FOOTBALL

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 2766, 2 April 1927, Page 5

FOOTBALL

THE CAMBRIDGE UNION. ANNUAL MEETING. ..That there is a quickening of interest in local football circles this year was indicated on Thursday evening in the record attendance at the annual meeting. There were present over 80 players and supporters from all parts, of the district, r and the subsequent proceedings were distinctly encouraging. The president, Mr S. Lewis, was in the chair and in opening the meeting said it : was particularly gratifying to observe such a large and representative attendance. The apparent interest augured well for the success of the ensuing season. A Generous Donation. A letter was received from Mr Allan T. Fitzgerald, of Grey Street, offering to the union a shield for competition among the local juniors, the conditions being that (he shield be for local club competition and that it be presented to the winning junior team each season. The letter, containing the generous offer, concluded with the hope that the union would experience a bright and prosperous season during 1927. In moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Fitzgerald for his generous offer, Mr Lewis referred to the keen interest the donor had always displayed in local football and the good service he had rendered the union as an official at rep. matches. The motion was carried by acclamation. Report and Balance Sheet.

In amplifying the annual report, which appears on another page, MrLewis referred to the improvements made to the football grounds at Victoria £iqu:ire during the past season. In this connection, said the president, the union owed a debt of gratitude to His Worship the Mayor (Mr T. Richards) and the engineer (Mr T. Dix). Without their assistance the expense to the un-. ion would hftc been much heavier. The engineer had also to be thanked for the erection and housing of the goal-posts. Mr Lewis paid tribute to the' splendid services rendered the union by Mr Robert Webber. He had been a tower of strength to the speaker. Ja specially mentioning Mr Webber’s services the president said he intended' no. slight upon such, good workers as. the Messrs Fitzgerald (senr. and junr.) and A. Bertelscn. Mr Lewis mentioned the general meeting held last August which considered ways <nnd means of improving district" football, and stated that a committee had been set up to consider a system of boundaries and grading, but no active steps had been' taken. He was pleased to observe the interest taken in football this season by a special committee that had been set up. This was an encouraging sign. After referring in appreciative terms to the good work of the executive last season, the president in reviewing the playing activities last year, said his feelings leaned more towards the public than the players. The public could rightly expect players to play the game when oh the Jtietyl and to be in attendance on time. The Balance Sheet. Receipt's: Balance brought forward from previous seasdn, £44 8/; gate and stand takings, £194 6/0; other receipts, £32' 5/5; total, £270 19/11. Expenditure (the principal items): Advertising, £23 0/6; labour, £S 13/; borough tax, £l2 9/3;' visitors’ travelling expenses,' £29 12/; £27/10/;/stand and goal-posts, . £32 19/0; secretary’s honorarium, £25; guaranteed railway fares, £3B 0/10; other expenditure, : £24 1/s; v total, £221 14/6. Credit balance £49 5/5. Assets amounted to £156 5/5 and liabilities nil. The report and balance sheet were unanimously adopted. Election of Officers. Patron, Mr F. Lye (re-elected); president, Mr W. Milburn; vice-presid-ents, Messrs A. Montgomery and H. J. Ambury; management committee, the president, vice-presidents and one representative from, each club, together with one representative from the Referees’ Association, one from Primary Schools’ Association and the secretary: auditor, Mr W. Woolley; delegates to union, the president and one vice-pre-sident to attend first meeting of union, the management committee to appoint a permanent delegate along with the president. It was agreed that the delegates’ travelling expenses during the season should bo met by the union. > Secretary’s Honorarium. The appointment of a secretarytreasurer at an honorarium of £25 per year was a niattOr upon which there was a diversity of opinion. Mr W. Webber was opposed to a set salary. However, if it was the opinion of the meeting that a fixed honorarium should be made then they should call applications for the position. He thought the Rugby Union was getting too much like a commercial institution. Others gave their time in different directions and expected no remuneration. He realised the amount of "work entailed and was not belittling the.good .work

