitors on the benefits that would accrue. He denied any suggestion that the union was trying to get a stranglehold on the clubs. After ail the union was formed by the clubs, and the whole idea was to give security, very necessary now that finance had become such a prominent feature of football. Last year they had turned over over £4OOO and would soon be turning over £lO,OOO. Therefore the earliest opportunity should be taken to incorporate. In connection with, the proposed insurance scheme, Mr. McLeod pointed out that 5 per cent, of the gross gates last year would have produced £222, while a similar percentage of club gates only, would have produced £lOB. DISCUSSION ON REPORT. Mr. McLeod said players assembling for a representative match were always instructed to travel by the cheapest possible means, and a circular letter was always sent to the picked men outlining a suggested method of travel. Mr. McLeod considered £2O for assembling 17 men at one centre was fairly reasonable. Mr. Howell asked if the assembly expenses included those fcr officials and referees. Mr. McLeod: The referees’ exaenae-s

are not ineluded and the only Rugby .Union officials who could possibly be considered would be those who might have travelled with one of the football cars. Mr. Masters pointed out that no travelling expenses whatever were paid in respect of members of the Rugby Union. It had been found impossible to assemble representative teajns any cheaper than was done last season. In connection with junior football, Mr. Lees considered the organisation set up last season had done very useful work, but lie thought the functions of the various junior committees should be extended. For instance, it would be advisable to require every club to enter a third grade team before it placed a fourth grade team in the field. A fourth grade team should include, as far as possible, youths who had just left school. CONTROL OF BAYLY SCHOLARSHIP. Mr. Lees, discussing the control of the Bayly Scholarship, said the misunderstanding of last season was in no way due to the actions of the Education Board or its secretary. He thought the time had arrived when the union should take this competition more seriously and devise more equable conditions. At present, he said, the scholarship was practically a gift to secondary school pupils. The late Mr. Bayly had been a country resident, and Mr. Lees thought some better scheme ought to be devised whereby primary pupils of country schools would have a better chance. Mr. L. J. Furrie pointed out that the mistake last season arose from the fact that the boundaries of the educational districts were not the same as the football boundaries, and hence only schools within the educational districts had received the circular. Mr. Furrie referred to the rather brief mention of the activities of the schools’ union in the report, and he suggested that in future a more comprehensive and wider review of this important phase of football be made. Mr. W. A. Guy supported Mr. Furrie in this matter. In reply, Mr. McLeod said that if members looked through the two previous annual reports they would see that a fair amount of publicity had been given the schools’ union and the good work it had done. He took full responsibility for the smallness of the paragraphs this year. No intentional slight was intended. Dealing with the Bayly Scholarship, he said that the football end of the sports was the most important, and often the most decisive part of the competition. Country boys often had no idea of goal kicking, for instance, and because of their training secondary school pupils had a decided advantage. As far as the junior competitions were concerned, he mentioned that the Auckland system of grading junior players by weight rather than by age was working very well, and it looked as if the time were fast approaching when the same scheme should be introduced into Taranaki. The management committee was aware that there were playing in third or fourth grade teams youths who, because of their age, were really not entitled to take the field at all in these teams. Mr. Garcia suggested that In order to give a desirable publicity to tlie operations of the schools’ union, the results of the following school competitions should be incorporated in the union’s annua! report: Linkhorn Cup, won by Stratford primary school; McLeod Shield, won by Pihama school. This suggestion was adopted. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, the chairman giving the assurance that all the suggestions made would receive the fullest consideration by the incoming management committee. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mr. A. Neilson (Pihama); vice-presidents, northern division, Mr. R. Masters (Stratford), southern division, Mr. J. J. Goodwin (Hawera); management committee, northern division, Messrs. J. McLeod (Star), H. Spurdie (Clifton), J. Garcia (Okato), southern division, Messrs. J. W. Paterson (Waimate), W. A. Guy (Okaiawa), W. B. Fearon (Hawera); auditor, Mr. C. H. Wvnyard; resident delegate to N.Z.R.F.U., Mr. G. W. Slade, Wellington; hon. solicitors, Messrs. Young and Moss (Stratford); sole selector, Mr. W. A. Guy (Kaponga); treasurer, Mr. E. H. Young (Stratford).

