WANGANUI RUGBY UNION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12185, 29 March 1909, Page 5

WANGANUI RUGBY UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING

Tho annual general meeting of the Wanganui Rugby Union took place on Saturday evening. Present: Messrs1 G bpriggens (president), in the chair, G. iv. Simpson,'W. Hall (trustee), F. HathorJj (auditor), L. Craig (treasurer), and R. Dunkley (secretary). The follownig were the delegates present: College, Messrs G. H. Pownaii, J. B Harcourt, B. Ashcroft; Old Boys F.C L. Bassett, L. Craig, L. Monli: Wanganui F.C. C. D. Canipbell, Dr Wall A. Gray; Kaierau FV., L. J. Furrie, A. Takorangi, H. Joyce; Pirates F.C, G Thompson, J Davidson, C. WainKia Toa F.C, E. Perrett, C. Stewart; Rangitikei sub-Union, A. W. Mountfort. There was a poor attendance of players. The minutes of the last general meeting were read and confirmed.

ANNUAL REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET—The annual report, already published, was taken as read. The hon. treasurer read the balance sheet, which showed" a fairly successful financial year. On the motion of the chairman tho annual report and balance sheet, with an addition, were adopted. OFFICERS.—The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, election held over; president, Mr G. Spriggcns (re-elected): vice-presidents, Dr Wall, Messrs J. C. Wesney and G. R. Simp£oa; hon. secretary, Mr R. Dunkley (reelected); hon. treasurer, Mr L. Craig (re-elested); management committee, Messrs G. Thompson (Pirates), A. Gray (Wanganui), L. Bassett (Old Boys), B. Ashoroft (College), L. J. Fnrrie (Kaioran), and E. Perrett (Thursday Clubs), vice-president New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr G. Spriggens; delegates to New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr L. Bassett and four others to be appointed by the management committee; auditors, Messrs F. Hatherly and H. Pickering! SELECTION COMMITTEE.—Mr C. D. Campbell moved that there be a sola selector, instead of three, for the coming season. After a discussion the motion was carried and Mr W. Glenn was unanimously appointed sole selector.

ALTERATION OF BYE-LAWS.—Mr Bassett moved and Mr Duukley seconded that bye-law 3 for Cup contests be struck out and the following bye-law be inserted in its stead:—'

(3) That no team of any club be allowed to enter for the Junior Cup contest except that the club has a team playing in the Senior Cup contest, provided always that where it is deemed in the interests of footballHo have exceptions to this bye-law, the management committee have power to accept entries of junior teamss for such contest.— Carried. - s RESIGNATION.—The Secretary read the following letter from Mr Walter Empson, resigning his position as patron of the Union:—- y "Collegiate School, Wanganui, March 27/1909.

E. Dunkley, Esq., Hon. Secretary"•R.F.TJ. Dear Sir.—Owing to ray approaching departure I must resign my position as patron of your Union. In doing so I should ■ like to express my sincere thanks for the kind expressions in your report, and also my confident hop 8 that the Union, which has done so much to maintain the standard of the game in the past, will long continue'to flourish —Yours truly,

W. EMPSON."

Mr Spriggens, president, referred to the general regret expressed at Mr Empsoivs departure, and lo the many servicea he had rendered to football durins: the long period he had been connected with the Union. Hs felt suro that players and a 1! foo.ball enthusiasts would unite in wishing him and -Mrs Empfon overv prosperity in'the future. Ho moved "That this meeting of delegates of tin Rugby Fcotball CLubs of Wanaanui desire to place on record its' appreciation of the many services rendered by Mr W. Empson to all outdoor sports, :and to Rugby football, in particular, and that.in recognition, thereof ho !><•'elected a life member of tl»e Wanganui Rugby Union." Mr G. R. Simpson, a vice-president, seconded the motion, and in eulogistic terms referred to Mr Empson's services and to the loss the Union was sustaining. : . . " Tho resolution was earned unani"'Mr^HYAMS' RESIGNATION .-A letter was rejj,d from Mr Jf Hyams, who had for sixteen years acted as the Wai*ganui Union's delegate to the New Zealand Union, resigning the position.—Mr A. W. Mountfort said that Mr Hyams had. done good work for the Union and the game during the time he had represented the Wanganui Union in Wellington, and officials all knew what loyal service he had rendered and what a debt the Union was under to him. He moved—" Tliat this Union regrets the retirement of Mr J. Hyams, for sixteen years its delegate on the New Zealand Union,

ana accoras mm v, uvui-vy v.uuc «» u^«^«^ for his many services to the game and this Union. That the secretary be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to Mr Hyams."—Mr. Geo. Simpson seconded the motion, heartily endorsing the previous speaker's remarks. —The resolution was carried with acclamation. REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES.— IMr 0. D. Campbell moved,"That it be all instruction to the Management Committed to arrange, as far as possible, to j have all pup matches finished before any representative matches take place." The I mover referred to the great, inconvenience caused to players through representative fixtures coming in between cup matches. It was not for the good of the .game, and in the interests of" clubs cup contests should be concluded before representative matches were played. — -Tae President saii that perhaps there were too many representative fixtures —no les sthan 15 had taken place last season. —After some discussion the motion was put and lost. . INJURED PLAYERS' FUND.—Mr L. Furrie brought up the question of establishing a fund to compensate injured players. The Union perhaps could not yet have an insurance scheme, but he considered something should be done to establish a fund to help injured players. The New Zealand Union held a largo amount of money, and should make donations to Unions to start such funds. Mr Furrie outlined a suggested scheme, by which each player should contribute to the neucleus of a benefit. Mr .Furrie moved that it be a recommendation to the Management Committee to formulate some definite scheme for an injured players benefit fund. —A discussion followed, during which it was pointed out that the New Zealand Union had appointed a committee to consider a scheme of general insurance, but that the result of- their deliberations was not known yet.—The motion was carried. THANKS.—Votes of thanks were accorded Dr. Wall, Mr W. Hall (for the use of a room for meetings), and to Messrs H. Tilley, G. Pownall, W. Dustin, T. Bell, and W. Corby,, retiring officials. "The meeting concluded at 10.45 p.m with the usual compliment to*the chair.

REFEREES' ASSOCIATION

A meeting of the Wanganui Referees' Association was held on Saturday eveii.ing, when Mr A. Larsen was apjpointed to represent the Wanganui branch afc tlie conference at New Plymouth at Easter of the New Zealand Referees' Association.