TRIAL GAMES UNCHANGED

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1935, Page 7

TRIAL GAMES UNCHANGED

PICKING OF ALL BLACKS MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND UNION CHAIRMAN EXPRESSES OPTIMISM. NO DETERIORATION OF STANDARD. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Criticism was made at the annual meeting of the Rugby Union of the itinerary of the trial games for the selection of the All Blacks, and these was a proposal to hold the matter over for discussion later.’ Mr. S. S. Dean, however, said it was part and parcel of the annual report and asked could the matter not be disposed of. The criticism mostly related tb the last three games, on June 11 at Palmerston North, on June 13 at Wellington, and on June 15 at Wellington. The itinerary, as set out in the report, was adopted. A suggestion was made that an attempt should be made to secure a match for the All Blacks with France. Mr. Dean said representations had already been made .with a view, to securing two matches, but the English Rugby Union would not agree.

Mr. Dean said that although there appeared to be a feeling amongst a section of the people that the standard of Rugby had deteriorated in the Dominion and that the All Black team selected would not be up to the standard of its predecessors, he did not subscribe to that belief. Most of the same arguments as those used to-day were evinced before the selection of the 1905 and 1924 teams, but all were aware of the achievements of both those teams. Players on the coming tour would develop, and he was sure they would return with greatly enhanced .reputations.

“SPORT IN CHAOTIC STATE.” “Sport in general seems to be ih such chaotic state throughout the world now that an excellent opportunity presents itself in this tour to show the rest of the world that we play the game solely for the game’s sake and for the friendships that Rugby football brings us,” said Mr. Dean. He expressed the absence of personal misgivings similarly in regard to the Maori team’s tour of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. He spoke also of sending two delegates to the conference with England, to be followed by a conference .with the four unions comprising the International Board—England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

The South African Board had accepted an invitation to tour Australia and New Zealand in the 1936 season, and negotiations i between New Zealand • and Australia with regard to this tour were proceeding. New ’ Zealand was now awaiting the Australians’ -acceptance of definite proposals submitted. Although there was a loss of £577 15s 4d on the, year’s working, general finances were in a healthy condition, said Mr. Dean,.the balance-sheet showing an excess of assets over liabilities of £37,319 10s Id. Since the publication of the bal-ance-sheet interest shown as outstanding by the West Coast, Poverty Bay and Manawatu unions had been paid in full and an amount was received on account from the Auckland and Thames unions.

He paid a tribute to the services of Mr. Cecil J. Wray as New Zealand’s representative on the Rugby Football Union.

MR. D. STUART PRESIDENT. Officers' were' elected as follows: Patron, the Governor-General; president, Mr. D. Stuart (Otago); vice-presidents, Hon. J. McLeod' (Taranaki), Dr. W. S. Seed (Canterbury), Rev. Mr. Riordan (Horowhenua) and Messrs. K. S. Williams (East Coast), L. J. Brake (North Auckland), H. Frost (Auckland), G. P. Lindsay (Thames Valley), L. Powell (Waikato), J. Guinness (Bay of Plenty), J. Quirk (Wanganui), M. D. Smith (Hawke’s Bay), R. J. Smith (Bush Districts), J. L. Donovan ■ (Wairarapa), W. F. Hornig (Wellington), A. M. Ongley (Manawatu), M. McKenzie (Marlborough), R. J. Eyre (Nelson), A. S. Parker (Poverty Bay), K. J. Holyoake, M.P. (Golden Bay-Motueka), A. G. Colvin (Buller), T. O’Donnell (West Coast), A. G. Knowles (South Canterbury), J. B. Wootton (Otago), H. S. Strong (Southland), L. V. Carmine (King Country), J. C. C. McLoughlan (Ashburton), A. Gilchrist (North Otago); management committee, Messrs. S. S. Dean, T. A. Fletcher, W. J. Wallace, A. C. Kitto, F. T. Glasgow, E. S. Hylton and A. McDonald; hon. treasurer, Mr. H. S. Leith; appeal council, Messrs. F. H. Campbell, J. S. Hutchison and F. H. Sincock; auditor, Mr. O. Kember.

A Canterbury proposal to increase the New Zealand selection committee from four to six was lost. It was decided to send through the English Rugby Union congratulations to the King on the occasion of his silver jubilee. The King and the members of the Royal family, said the mover, had always taken a keen and a personal interest in the well-being of New Zealand’s footballers in Britain.