RUGBY IN TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1935, Page 10

RUGBY IN TARANAKI

LAST SEASON REVIEWED

PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT.

WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD.

LOSS ON SEASON’S ACTIVITIES.

A comprehensive review bf thfe 1934 Rugby football season in Taranaki is given in the president’s annual report to be presented to the annual meeting at Stratford On April 2. ■ • Despite the fact that the season, so far as playing Saturdays were concerned, was probably the wettest ‘in the whole of the’ union’s experience, stated the report, conditions on only two or three, out of 15 playing Saturdays having beefl satisfactory, interest in the various competitions was particularly keen amongst both players and the public. The fuu provincial scheme for the seriior grade was inaugurated,, and attendances throughout the. province increased.. This in the circumstances might be taken aS an encouraging endorsement of the scheme by the public, and although, it entailed on some of the clubs some inconvenience for individual players, the committee was pleased to note the sporting spirit in which ’ clubs overcame the disability. '■ ■ . , ; Only one round of fixtures is played under this scheme, and the. reversal of the fixtures means, the playing of what might be called the second round this coming season. On ..the result two seasons play clubs will be able to judge more, accurately the value or otherwise of the scheme. The loss made on representative football is £203 13s Id occasioned by. keeping two representative teams in the field, and undertaking three comprehensive tours (two by the A team and one by the B team) in addition to the two touring games at Wanganui. The visit Of the Wellington B team, while producing bright football, involved a loss of £4O 13s 9d. , , The four Wanganui games showed a net profit of £67 19s 2d and the Wellington game a profit of £204 6s lid. The union was unfortunate last season in having very few home games and a heavy touring itinerary, but for this ana the following seasdn the position will be reversed. FOOTBALL IN SCHOOLS. Primary schdols were assisted in the usual way and an additional £2O was granted for attendance at a special tournament at Hutt Valley. The secondary schools account, which showed a credit, had a srhall debit, mainly due to the fact that two games on which losses were shown wefe played as curtain-raisers to club games, and average club gates were a first charge against the gross proceeds. Interest on mortgages which was a dead weight, amounted to£los. ’ .. , . The medical insurance fund, while fulfilling a very useful purpose, and. greatly assisting players, hospital boards and doctors, was a serious problem, bmce the inception of the scheme in 1928 the union had provided out of its general funds the sum of £1589 7s 6d for the insurance scheme.For chib football there was a pleasing increase of £lB7- 6s 9d -in gross gates from £1214 13s .6d to £1402 0s 2d. Cltlbs were enabled to participate proportionately, and received £387 18s 7d in comparison with the previous year, £330 19s Bd. Expenses of the many junior semi-finals and finals cost a net amount of £6l 14s 4d. Unfortunately the returns from these matches were very small. ■ POSITION OF FINANCES. The union was fortunate in 1930 to obtain the net sum of £6515 from proceeds of an art union. The major portion of this had been invested in grounds and a further sum had yet to be found to complete the work. For the five years 1930-34 (both years included) the union had been showing a loss each year, aggregating a Sum of £1250 13s 10d, provided out of capital. The cash capital fund was depleted and the union would now have to live within its yearly leveniles. ' . , . j The major portion of the union s funds were invested in grounds at New Plymouth and Hawera, with a mortgage on each ground. Duripg the year negotiations between the union and the Egmont A. and P. Association for a long-term lease of the association’s ground at Hawera were successfully concluded. Leases covering a period of 42 years from the commencement of the current season hud been arranged for, the union paying £l2OO cash for the first 21 years, and 15 per cent, of the gross takings, with a minimum of £5O per annum for the second term. In securing for the game a permanent ground at Hawera on terms satisfactory to both parties the committee was satisfied that the future of the game in South Taranaki had been considerably enhanced. With regard to the hew ground at New Plymouth, while it had been hoped to make use of it this year, on the advice of the engineers it was decided to postpone completion of the work for another year. The lawns were actually quite ready for play, but additional time for the further, consolidation of the fillings before the work of the concrete terracing was commenced would eliminate the risk of any subsidence in the future. There would be no difficulty in having the whole Of the work completed for the 1936 playing season. Meantime the growth of trees arid plantation shelter had been phenomenal, and indications ■ pointed to this new ground being one unexcelled in New Zealand both for. players and patrons. . , Arrangements were made during the past season for the . re-institution of broadcasting games at New Plymouth every alternate Saturday by Station 2YB. JUNIOR COMMITTEES WORK. ' The junior committees continued to control fixtures arid grounds for _ all junior- games throughout, the province in a very satisfactory manner. An immense amount of. detail work was Ontailed, and the committee were appreciative of their services. One regrettable 1 feature of junior football, particularly in the southern division, ; had been the very large number of protests received. As these nearly all related to playing players over age for their grade, or breaches of residential qualifications, there was no real excuse. The committee appealed to the clubs concerned to exercise greater care in this direction. The competitions were considerably upset by these protests, and a continuance of such conditions would become intolerable.

Both primary and secondary school football, continued to expand, and the thanks of the union-, was tendered to those enthusiastic teachers who devoted their leisure time to administration. Congratulations were extended the representative teams which during the season worthily upheld the reputation of the province. The Ranfurly Shield was still an elusive prize, but the contests for it had assisted in raising the standard of play. The thanks of the committee was accorded club secretaries and officials for their co-operation and assistance during the year. To the referees' association end its active members in particular the

thanks of the public, as well as the players, was tendered. The union has now entered on its fiftieth year aS an organised body, and it is hoped that the incoming management committee will take steps and ensure that the occasion is fittingly celebrated during the coming season. The financial statement issued in conjunction With the report shows that the net loss to the accumulated funds last year was £392 15s lid. Loss on representative football was £203 13s Id and on primary school football £6l 12s sd. Assets were shown at £9374 0s Id and liabilities at £6661 7S 9d.