FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10418, 23 March 1912, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

Lancaster Park will have three grounds available this year as in past sea-sons. There is sure to be a great striving for excellence this year among teams, for the oval as a playing ground is a powerful attraction.

The Christchurch Club has secured the use of its old ground in the North Park again. It was taken from the Club about six years ago foi tho purposes of the International Exhibition.

Particular interest attaches to the ' annual report of the Canterbury Rugby Union this year, as last season reached tho high-water mark as far as finance was concerned.Tho big item was the amalgamation with the Cricket Association to secure and improve Lancaster Park, and there is little doubt that the Union will be as secure in this investment as it has been in its dealings in the past. I understand that a club has been formed at Sumner and will affiliate with the Canterbury Rugby Union and. enter a team for the fourth-grade this' season.

B. Williams, the Otago back, who last season played with tho Merivale team, has left the city. It is more than probable that he will be playing in the Auckland province this season. Signs are not wanting to show that club form this season will be very good. Most teams have the same players as last year and in some cases they have been considerably strengthened. Also there is an absence of first-of-the-sea-son talk and flap doodlo and players generally are devoting all their energies to getting into form as quickly as possible. Last year the Canterbury Rugby Union paid out £5 5s 4d to injured players. Tho insurance account started last year with a balance of £2 19s. This year the balance is £3 10s. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union Mr C. W. Hervoy will move and. Mr R. W. Britton will second, That rule 13 on page '22 of 1911 Annual be struck out and the following insert/d: "The committee of the Union shall consist of the officers of the Union, together with eight delegates, who shall be elected by ballot at the annual general meeting; seven to form a quorum." Previously there have been five delegates on the committee outside the officers. I hear there is some talk of abandoning the publication of the Canterbury Rugby Union's Annual. I am sure every enthusiast will protest against such an action, despite tho fact that the Union loses money on the publication. Mr Garrard's excellent little book has become a by-word in football circles in the dominion—and indeed abroad—and we should all regret very much to have this handy little guide, philosopher and friend lost to us. Last ye&r the annuals cost £4B 17s 6d and produced in sales etc. only £l9 7s, but the Union still finished the season, as in former years, with a good credit balance, and as long as the game continues to pay its way as handsomely as it has done in the past 1 think it would really not be a wise policy to call "no-side" on the grand little Annual. Towards the end of last season a subcommittee was set up by the Canterbury Rugby Union for the purpose of thoroughly going into a scheme for the insuring of players againsi accident. The sub-committee has formulated a scheme on the lines of the existing accident fund regulations. It is an excellent one in every particular and should meet with the approval of delegates when it is brought up at the annual meeting. The scheme is as follows :

Clause 1 of the old regulations (see any Canterbury Rugby Union Annual) has been retained intact and reads:— All matters in connection with the fund shall be under the control of the General Committee, who may appoint a sub-committee for the carrying out of these rules.

Clause 2 has been slightly altered at the end. The alterations are all words, after " before ":

Each club shall subscribe according to its status: —Senior clubs, £3 3s; Juniors, £2 2s; President's Cup, £1 Is; Thursday, £1 Is; such subscriptions to be paid before any claim will be recognised. The Canterbury Rugby b'ootball Union Committee to subscribe not less than £SO annually to the fund. Previously the words after " before " were: "the Canterbury Rugby Union competitions commence.'' Clause 3 has had the reference to the doctors deleted. They are provided for in a latter clause —one that has been specially drawn up. The clause as amended reads:— Each player entitled to participate in the fund shall bo paid half pay (with a maximum of five shillings, or a minimum of three shillings and sixpence) per working day whilst unable to follow his occupation, by reason of an accident received whilst playing football under the control of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union, but in no case shall a claimant receive payment for a longer period than sixty days. All claimants must produce if requested, a certificate from employer stating that wages have not been received during time for which claim be made, also rate of wages received prior to accident. Members of Canterbury Referees' Association shall be entitled to participate in fund. Mote. l —Attention of claimants is called to Rules of Professionalism. Halo 2, Sec. K. The words deleted came after "fund" in the second line and were " shall have the services of the doctor, or doctors, appointed by the Union, and, in addition.'' Clause 4 reads:—

The secretaries of all clubs contributing to the fund shall forward in writing to the secretary of tho Union a list of financial members of their clubs, and only players whose names have been received by the secretary of the Union prior to the accendent for which the claim is made shall bo entitled to claim on the fund. The words " for accidents incurred in Senior, Junior, President's Cup, Fourth Class or Thursday flag Games" which previously wound up tho clause have been deleted. Also clause • 5 which read:—-" Any financial player taking part in Trial, Representative Practices, or Games, shall he entitled to claim on the fund" has been deleted. This means that as long as tho player is financial it is not necessary that an injury should take place in compe-

titioii games before lie is entitled to participate in the fund. This was previously the case, but the rule now aj>plies to any game, practice or otherwise, as long as it is under the auspices of and ratified by the Rugby Union. Clause 6 now becomes Clause 5 and Clause 7, Clause 0, Clause 5 having been deleted. They have undergone no alterations and read: Clause 5 : No claim will be entertained unless tli* accident in respect of which the claim is made has been, reported to the referee in charge of the match, or to one of the committee,of the Union, in writing, within fortyeight hours of the termination of the match. Clause li: No claim shall be entertained unless accompanied by a doctor's certificate, to the effect that the applicant has, by reason of the accident specific-3 in the claim, been incapacitated from following his occupation during the period claimed for. Clause 7 is the new clause and provides for the certain attendance of doctors as follows: —

The secretaries of all clubs whose members desire medical attendance 6hall forward in writing a list of such members together with Is (one shilling) per member, such list and fees to reach the secretary of the Union not later than 5 p.m. on Thursday of each week.

Clause 8 is as before: _ Anv contingency arising in connection with the fund" which is not nrovided for in the rules, shall be left to the discretion of the general committee.