RUGBY INSURANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 15 (Supplement)

RUGBY INSURANCE

SUPPORT GIVEN AT OKAIAWA.

NEED FOR RESTRICTING BENEFITS.

Support for some scheme of insurance for Rugby players was given at the annual meeting of the Okaiawa Football Club on Thursday. The subject was discussed when the president, Mr. J. O’Sullivan, mentioned that the Taranaki Rugby Union had

again experienced a loss, making a total loss of over £l5OO in five years. He said ' the union could not carry on very long in this manner and something would have to be done to stop the loss. He considered that the insurance fund was the chief source of loss to the union, and he would like the delegates to have a free hand in regard to the matter. Mr. W. A. Guy supported Mr. O’Sullivan and agreed that it was impossible to carry on the Rugby Union the way they were going. The insurance fund was a big drain on the union’s reserves and he suggested that players carry their own insurance, paying 2s or 4s per man for a smaller or greater amount of cover as was desired. There was too much running to doctors with small injuries, he said, and the fund should be more for the assistance of those players with more serious injuries such as broken legs. In answer to Mr. Mclntyre the president said the players paid their insurance premiums to the club and the club passed on to the union only what it received’ from the players. Mr. Mclntyre said that apparently there ’was too much cover for the amount paid in and perhaps it would be advisable to cut it out. . Several speakers dealt with the risks that players were compelled to take themselves if insurance were cut out and > they urged that the union continue the insurance. Parents would be , liable for payment of their injured sons hospital fees and many young men would be compelled to give up playing if they could not get‘insurance cover. The secretary read the Rugby Union’s insurance fund figures for several years and pointed out that each year more had been received than was paid out. Last year the fund was in quite a good position. He explained that a contribution of 10 per cent, of the “gates” was paid into the fund, and this was more than sufficient to meet claims, but it was the contributions of members that was unsatisfactory. Mr. Mclntyre suggested that delegates move in the direction of asking players to pay more than 4s premium and thus give the fund mord income to meet claims. This would ensure greater safety. . Mr. Guy added that the union desired to have the claims for small injuries cut out and benefits confined to the more serious injuries. " Mr. C. J. Preston said he did not think they would get the players if they abandoned insurance, which he considered a wonderful scheme. He did not think players would begrudge paying more if necessary. He' believed all the trouble was in the abuse of the scheme. Mr. Drake said the union could bring down measures to prevent the smaller and more frivolous claims being made. Mr. O’Sullivan urged all members to pay their- contributions if it was decided to carry on with insurance. Mr. B. Roberts supported insurance and said that the union was not losing on the fund. On his motion it was decided to recommend th<t delegates to support some form of insurance for players.