In view of the success that had been achieved, according to the view of South Taranaki, over the re-introduction of the North and South Taranaki divisional scheme of play, and the faet that it was proposed to incorporate the union, Mr. A, Lees asked and was granted leave to withdraw the following notice of motion which was received from the Okaiawa Chib: That the present constitution of the Taranaki Rugby Union be altered so as to allow of what are known as the northern and southern divisions being formed into sub-unions. The Taranaki Rugby Union to be managed by an executive elected by the sub-unions; the executive to have control of all inter-sub-union matches, representative fixtures, and play-offs to determine the champion provincial team in each grade. QUESTION OF BOUNDARIES.

The Kaponga Club moved that the union review the present system of playing the competitions under the boundary schemes and, if possible, abolish the boundaries, allowing all players freedom to play for whichever club they may desire; that the union’s rules be amended to provide that any player who has played for one club only be allowed to play for that club, if he so desired, regardless of where he resides. Mr. E. Scott (Kaponga), in speaking to the first clause of the motion, said that the idea behind the motion was to benefit the game and not any’ one particular club. He asked, whether the boundary system was the best. Personally he did not think it was. They should endeavour to get as many as possible to take up the game, whereas under the district system many players stood down rather than play for the club in whose district they resided. There was, too, an element of compulsion about the matter that made players half-hearted if they had to play for a elub in which they were not interested. He pointed out that in New Plymouth, where there were no boundaries insisted upon, they had the best football in Taranaki. One had only to look at the gates to see that. Hawera clubs, too, had no boundaries. Why should five out of the fourteen clubs not have boundaries and the other nine have boundaries? It had been said that the effect would be to cause men to drift to the stronger elubs, but he asked why they did not do so in New Plymouth. There were no boundaries in other sports. Boundaries caused players to drift to the towns. Mr. J. Garcia seconded nra forma.

THE MOTION DEFEATED. Mr. A. Birchall (Okaiawa), as representative of a club with a very email district, opposed the motion, ae he considered it would cause players to drift to the stronger clubs. In reply, Mr. Scott said that his club was looking at the matter from the viewpoint of football in general and not of any club in particular, Mr. E. Burke opposed the motion as he considered it would mean some of the weaker elubs dropping out because of the desire to join stronger clubs and have a better opportunity of gaining representative honours. Mr. A. H. Guy considered that the district scheme had outlived its usefulness and it had been abused ever since its introduction. If the district scheme were dropped loyalty would compel the players to play for the district in which they had learnt their football. After some further discussion the motion was lost. Mr, Scott then moved the second clause, which Mr. McLeod seconded pro forma. After some discussion this also was lost. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE. Applications for a quota of the fund accumulated during the past season for the relief of financially- weak elubs were received from the Opunake and Waimate dubs, the former on the grounds that money was urgently needed to regrass and make other improvements to the playing ground and the latter because its balance-sheet was in debit to the extent of £3, even after certain social functions had been held to raise money. Mr. W.'B. Fearon suggested that the co-operation of the Opunake Town Board be sought in the matter of reconditioning the Opunake Club s grounds. Mr, A. O. Casey suggested that the application of the Opunake Club was not altogether according to the spirit in which the fund was established. He thought it was for the purpose of fostering junior football. Mr. J. McLeod: I think you have misinterpreted the intention of delegates at the last annual meeting. Mr. Rutherford moved that £5 be allotted to the Waimate Club, but ou it being explained that the club had fallen into debt through rendering financial assistance amounting to £l7 19s fid to an injured player, he agreed to amend his motion making the grant equal to the amount of the debt. Mr. R. F. Harkness, however, saw a danger in creating such a precedent, and at the suggestion of Mr. Tyrer, the vote, on a show of hands, was reduced to £l5, so that such a grant could never be regarded- as refunding a club for rendering assistance. The application of the Opunake dub was referred to the Management Committee. Dealing with the proposal to incorporate the union, Mr. McLeod mentioned that it would first be necessary for five clubs to be individually incorporated. There had been some misunderstanding among clubs in this respect, but he asked delegatee of clubs that were against the proposal io eall in legal assistance and have it explained