SOCCER FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1935, Page 5

SOCCER FOOTBALL

SENIOR AND JUNIOR CONTESTS.

TARANAKI ASSOCIATION MEETS.

Senior and junior competitions, to commence on April 27, were decided on at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Football Association at New Plymouth last night. Mr. J. W. Hollows presided over a good attendance, including the following delegates: Messrs. J. McKay and J. Henderson (New Plymouth Thistle), E. Kenny, P. Gardner (Moturoa), K. Reeves (Waitara), R. L. Lowe, A. Hawes (Albion), H. Longstaff, R. James (Hawera), H. Gibbs, H. Millar (Stratford), J. W. Chapman (Pirates), W. Johnston, G. Lawrence (Taranaki Referees’ Association). I,

In reply to Mr. Roper, the chairman said that only one club, Moturoa, paid its affiliation fee last year. Thus, strictly speaking, Moturoa was the only club entitled to vote, but it would be rather drastic to rule in that way. Mr. Roper said he had not intended to ask for a ruling in that direction, but he did want to point out that the association needed funds. It could not carry on Unless clubs fulfilled their obligations. The secretary said he could not say how much each club owed in registration fees, because he did not know the number of registered players in each club. The clubs owed £2 11s apart from registration fees. The report and balance-sheet, which has 1 been -published, was adopted. Mr. Roper, referring to the balancesheet, said it was hardly fair to say that a' loss was shown because of a grant of £2 to the Primary Schools’ Association. He pointed out that some pounds were due to the association by clubs for the registration of players. He recalled that early last year it was decided to launch a scheme to raise funds, which were to be shared with the clubs and the Schools’ Association. The Schools* Association was faced with a deficit of £3 10s to start this season. It had only been able to carry on through those interested putting their hands in their pockets. The association could not continue unless the financial arrangements were put on a firm basis by the parent body. The chairman considered it would be better for the question to be dealt with by the incoming executive. Mr. Roper accepted the chairman’s View, but said he wanted to bring the question before the senior clubs. Answering Mr. Johnston, Mr. Roper admitted the Schools’ Association conducted a competition, but that was to raise funds to send the- boys’ representative team to the Napier tournament.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Mr. Hollows and Mr. Chapman intimated that they would not be available for renomination as president and secretary respectively. Officers were elected as follows: Patron, Dr. E. A. Walker; president, Mr. W. Adams (Hawera); vice-presidents. Dr. D. E. Brown, Messrs. G. E. Roper, R. j. Page, J. S. Paton, A. H. Bensley, J. Littlejohn (Stratford), W. Johnston, D. McCormick (Hawera), G. Burrows, W. Reeves (Waitara), A. H. Hillock (Stratford), .W. Richards, J. W. Hollows, J. H. Stephenson; secretary, Mr. H. Longstaff; executive, Mesgrsaß. James, H. Millar, D. A. Benjamin, R. Rae, N. Bremer; auditor,'Mr. J.‘S. Paton; delegate to New Zealand Football Association, Mr. R. J. Page. A vote' of thanks was passed the retiring officers, special mention being made of Mr. Chapman as secretary. Mr. Chapman was voted an- honorarium of £2 2s. He announced that he would donate the amount to the association.

The Hawera and New Plymouth Thistle clubs announced that they would be entering teams for the competitions. Mr. Chapman said he had not yet received six school footballs in accordance with advice from the New Zealand Football Association. The letter regarding the matter was referred to the Primary Schools’ Association.

On the motion of Mr. Roper, seconded by Mr. Page, it was decided that the headquarters of the association should be moved from New Plymouth to Stratford. '

The opening day was fixed for April 27, when the Julian Cup competition will commence. ' ,

The Hawera club was given permission to challenge the Stratford club for the Chinese Cup, the match to be played on Easter Monday. It was recommended to the executive that the Chinese Cup should be made available for competition in North as well as South Taranaki, the conditions to be decided by the executive. The Hawera club was granted permission to invite a Wanganui team to visit Hawera on June 3.

The need for a junior competition was emphasised, several prospective teams being mentioned. Messrs. Roper, R. Rae, Sturmey, Lawrence and Reeves were appointed a sub-committee to make arrangements for a competition to commence on April 27. The question of obtaining the free use of a ground at Te Mete Park, Mangorei Road, was discussed, the suggestion being that the ground should be controlled by a joint committee representing cricketers and Association footballers. The proposal was endorsed and Messrs. Lowe, Roper and Lawrence were appointed a committee to present a report. The committee will also report on the suitability of a ground on East End reserve.