done by the past two secretaries but he thought someone would come forward and do the work for less than £25. There were others of his opinion, but he had to be the “mug” to get up and give voice to the views. In declining nomination Mr Edgar James referred to the large amount of work entailed especially in organising. It was worth far more than £2si It was due to the splendid services of Mr Lange and the' previous secretary that the union had been placed upon its feet financially. Mr W. Sands' strongly supported Mr James’ remarks. • Mr W. Webber contended that the improved financial position was due to Cambridge winning the Peace Cup at Thames. Mr Wesley Hooker said the union had no right to expect any man to give the time and labour entailed for nothing. On the motion of Messrs Bullman and Hooker it was resolved that the secretary’s honorarium this year again be £25. Mr James was agtjin with two others nominated for the office, but all declined and finally it was agreed that the appointment be left in the hands of the management committee. Third-grade Football. Mr E. Webber brought up the matter of organising a third-grade competition this season. There had been third-grade players available last season, but they had been neglected. The matter will have the consideration of the management committee. ■ Selectors. The appointment of selectors produced a lengthy discussion, there .being varied views as to the wisdom of having one or more selectors for the several grades. Amendments were freely forthcoming, but after a lot of somewhat .unsatisfactory voting it was resolved that there be threo selectors for the senior grade and one each for the junior and third-grade.' Improving Waikato Football. Mr W. Webber said that the special committee set up to foster football in the Cambridge district were strongly ofopinion that the time had arrived when some effort should be made to improve the standard of play in the Waikato. The matter had been previously freely discussed tuid it was the opinion of quite a number of local enthusiasts that an improvement could be brought about by the-introduction of a system similar to that under which football was played in Taranaki. The special committee had a recommendation which would be placed before tho meeting. Messrs B. H. Bishop, W. Jury and D. Bourke fully explained the Taranaki system, which if applied to Waikato would provide for East and West Club competitions with home and home matches. Clubs with several grades of teams would replace sub-unions. It was explained that districts could enter one or 'more toAms in the several grade competitions according to the support forthcoming. The East and divisions would play off their respective competitions, tho winners to meet in Waikato cup finals. Mr W. Jiuy sold under this scheme, which had proved very successful in Taranaki, every player had a chance of a game in the grade for which he could qualify. In Taranaki this system had resulted in a much improved standard Of play. • -

Mr Bourke said that under the present system. material .available seemed to be getting less. Many .of the oldeT players . were resigning and their places were not being tilled up., With a number of grades each player had for his objective tho higher grades and consequently this brought about an imprived standard of play. Until some such scheme was adopted Waikato would not produce a representative team capable of meeting tho best in the Dominion. On the motion of Messrs W. Webber and T. H. Hall it was unanimously resolved -that the delegates to the Waikato Unioh .be instructed to place the scheme before the union for consideration at a conference of union delegates. Vote of Thanks. A hearty vote of thanks to retiring officers concluded a most satisfactory meeting. HAUTAPU CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of tkp Hautapu Club was held in the Hautapu Hall on Wednesday evening, when Mr W. Bourke presided over an attendance of twenty play el’s and supporters. The • balance sheet-showed that the past season had commenced with a credit' balanco of-' £6 10/3 anti, concluded with a credit balance of £l3 il/9. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. It was decided to nominate a senior and junior team for the coming season. The election of officers resulted:— Patron, Mr W. Thompson (re-elected); president, Mr J. J. Bourke (re-elected) ; vice-presidents,.. Messrs W.. Cartmill, E. Glover, G. Burns ,J. Vincent, L. Marccau, H. Eeynell, W. Sands, O. Watt,

I\ C. Petersen, K. Hinton, F. Haycock; A, MeFnrlano, H. Haeusler, C. Chariton, and H. Ji. Ambury; secretary and treasurer, .Mr 11. ... Quins (re-elected); auditor,.Mr H. Haeusler; management committee, ... Messrs, )V,, Hooker, J. Bourke,. A,. Thompson,. H. Haeusler, B. Wells, W. Bourke; club captain, Mr B. Wells; -selectors: Seniors, club* captain and, Mr H. Cu.bis; juniors, captain and vice-captain;■delegates Jo the union, Messrs W., Hooker; and- J. Bourke. General.

The.subscription,s>remain -.the same aslast season, viz.,- 2/6. for both<senior and junior members.;, and the-; colours, red and white. . . ...

The club decided to donate a football to the Hautapu school again this seu-

Consiclerable discussion took place regarding some form of insurance for players, and finally the delegates were instructed to bring this before the management of the union. It was decided to hold the annual concert and dance some. time during May, on a date suitable to the. ladies’ committee. Votes of thanks were passed to Mrs W. Thompson and all ladies who had arranged the successful concert-held at the beginning of last season; also to the officers of the club for their generous donations. THE WAIKATO UNION. MEETING OF DELEGATES. A meeting of delegates of the Waikato. Union was held at Hamilton last evening, Messrs W. Milburn and A. Montgomery being in attendance as representatives. of the Cambridge Subunion.

The suggested one big union for the Waikato on ’j’aranaki lines was fully explained by the Cambridge delegates and was very favourably received by the Hamilton and Morrinsville delegates, though the Waipa delegates favoured the retention of the present system. The matter will go forward in the -shape-of’ Recommendation to the annual meeting of the union this month, that- a conference of delegates be called to fully consider the scheme.