RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 85, 11 April 1935, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE TARANAKI UNION PAST SEASON REVIEWED A WET 1934 SEASON Ke viewing the past season ia speaking to the report of the Taranaki Rugby Union, the retiring president (Mr. J. O’Sullivan), said tnat the standard of football in Taranaki had been greatly improved last season. This av as shown oy the representative team’s success, although. it ’was hard luck that the union had not gained the coveted Kanfurly Shield. \v mi two representative teams travelling during the season, the union’s finance* had been strained. Interest throughout Taranaki, however, had been particularly keen, as was shown by the increase of £6O in the gate takings. It was estimated that this would have been much greater if the weather had been more lavourable. Taranaki had experienced cue of the wettest seasons ever remembered, only two line Saturdays being recorded throughout the province. It was a wonderiul tribute to the union and its new system of club competition that, with this drawback, interest should have been so considerably increased. The coming season promised to be even keener, and the outlook was bright. Mr. O'Sullivan could not remember senior matches of the high standard exhibited previously beingplayed in March. This last fact shewed the amount of interest created by the approaching tour of Britain by the All Blacks. In conclusion, Mr. O’SuJlivan asked that all footballers throughout Taranaki give the union “a Kick along” in this, the union’s jubilee year. The chairman of the Management Committee and the new president, Hon. James McLeod, spoke to the balancesheets of the union. He stated that every penny spent on grounds in the province had been drawn from the capital fund, which had been raised several years ago for this express purpose. 1 his year, however, £1250 bad had to be drawn from this fund to help with insurance and club funds generally. The provincial scheme had done well in spite of the wet weather, and i 1 there was line weather this season, he felt sure that all that had begn claimed for the McLeod scheme would be borne out, and it would be piovtd as a big feature in maintaining a high standard of play and a high lived ol public interest, f inancially, the veai had been a hard one, but as mo.-i major unions owed Taranaki a v ' in representative matches, this ycai should prove more satisfactory. Later in the meeting, in thanking the delegates for electing him 1 dent, he said he had been a delegate to the union since 1905, with the exception of two years only. He appreciated deeply the honour of being president in this jubilee year, and he hoped that some special functions would be arranged in which all Taranaki foc-t--bailcrs, past and preseui, could participate. . . Votes of appreciation to retiring officers, particularly Messrs. J. O Sullivan (president), and A. A. Guy and L- Hunt (Management Gommittm’> was passed with acclamation. TWO PERMITS LOST | NEW SCRUM RULE ENDORSED An attempt to change the scrum 1 urination rule was made by the delegates from the Tukapa. Club at. the annual meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Union last night at Stratford, Hie Hon. James McLeod presiding. It was stressed by the Tukapa delegate (Mr Chas. Brown) that the old scrum -formation, 2—r3 —2, had been proved as the finest scrum in the world, ami New Zealand had won its high reputation on this scrum. When the wing-forward was abolished, new scrums were tried, instead of putting the extra man in the front row, and making the formation 33 —2. Only a short discussion look place, one delegate stating that the union would be only heating the air if the remit were adopted, as tar as the •coaches and those who controlled the game were concerned. Put to the vote, the remit was defeated almost unanimously. A further remit in dealing with scrum rules was submitted by the Tukapa Club, but as the remit dealt with the rule recently adopted by the union as to putting the ball into the scrum, it was withdrawn. The meeting endorsed and approved this new scrum rule. In order to retain interest in club football at the conclusion of Taranaki club competitions, the Batea delegates submitted a remit that a final match be played between the leading senior teams in the north and south divisions respectively of Taranaki. The remit met with universal approval and was carried. A suggestion from the Elf ham Club that two selectors, one for the forwards and one for the. backs, be appointed, was found to be in direct opposition to the union’s rules which allowed for the appointment of either one or three. The difficulty of one man travelling throughout Taranaki to see all the backs or forwards in action was as great as that in the case of one selector. Another remit recommending that the chairman of the selectors being called an arbitrator, was withdrawn. Discussion following a remit from Stratford suggesting that the profit from club football be divided among the senior •clubs at the end of the season, resolved into a lengthy review of the financial positions of senior clubs. It was stated that the new system could not carry itself, most clubs having to raise funds by other means to help their finances, and the high travelling expenses were responsible for giving clubs extra financial difficulty in not making the year a dead loss. That the division of gate monies in ratio to distance travelled had been accepted as fair. When the two clubs which had had the largest, travelling, Patea and Clifton had signified their satisfaction by the absence of complaint. Patea had travelled 644 miles during the season, in comparison with Stratford’s 260 miles The chairman stated that if the Management Committee charged al! expenses to the club footbail account, no profit would be shown, and there would be no funds with which to make a final distribution among clubs. Stratford delegates agreed to withdraw their remit, when a resolution ■wrae carried that the matter of a final

allocation of the profit, if any, of club football at the end of the season be left to the decision of a general meeting to he called as sopn after the •close of the season as possible. Payment of insurance was raised by a remit from the Eltham Hub, who asked that fees payable by junior, third and fourth-grade players be fixed at a lower rate than the four shillings paid by senior?. The chairman pointed out that if sufficient funds were paid into the insurance fund of Taranaki, it would have to be dropped, and in this eventuality the clubs would be much better off financially, as the union would not have insurance payments, as a continual drain on the finances. This year, one hospital hoard, Patea, had shown a magnanimous spirit in meeting the union bv almost halving a large account due to them. Put if the insurance scheme was foiled to be abolished bv lack of contributions, the moral obligation, and probable heavy call on their finances, would have to be borne by the clubs. At present there was too much paid out to minor injuries, which drew the major portion of the insurance fund. The aim of the scheme was to provide for major injuries, in which cases the players should be protected. Further discussion was concluded with the remit being put to the meeting am] lost, it being stated that four shillings was little enough to nav to protect voungcr placers in vase of serious hurt. Opening date for the chib competitions was fixed for April 27.