FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 30 March 1925, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

masterton club.

ANNUAL REUNION.

The annual reunion of the Masterton Football Club, held on Saturday evening, was attended by over OOQ members and supporters, and representatives of rival clubs. Among those present were Mr E. McKenzie, secretary, and Air Alt’ Johnson, treasurer, c>f the Wairarapa Rugby Union, and Air I. IT. Harvey, the All Black. The chairman (Air G.* 11. Perry) apologised for the absence" of Air Q. Donald, jun., who had intended to be present. Apologies were also received from Alonsignor Ale Kenna (president of the W.R.U.), and the officers of the Grey town F.C. A lengthy toast list was honoured. In responding to the toast of the W.R.U., proposed by Air D. K. Logan. Mr Johnson Said the Union had received a good deal of criticism for hoarding up funds and being very close with it, but he reminded his audience that he had been associated with, the Union through some very lean periods, and nobody knew when a bad season was coming along. No sport could thrive without finance, and as the A\ airarapa. Union did as much touring as any of the major unions, they could see that the funds were needed, and also that they wore being spent in educating the players. The health of the Masterton Football Club was proposed by Air T. Collerton, who, in digressing from the subject, paid a tribute to the work of Air L. McKenzie on the N.Z.R.U. as the representative of the minor unions. He considered that had it not been for the work of Air McKenzie and his country friends, the minor unions would still be seeking representation, and would never have made the advance which they had. Their representation had.enabled them to voice an opinion on the All Black Selection Committee, and for the first time in many years country players had received recognition. A policy of assisting junior players to aspire to higher honours in preference to encouraging the introduction of outside talent, was strongly advocated by Air R. Cowie, captain of last season’s senior fifteen, who said the club was being accused of introducing players. If this was so .he was strongly opposed to it. lie considered that the foundations of club spirit would be undermined if the younger players were discouraged by finding the vacancies in the senior team filled by men who, it was alleged, were as good as being imported. Interrogated by the chairman, Air Cowie said he was speaking on the principle involved, and was not referring to anyone personally. The winning of the championship was not everything to a club. The fact that the lower grades had won the Dewar Shield for the Alasterton Club was sufficient proof that they had the material to work on. If their younger players jvere taken in hand and given every assistance to foster a club spirit, they need have no fears for the future. Air E. L. Holmwood, whose name with Air Cowie’s was coupled with the toast, accepted Air Cowie’s remarks as applying to an announcement made last week of his having engaged a prominent footballer on his staff. Air Holmwood stated emphatically that it was business reasons which prompted the engagement. He had been looking for some time for a man,/■and considered that he was benefiting himself in the decision he had come to. It was pleasing to him, as an old footballer, to know that this man would 'be of assistance to football in the Wairarapa, but he, desired to refute the allegation that football interests had been the primary consideration.

A little light on the selection of the All Black touring team last season was thrown by Mr E. McKenzie, chairman of the selection committee, when responding to the toast of the “All Black Selectors.” A tribute to the work of the committee, and to Mr McKenzie, as chairman, was paid by Mr E. W. Payton, who, in proposing their health, said they had come through jLhffir task with flying colours, and it was g CpmpjiJlient to A minor union that their I'ejjrtv sent:iuVe was selected as chairman. Mr Payton took the opportunity of advocating the return in the Wfiirnrapa to the sole selector, adding that if a man was Capable of holding the office .of chairman of an All Black Selection Committee, lift should be capable of selecting a provincial team on his own. In °his reply, Mr McKenzie briefly outlined some of the difficulties the selection committee experienced. said that after the first committee of five had been appointed there was a feeling in headquarters that the country was too strongly represented, and he was approached by three members of the New Zealand Union, who asked him to resign to make room for another selector from the north. Mr McKenzie declined to do so, and very soon after, during his absence An hike cmf after, during his absence in Auckland, two additional selectors were appointed. Fortunately, he said, the other two were very capable gentlemen, and together they made a very happy family.

When the team was finally selected, a southern scribe, in criticising it, remarked that the McKenzie influence could be traced right through it. “How he expected tw’o McKenzies to convince five others I fail to see,” remarked Mr McKenzie, “but if he was right, in view of the way things turned out, he was handing the McKenzies a beautiful bouquet.” (Laughter and applause.) Mr McKenzie added that in selecting the team men were not picked on their football ability alone. If the selectors c-ould speak no doubt they could give ample reasons why (many players did not secure the honour. ' He concluded his remarks with an appeal to the younger players to realise that they had a wonderful opportunity before them if they would diligently apply themselves to the game. If he had tho honour to be again chosen as a selector his choice would always go to the rising footballer who had his future before him, adn who would be oi: some use to the game when he returned. A musical programme was supplied by Messrs T. Vaughan, R. Cowic, E. Venner, B. Norman and F. Winter. The function was one of the most successful the club has held.

J. H. Parker told tho story of the “ringing in” of three All Blacks in a French Rugby team, while the New Zealanders were in France, at a welcome home by the Old Boys’ Association on Saturday night at Christchurch. “In France the people looked upon us as heroes,” said Mr Parker, “and it was interesting to see the way the Rugby was played over,there. It was surprising to see the energy of the old fellows. There was one match in

the South of France for Ohl Timers, all the players being over thirty-five years of age. Those fellows could run around with the energy of us younger ones.” “Yes, you played in that match,-” interjected Air Dailey. “Yes, I was a ‘ring-in’,” resumed ATr Parker, amidst laughter, “but I was not the only one; there were three ‘ring-in’s’ on that occasion. West was a forward, and they played him as centre threequarter, and I toil you it was good. He didn’t know where lie was. Throughout the game he kept asking me what he was supposed to do next. ‘Where do I go now?’ he would keep on asking me; ‘How am I to do this?’ and, my word, it was a joke. Anyhow, lie didn’t do so bad; he scored a try from a lineout.”