CONTROL OF RUGBY

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1935, Page 9

CONTROL OF RUGBY

UNION ANNUAL MEETING

JUBILEE YEAR BUSINESS

MR. J. McLEOD PRESIDENT

THE PROVINCIAL SCHEME

The jubilee year of the Taranaki Rugby Union was entered with the holding of the annual meeting of club delegates at Stratford last night. Mr. J. O’Sullivan, president of the union, presided and the following delegates, were present: Messrs. K. C. Jury, C. Brown (Tukapa), L. T. Aylward, J. McLeod, L. Hartley (Star), F.,H. Masters, A. C. Fookes, H. Brown (Old Boys), L. H, Sampson, G. H. Bennett (Clifton), V. Scanlon, N. Mackinder, E. R. Courts (Inglewood), C. Massey, E. H. Young, D. J. Malone, F. Nolan .(Stratford), J. M. Stephens, D. McCready, A. E. Walker (United Old Boys), A. G. Whiting, K. J. Taylor, T. K. Bourke, Dr Saunders (El-tham),-E. J. Wallis, J. Young, J. Martin, J. S. Hickey XOpiinake), W. A. Guy, W. Johnston (Okaiawa), W. Burke, J. Christie, A. Christie (Waimate), L. H. Clapham, R. Mortlock, W. Cropp, J. Goodwin (Haw-era), C. W. Allen, W. P. Linkhorn, W. H. White (Empire Old Boys), F. Gable (Rahotu), J. Garcia (Okato and Tainui Sub-Union), J. Gardener, C. Paterson (Kaponga), L. Hunt, J. W. Bourke, C. Sheahan (Patea), R. McLean (Tainui Sub-Union), R. C. Wilson (New Plymouth Boys’ High School), V. J. Henderson (Primary Schools’ Association) and L. J. Furrie (Referees’ Association), In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the chairman spoke of the past season as a most successful year and described the new system of provincial play as having proved highly satisfactory. Unfortunately the financial position was not as satisfactory as might be desired, but when ;it was remembered that there were only two or perhaps three fine Saturdays.it would be realised that a substantial drop in gate receipts was bound to follow;

OUTLOOK BRIGHT.

The outlook was bright. A satisfactory arrangement had been made for the lease of the Hawera ground, and after the experience of the first year it was anticipated that - the provincial playing, scheme would prove a big feature in maintaining a high standard of play and a high level of public interest. Mr. O’Sullivan, referred briefly to the approaching tour of an All Black team to England and said it behoved Taranaki players to get fit and keep fit. He assured delegates that Taranaki men would be given a “fair spin” in the selection of the touring team. The Hon. J. McLeod seconded the motion. The provincial scheme, he said, had done well in spite of the wet weather, and if there was fine weather this year all that had been claimed for the scheme would be borne out. Concerning the' Hawera’ ground' they were now settled’for 42 years’at'terms satisfactory for the union and" the lessees. The -New Plymouth ground had been kept in order, but it had been decided not to put in concrete terraces until next year, acting under ; advice.

Regarding, finance, no money received from the public had been put into the grounds anywhere, as had' been alleged. Money for Rugby Park, New Plymouth, had come from the union’s coital account, from, an art union/for the ■ pur-, pose, and. a sum of over £lOOO had been taken for general purposes. ' The union was not in a bad way, although the insurance scheme had been a heavy drain and had acted against clubs’ finances. Nevertheless no one was going to- say the scheme was not justified. The main influences acting against union finance were that gate receipts had not increased as expected and the insurance drain had been heavy. As far as the New Plymouth High School was concerned no grant had been made for a number of years, and the account, if kept separate, would be considerably in credit Mr. McLeod said he • hoped that the day would soon be approached when other secondary schools would offer a similar attraction.

QUESTIONS

In reply to Mr. H. W. Brown Mr McLeod said the £869 paid over seven years into the medical fund as deductions from the club’s share of gate moneys did not include the 2s per member paid as contributions to the fund. In all £1569 had been paid into the fund, but to this had to be added the contributions totalling £438. Actually the fund was in. credit to the extent of £162. In answer to Mr. Brown it . was also, stated that a special train for the ElthamTukapa match had been put on because both teams were unbeaten and it was Eltham’s jubilee week. Consequently it was felt that a train would pay well, but the weather had caused the loss. Mr. Burke pointed out in reply to a remark made by Mr. McLeod in his address that the central division junior cpmmittee did not say or think that the union made a grant to the New Plymouth Boys’ High School. What it did say was that the union assisted the New Plymouth Boys* High School in its matches.

