EFFORT TO AMEND CONSTITUTION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20493, 11 August 1936, Page 9

EFFORT TO AMEND CONSTITUTION

RUGBY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF DELEGATES A desire for alteration in the constitution of the Management Committee of the South Canterbury Rugby Union was expressed at last night’s half yearly meeting of delegates to the Union. Present: Messrs A. G. Knowles (president), W. Harte (vice-president), J. M. Ritchie, W. A. Cumming (Temuka), C. L. Cutler (South Canterbury Referees’ Association), S. H. Sullivan (Mackenzie Sub-Union), A. B. Rowlands (Primary School Sports Association), J. H. Pennycook. D. Hepburn (Zingari), F. Pearce, M. J. Angland (Celtic), A. C. Rippen. A. Aitken (Old Boys), J. Lewis, J. Smither (Star), J. C. Winning, C. W. Keinan (Waimate Sub-Union), O. S. Priest, W. J. Quirke (Waihi), P. O’Connor (Pareora), B. Gresham (Geraldine), and A. B. Herdman (treasurer). On behalf of the Temuka Club Mr Ritchie moved that Rule 13 be amended to provide for the Management Committee to consist of the president, immediate past-president, treasurer, and one member from each of the clubs represented in the senior competition. Mr Ritchie added that Temuka had no objection to the Schools Sports Association, Sub-Unions and the Referees’ Association being included. Describing it as a move in the best interests of the game, Mr Harte seconded the motion. Mr Hepburn said that while the suggestion had much to recommend it, there were dangers, including the fact that clubs which did not possess senior teams would be debarred from direct representation. Mr Angland suggested an amendment that the Management Committee comprise a representative from each senior club, and three members, to be elected at the annual meeting, to represent the Sub-Unions, Referees’ Association, School Sports Association and junior clubs. Mr Pennycook considered that the meeting could not accept any amendment which had not been before the cltibs. Junior clubs should have their own representatives. He contended that the committee was wrongly constituted at present as no member should represent more than one club. He favoured an alteration but thought that time was necessary before the best means were devised. Junior Advisory Comtnittee Mr W. A. Cumming suggested that a junior advisory committee be formed which could take some of the load off the Management Committee. Such a step should satisfy the junior clubs. The chairman ruled that he could not accept an amendment, but the matter could be considered in preparation for the annual meeting. The trouble in the past, judging by the discussion, said Mr Pearce, was that there was too much club spirit on the Management Committee. The individual members should sink their club identity and work in the best interests of football generally. After further discussion regarding the alteration of the original motion, Mr Pennycook objected to any amendment to the proposal circulated to clubs. The chairman upheld the point. Mr Cumming drew attention to the fact that three senior clubs, Geraldine, Old Boys and Star, had no representation on the committee and these clubs provided 12 teams in the various grades. Clubs providing only 11 teams had representation. The motion, as circulated, was lost on a show of hands. Transfer of Players. Mr Gresham, on behalf of Geraldine, moved that Rule 55 be altered as follows: That the first sentence of the Rule be deleted and that there be substituted for it, three points as follows —(a) that twelve months notice of transfer be required from a player who desires to transfer from one club to another within the Union; (b) that it be recognised that there are four parties to a transfer, viz., (1) the player transferring, (2) the club from which the player desires to transfer, (3) the club to which the player desires to transfer, (4) the permit committee; (c) that in the event of all four parties to the transfer being agreeable, the twelve months notice may be set aside and the transfer may take place at any agreed time; (d) that the remaining part of Rule 55 from “No player from Sub-Union Districts,” appear as part (4) of the rule. Mr Harte seconded the motion pro forma. Mr Pearce said he doubted whether any player should be bound to a hard and fast rule for 12 months. The motion was lost. The Management Committee submitted a remit that Rule 55 be deleted and the following substituted in its stead: (a) that players desiring to transfer from one club to another, shall give six months notice of their intention to do so. This rule shall apply to clubs playing directly under the jurisdiction of the Union. Where a player definitely changes his place of residence from town to country or vice verso, during the currency of any one playing season, such players shall have the right to transfer, providing application is made not later than June 1. (b) Players from the Union’s Sub-Unions or from other Unions, shall not be permitted to play for clubs under the jurisdiction of the Union until they have been granted permission by the Management Committee. Players so transferred shall stand down for one playing Saturday. Mr Hepburn, in moving the matter, said he considered that if the proposal were adopted it would materially assist the clubs who would know where they stood. Mr Cuming said he was of the opinion that the Management Committee had the power at present to govern transfers and that should be quite sufficient. Messrs Pearce and O’Connor supported the retention of the present arrangement. Mr Hepburn emphasised that some law should be in force to safeguard the Management Committee and the officials of the clubs. Many of the objections would be removed by the inclusion of clauses B and C of the Geraldine remit. The motion was rejected.

