FOOTBALL

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

FOOTBALL

SOUTH CANTERBURY UNION DELEGATES MEET The annual meeting of delegates to the South Canterbury Rugby Union was held last night. The president, Mr A. G. Knowles, presided and the following delegates were present: Messrs J. Lillico, W. Keenan (Waimate Sub-Union), F. Geaney (Mackenzie Sub-Union), A. Aitken, A. Wishart (Old Boys), J. Pennycook, A. Stevenson (Zingari), P. Tutty, S. Ford (Star), M. J. Angland, F. Pearce (Celtic), L. W. Parrant, W. Harte (Temuka), A. H. Clemens (Geraldine), S. H. Sullivan, G. W. Wakefield (Pleasant Point), R. G. A. Munro (Pareora), A. Jackson (High School), A. B. Rowlands (School Sports Association), C. L. Cutler (Referees’ Association), H. King (Washdyke), F. D. Gillespie (Kingsdown) and W. A. Cumming (St. Andrews). Messrs T. H. Langford and J. Harley (vice-presi-dents), J. O’Leary (immediate pastpresident) and A. B. Herdman (treasurer) also were present. An apology for absence was received from the Waihi Club’s delegates, Messrs J. C. South and O. S. Priest. President’s Report. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, the chairman said that the prospects for the coming season were much brighter than they had been for several years. On the whole, the Union had reason to congratulate itself on a fairly successful season last year. The standard of football was high, and most of the competitions were very closely contested. Unfortunately, weather conditions were against the Union for a good part of the year, which was reflected in reduced gate receipts, and for the first time for more than 30 years, the Union experienced a wet tournament day. With assistance from the Southland Rugby Union the Union was enabled to send a representative team on tour to Invercargill and Dunedin. Several years had now elapsed since this Union toured the North Island, and as the Union owed the majority of the North Island Unions a game, a strong effort would be made to send a team on tour in 1936. This could only be achieved by keeping up the standard of football and retaining the public interest, and it behoved all clubs to assist the Union in this respect to the best of their ability. This season, an All Black team was to tour the British Isles, and a series of trial marches was to be played m various of the Dominion for the purpose oi selecting the best team available. While the Union had not been fortunate enough in having a game allotted to it, nevertheless, there were several players in the district who were likely to be selected to take part in some of these trials, some of whom would stand an excellent chance on last season’s form of being finally selected in the team. This alone should stimulate interest among the players. The expenditure last season had been kept down to a minimum, and there had been no waste. Members of the Management Committee ably did their part in conserving the funds of the Union by acting as gate keepers, etc., and the expenditure had been closely watched throughout the year. When it was remembered that for a good part of the year, weather conditions were poor when some of the most important club matches were played, including tournament day, and that in spite of this, the Union was enabled to send a team on tour, the Union could congratulate itself on finishing up the season with a small credit balance. Mr Jackson seconded the motion. The annual report (as previously published) and the balance-sheet, showing a profit on the year’s working of £3/14/5, were adopted. Officers Appointed. The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, Dr D. D. Dry den; president, Mr A. G. Knowles; immediate past president, Mr J. O’Leary; vice-presidents, Messrs W. Harte, J. Harley, T. H. Langford; management committee, Messrs M. Angland, A. Aitken, W. Keenan, J. Pennycook, J. Lillico, S. H. Sullivan, L. W. Parrant; treasurer, Mr A. B. Herdman; auditor, Mr A. C. Martin; hon. solicitors, Messrs Tripp and Rolleston. Mr Knowles returned thanks for his re-election unopposed as president, and assured delegates that he would do his best in the interests of all clubs. Three selectors were appointed, Messrs Parrant, Sullivan and Angland. Permit Committee. * On behalf of the Zingari Club, Mr Pennycook moved the following remit: “That to Rule 50 the following clause be added: ‘The findings of the Permit Committee shall at all times be submitted to the Management Committee for confirmation before becoming effective.’ ” Mr Stevenson seconded the motion. After a full discussion, the remit was carried by the bare two-thirds majority. On the call for nominations being made, Mr Cumming declined nomination and said that his two fellow members on the committee, Messrs T. H. McDonald and Hugh Fraser, had intimated that they did not wish to seek re-election. Mr Cumming said he had made his decision irrespective of the outcome of the remit before the meeting. Messrs J. Lewis, F. Pearce and R. G. Munro were appointed to the Permit Committee. On behalf of the Pleasant Point Club, Mr Sullivan moved the following remit: “That Rule 13 be amended to permit the vice-presidents to be ex-officio members of the Management Committee with full voting powers.” Mr Wakefield seconded the motion, which was lost. Mr Cumming, for the St. Andrews Club, moved: “That Rule 49 be amended by deleting the words ‘one member to be chosen by the Referees’ Association, one by the Management Committee, and one by the captains of the senior teams’ and substituting therefor the words ‘two members to be chosen by the Referees’ Association and one member by the Management Committee.’ ” Mr Herdman seconded the motion pro forma. The motion was defeated. Mr Cumming suggested that application should be made to the New Zealand Union for a reduction in interest charges. The delegates to the annual meeting of that body should be given definite instructions in the matter. Mr Wakefield and Mr Herdman supported the suggestion, and the chairman said he would refer the matter for the consideration of the Committee. Control of Tournaments. Mr Clemens asked what penalties the Committee intended to impose for breaches of rules in seven a-side tournaments. Mr Clemens referred to a case at the Pleasant Point tournament last year when a player was ordered off for foul play. The matter had been reported to the Management Committee which decided not to hold an inquiry. The chairman said that the Committee had decided that it had no jurisdiction.

Mr Wakefield pointed out that the Committee had not followed precedent,

referring to an incident four years ago when the Pleasant Point Club had been put to considerable expense in this connection. The Club wanted a definite ruling for the future. Mr Angland said that 10 years ago the New Zealand Union had ruled that the Union had no jurisdiction over seven a-side tournaments as they did not come under the laws of the game. A domestic rule would meet the position. Mr Cutler said that probably the Committee would hear more about the matter from the Referees’ Association. He had found in the by-laws of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Union sufficient to deal with the matter under discussion, and he read from the rules of the local Union similar powers. In addition the tournaments at Geraldine and Pleasant Point were permitted only on condition that the games were controlled by members of the Referees’ Association The Union had plenty of authority to deal with offenders for rough play. On the motion of Mr Jackson, a recommendation was made to the Committee to exercise jurisdiction over Club tournaments. On the motion of Mr Aitken it was decided to send a letter of appreciation to the retiring members of the Permit Committee. Mr Aitken referred to the fine service given by the retiring members over a long period. A vote of thanks was passed to last year’s selection committee and a similar vote was passed to Mr H. H. Fraser for the use of his office for the meeting. Management Committee. At a subsequent meeting of the Management Committee, Mr Knowles was re-elected chairman. The School Sports’ Association was granted the use of Fraser Park on April 5 and Old Boys Club on April 6. The Zingari Club was granted permission to play a game in Dunedin on Easter Saturday, provided the local competitions have not been opened.