Mr. McLeod: In -what way? Mr. Burke: You pay travelling expenses. Mr. McLeod: Oh yes, but that is out of profits of the school matches. If the school account was kept separate it would b?‘ found that that account would be very much in credit. To Mr. Fookes Mr. McLeod explained that the item £73 9s set down as hire of rooms, "committee travelling expenses, etc., included the expenses of every meeting of the' management committee, whether'ordinary or extraordinary meetings. Mr. O’Sullivan pointed out to Mr. J. M. Stephens that expenses for representative fixtures were kept as low as possible. Mr. Stephens had drawn attention to the heavy cost of assembling players at Hawera, for the primary school representative match and the Taranaki-Wellington match, compared with that for the trial match at Stratford. Mr. McLeod pointed out that there haa been two matches at Hawera compared with one at Stratford.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

On the occasion of his retirement Mr. O’Sullivan said it had been an extreme pleasure to hirh to have occupied the position of president. As everyone knew, the jubilee year of the union and of Rugby football in Taranaki would be this season, and it gave him keen pleasure to nominate Mr. McLeod as president.

Mr. McLeod was received with acclamation and in taking office explained that he had first sat on a management committee of the union 30 years ago at Eltham. Among the matters he would like to see brought to a, conclusion during his term of office was that of the completion of Rugby Park at New Plymouth. This he believed would eventually become one of the finest Rugby f grounds in New Zealand, equal if not superior to Pukekura Park. Mr. J. S.‘ ; Hickey automatically became senior vice-president of the union and

Mr. E. R. Courts (Inglewood) was elected junior vice-president. The previous honorary treasurer, Mr. E. H. Young, Stratford, signified his desire to retire from office and Mr. J. Rowe, Hawera, was elected. Mr. C. H. Wynyard (New Plymouth) was appointed auditor.

For the management committee eleven nominations were received for six positions. For the three North Taranaki positions the candidates were Messrs. J. Garcia (Okato), F. J. Nolan (Stratford), K. Jury (Tukapa), H. Masters (New Plymouth Old Boys), J. M. Stephens (Stratford Old Boys) and L. H. Sampson (Clifton). The five South Taranaki nominations for three .positions were Messrs. W. A. Guy (Okaiawa), J. Goodwin (Hawera), A. G. Whiting (Eltham), L. Hunt (Patea) and J. O’Sullivan (Okaiawa).

The election resulted: North, Messrs. Nolan, Jury and Masters; South, Messrs. O’Sullivan, Whiting and Goodwin. _ The Clifton Club moved that all junior club secretaries be given complimentary Taranaki Rugby Union tickets. Speaking on this motion Mr. L. H. Sampson enlarged upon the work of junior club secretaries and urged that they should be entitled to complimentary tickets. The motion was adopted. From the Patea Club came the notice of motion, “That as soon as possible after the senior competitions have been decided the two leading teams in the original north and south divisions, play for a trophy to be donated by the union, or that another suitable game be played in order to sustain public interest until the close of the season. z Mr. L. Hunt moved the motion, emphasising the advantages of the plan, which was adopted.

A recommendation asking the union to make a grant of £lO towards the administration of junior football in the central division was urged by the mover, Mr. E. H. Young, the seconder, Mr. J. Stephens, and Mr. R. Burke, but was lost on the voices.

The strict observance of the age limit for fourth grade teams was mentioned by Mr. L. H. Clapham. Mr. McLeod stated that the laxity in regard to age limits was the main cause of trouble in the south. It would have to be avoided.

Complaint was made by Mr. G. Bennett (Clifton) that the non-fulfilment of some fixtures 'by the New Plymouth Boys’ High School due to vacations made it possible, because of points gained in byes, for a team of juniors in the northern division to emerge as the winner of the competition' while perhaps the runner-up had won more matches. The matter, said Mr. McLeod, was fully understood by the management committee, and if such an occasion was likely to arise it could well be left to the committee to deal with. Mr. J. Mi Stephens asked for a representative fixture for Stratford. Mr. McLeod pointed out that the matter was one for the management committee. Mr. C. Massey suggested that a representative match should be arranged at Stratford for July, it being the union’s jubilee year. The suggestion was noted. Mr. McLeod approved a proposition by Mr. D. J. Malone that jubilee celebrations be spread over the whole province.

In response to a request by Mr. L. T. Aylward (Star) ■ Mr. McLeod stated that permission for broadcasting did not require renewal. Mr. J. Garcia reported that a new club had been, formed at Uruti. All that was required was the definition of boundaries. ■ ■'

Mr. McLeod paid a tribute to the work of the retiring members of the management committee, Messrs. W. A. Guy and L. Hunt.