Lower Grade Touring A suggestion that a junior representative team should play Otago at Dunedin on the day of the Shield match was made by Mr O’Connor, who said that a fair sum of money had been raised by the Queen Carnival which the lower grades supported. The chairman recalled that Canterbury and Otago were asked last year to play the South Canterbury juniors but the request was not entertained on the grounds of full programmes. Mr Rippen considered that the matter was out of order as the money was raised for senior representative teams. It was a question for the trustees. Mr Pennycook said that if junior tours were arranged there would be a tendency for juniors to remain in that grade. The suggestion had a good deal to recommend it said Mr Cumming. If the juniors could be sent to Otago out of ordinary Union funds they could return the same night. The game should do much to encourage them. Mr O’Connor moved that it be a recommendation to the Management Committee that a junior team play Otago on the day of Shield match. The motion was seconded by Mr Hepburn and carried. Conferences Arranged It was decided, on the motion of Mr Angland, that a conference of delegates of the Union and the Sub-Unions be held twice yearly to discuss general matters and to arrange local representative fixtures. Mr Angland added that such discussions should avoid any clashing of dates to the inconvenience of the Sub-Unions. A remit frdm Pleasant Point that more attention be paid to grades lower than senior, and that full rounds of competition be played, if possible, in each of the lower grades, was referred to the Management Committee. PUNTS AND PASSES Succeeding over one of the strongest forward packs in the country the Wellington forwards covered themselves with glory as well as mud at Athletic Park, in the match against Hawke’s Bay. The consequences were seen when the selectors took Fraser Smith and “Jock” Wells into the North Island team to play the South and named Arthur Lambourn as one of the emergencies for the big game at Christchurch. It is a season or two now since Wellington had three men out of the pack mentioned in the selection of a team representing the North Island. Last year there were two (this When the chosen of the country were across the other side of the world) and the season before only one. Having moulded a winning combination it is unfortunate for the selector that he cannot keep it together. Wellington’s next match is with Auckland on Saturday and on that day Smith, Wells, Lambourn, H. R. Pollock, L. H. Edwards, B. S .Sadler and J. L. Griffiths will be in Christchurch for the NorthSouth match. Promising Centre: P. Durning, last season’s centre ffr. Boys’ High School, was invaluable in the Celtic rearguard on Saturday. He scored a try right on the call of tix-.ic and earlier in the match made nr... for Jefferson. When he gains more experience, he should be an acquisition to the Greens. Efforts that Failed: Temuka made great efforts in the closing stages to pull the game out of the fire, but 'Old Boys’ defence stor'd the test. A. Gaffaney tried his utmost to penetrate to make openings for his wings, but the slowness of Temuka inside backs made the task a hopeless one. Neither Brown, Blyt-n nor Goodson put enough “snap” .‘nto their work and they would probably have served their side better by en - deavouring to take play back to then forwards occasionally insteady of trying to start passing rushes. The standard of football was good for a club match, and, although the sp<_ tators were undoubtedly in an anxious mood, they must surely have apprecia i *'l the fare served up to them.

Scrummage Laws: Under the present scrummage laws, it is almost impossible to hook the ball legally with two men only in the front row, remarks a Rugby writer in an English paper.