NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17947, 4 May 1928, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING. Mf T«l«er»ph—Pr««. A»«ori«Mou WELLINGTON, May 8. In his presidential address at the annual meeting of the New_ Zealand Rugby. Union to-day, Mr K. Manoy (Motueka), referred to the death of Sir Robert Hill, as the grand old man of Rugby foot!* 11. Mr Manoy said tho past year had been one of continued progress. Tho outstanding feature had been the selection of the. All Blacks for Africa, after a most exhaustive series of trials. The progress of the team would be watched with great interest, but whether New Zealand won or lost, all trusted the games would be played in a friendly spirit, and would have great effect from the Imperial standpoint. The Dominion s requesf for an Imperial Rugby Board had been supported by the English Union, but turned down by tho Intelnational Board. Ho hopccMhe International Board would be made to realise tho imports nee of the proposition and give the’Dominions a voice in the (government of the game. The. International Board had turned down an invitation for a British team to tour New South Wales and New Zealand in 1930, but the English Union had happily" stepped into the breach. Further, the other Home unions would not stop players the team. Although the Maori tour of New Zealand last year' had not been a success, .it was appreciated very much by the Minor Unions. Tlia finances_ of the Union, were in a healthy condition, the surplus of assets over liabilities being £17,781 6s lid. A tentative itinerary was drawn up for the New South Wales team in New Zealand. . , Tho North Island v. South Island match will bo played at Christchurch on August 18. • Mr G. Mnddijson (Hawke’s Bay), was unanimously elected president of the Now Zealand Rugby Union. The Management Committee was elected as follows: —Messrs S. S. Dean, A. C. Kitto, E. McKenzie, H. S.Leith, T. A Fletcher, W. E. Hornig, J. Roache. A ossification of Unions was made. Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Hordwhenua, Taranaki, Wanganui, Canterbury, South* Canterbury, Otago and Southland were classed as A grade Unions; all other Unions as B grade.