FOOTBALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13558, 31 March 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THK RUGBY UNION. The annual general meeting of the South Canterbury Rugby Union was held in Hutchison's Tea Rooms last evening. Present :—-.Messrs F. Watson (in the chair), W. Hurdley (secretary), W. A. Pearson, C. Maithus, J. O'Leary, A, Cuthbert, C. Collins, H. Kennedv, W. Maben, E. Husband, J. Smith,.J. *W. Waldie; W. Drake, Father Kerley. ' The secretary read the report and bal-ance-sheet (already published). Mr O'Leary asked what were the receipts and expenditure in connection with the representative matches against visiting teams. The gates for the three matches were given at £59 Is 3d and the expenses in connection with these left :a balance of,about £l. Tile profit on the tournament was stated, to be £25. Father Kerley. asked some questions concerning "the profits on the' representative match at Temuka as against' the one against Auckland at'Timaru. The former was stated to be the more profitable owing to the fact that Auckland had two teams and stayed in this district longer. Father Kerley remarked on the fact that the gate money at the match with Auckland, with a large attendance, was smaller than at Temuka,\ where there was a small attendance- \ Mr. Collins replied that this bad: struck the committee too, but. no cause for the

deficiency had been suggested, ' Mr Drake thought it time some ; more satisfactory arrangement was mode with regard to grounds. With, the 5 per cent, rental for the Athletic Grounds asked for this season thet Union- would probably have only a few shillings left at the end of the year.. •

Mr Pearson thought'the -owners of the grounds should be asked to improve the No. 2 field. - .-■'■.

Mr O'Leary moved the adoption the report and balance-sheet. He said that

footballers had no choice in the matter of grounds and were compelled to pay what rent was asked. He urged careful nursing of the funds so that a team might be sent on tour.

Mr Cuthbert seconded this. He stated that-the receipte7fof. ihe year were satisfactory, but he thought there must have been a leakage somewhere, particularly in entertaining visiting- teams.

Mr Collins thought the amount spent in entertaining was not excessive considering the number of the teams. He approved of the committee's suggestion to erect,turnstiles at-the grounds to guard against possible leakage. The jbalance-sheefc was not a bad one and the sport provided was cheap at the price. The secretary said that- one line of expenditure was for players', expenses. Father Kerley disapproved of bringing teams here if the finances-were to be much, impaired. He [thought the visits of teams should improve. the . finances instead ! of

straining them. School teams, he, considered, should be encouraged by the forma-" tion of a fourth grade. Regarding the balance-sheet he thought details of receipts and expenses of .different matches; should .be given. , ~.;.". '.The chairman in: reply said that /every shilling of expenditure bad been carefully considered. Some items of expenses would nojt recur this season. The report and balance-sheet iyere unanimously; adopted. Theelection of officers resulted asVfol.lows :—(Patron, Dr Drydeh; : president, 1 Mr F. C. Watson; vice-presidents, Father Kerley, Dr Cooke,; and Mr D. Grant; treasurer, Mr C. F. Collins; secretary, Mr W. Hurdley; management committee, Father Kerley, Messrs W. Drake, W. Maben, J. W. Waldie, the president, treasurer and permit committee,Messrs Pearson; Kennedy and Walker; selection committee, Messrs Cuthbert, Husband, Hassall; " auditor,- Mr W. Raymond. During ithe election of the management committee Mr Cuthbert said the Temuka and other country clubs Wer© dissatisfied with the constitution of ■ the committee, and the former intended submitting a motion to effect an alteration. . ' In reply the secretary said that when the new rules were drawn up no delegates came id from Temuka ; and it' was unfair for this club to now try and alter them. Messrs Cuthbert and: O'Leary said that under the new constitution the management committee was beyond the control of the Union; but it was pointed out-. „'- a'meeting of delegates could be called at any time on giving notice. It was-"decided to give the StarClnb permission to play Kaikorai iDunedin, on the Caledonian Ground about Easter. "" ■ ..

Tlie Referees Association object : ing to one of'the new- rules dealing ''with' the appointment of referees by « committee, which, according to the constitution was too large.—The letter was received. ..■"'■■

The Celtic Ciub was given permission to travel two teams to Invercargill. The/Athletic Ground Company wrote agreeing to accept 5 per cent, of the net takings as rental.

W. M. O'Leary wrote applying for Hie removal of the disqualification against him.—lfc-wafi stated that the sentence was only imposed after the last match of last season, and applied to the whole of'this season. No action was taken in the matter.

The Waimate Football Club applied for permission to fonu a sub-union.—A permit was granted on compliance with the rules. The Rawhiti Hockey Club applied for the use of the Athletic Grounds on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.—The request was received, to be forwarded to the Grounds Company. The New Zealand Union advised that (he British team would be here on June 10th, and enquired about suitable grounds and the cost of the same.—The management committee was authorised to make all arrangements for the match, and a recommendation was made to support the Wellington Union in its endeavour to tecuic to the local unions some portion of the gate money. The secretary wits empowered to wnie to the Caledonian Society and the Athletic. Grounds Company, and to make arrangeinenlij for leasing the grounds. It was decided to depulationi.'-A; the owners of the grounds. to try and get the rents reduced, the deputation to have power ti« act in concluding leases. Messrs Drake, K. Wylie. and 11. Amoo I the latter two of Wellington) were appointed to repiesent the S.C. Union ;>t t'ie annual meeting of the Xciv Zealand Union, to be held au Wellington on May 14th. Father Kerley moved that a 4th grade school competition be efcarted, a limit of ago and weight to be imposed on players. Mr Collins held that, weight alone ishould be -considered, and Father Kerley agreed to drop that part of hi:? motion regarding the age and weight, and the motion was passed and a committee appointed to drawup conditions. Some remaiks were made concerning the So. 2 Athletic ground, and ib was sug-