RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9204, 2 April 1938, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ANNUAL MEETING OF UNION THE COMING SEASON OFFICIAL OPENING ON APRIL 30 The annual general meeting of the Waihi Rugby Union was held in the pavilion Rugby Park, on Wednesday evening, the p.tsident, Mr J L. McDermott, occupying the chair and delegates being present from the following clubs: Mataura (Messrs C.

Hughes and W. Potier), High School

Old Roys (Messrs G. O'Neil and A Farrell), Kalikati (Messrs I. John

son and Blomquist), and Convent Old Boys (Mr R. Johns), the Referee 1 ;' Association being represented by Messrs J. Wyatt and A. Eklund. In his opening remarks, the chairman said that the past season had not proved as prosperous as it might have been owing to the counter-attraction of the Springboks' tour which bad affected the gate takings of the smaller unions. However, taking this into consideration, the balancesheet could be looked upon as quite satisfactory. Waihi had not been very successful in inter-union matches, but the club football had j been of an improved standard and he congratulated the High School Old Boys' Club on winning the championships in the various grades and hoped the teams which had been unsuccessful would attempt to take the lead from the High School Old Boys this year. Mr McDermott referred to the loss to football in the town through the departure of Messrs F. C. Clarke and A. D. McDell. Both men, he said, had had their hearts in the game and would be very much missed during the coming season. He wished them both the best of luck in the future. The chairman concluded by thanking the secretary and other executive officers for their help throughout the year.

THE BALANCE-SHEET ' Before calling on the treasurer, Mr L. Graham, to read the balance-sheet, Mr McDermott explained that an amount of £125 had been allotted to the Thames Valley Rugby Union as a share of the profits from the Springboks' tour, but he did not know whether that sum would bo divided between the sub-unions or remain the property of the Thames Valley union—that would have to bo decided by the delegates at the annual meeting.

The treasurer then proceeded with the reading of the balance-sheet which showed that the receipts had amounted to £l4 6 10s Id and an overdraft of £25 had been necessary lo meet the expenditure, which amounted to £l7l 10s Id. