INJURED PLAYERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20067, 26 March 1935, Page 8

INJURED PLAYERS

STATE OF INSURANCE FUND RUGBY UNION’S FINANCE Matters in connection with the insurance fund for injured players were fully discussed last night at the annual meeting of delegates to the South Canterbury Rugby Union. It was disclosed that the money paid into the fund by the clubs had been included in the general fund of the Union and that the Management Committee had made use of it. The meeting decided that a trust fund should be formed and that the amount that the Union had made use of should become the liability of the Union to the fund. When discussion on the annual report and balance-sheet was invited by the chairman (Mr A. G. Knowles), Mr T. H. Langford said he noticed that £57/15/- had been contributed to the insurance fund last season and that £3B/2/3 had been paid out, while the balance was shown as £209. Had the Union a separate fund or was the money in the general fund of the Union? The chairman: In the general fund. Mr Langford said he thought the position was wrong. The money was contributed definitely for the benefit of injured players and not for the general use of the Union. The amount of £209, that should be available, would not be available if the Union was confronted with a series of serious accidents. Principle Wrong Mr A. B. Herdman (treasurer) explained the position regarding entries on the balance-sheet. The insurance money was included in the general fund of the Union. He admitted that the principle was wrong, but where could they get £209 to pay into the fund, if separate accounts were opened now. The system had been started and it meant that their liability was increasing. Actually, the use of t.he money constituted another loan. Mr A. Jackson said he thought that a start should be made immediately to create a separate fund. Such a recommendation should be made to the committee so that the interests of the players should be safeguarded. Mr A. Aitken said that having to pay into the insurance fund was always a sore point with his club. As the fund was at present constituted, their players could not draw much. In answer to Mr W. Cumming, the chairman said that every legal claim had been met last season. Mr Herdman said that an injured player still in receipt of his salary could hardly expect to receive much assistance. Actually, the Union had borrowed the money. Later in the meeting Mr Jackson moved—that the excess of receipts over expenditure in the injured players’ fund last season be set aside for a genuine fund and that the Union’s liability of £209, as indicated in the balance-sheet be wiped out. Mr A. Clemens seconded the motion. Players First. Mr Langford said he was not in favour of wiping out the £209. That sum constituted a definite liability and the money should be available, if necessary, for injured players. The players had contributed that money and they should be the Union’s first consideration. In addition, the creation of a sound insurance fund would tend to keep men in the game. Mr Herdman suggested that a start should be made with building up the fund this season. Mr M. Angland said that the Union had made use of money that belonged to the players. The chairman: What if the boot was on the other foot? If there was no fund, the Union would have to stand the expense of injured players. Mr Langford moved as an amendment that a trust fund for injured players be formed this year, and that the sum of £209 be placed as a liability to that fund. In answer to Mr W. .Keenan, Mr Angland said that, if the expenditure of the fund this season was greater than the receipts, the extra money required would have to be taken from the Union’s general fund. The sum of £209 was really a loan to the Union, interest being paid on it.

Mr Jackson withdrew his motion in favour of Mr Langford’s amendment which was carried.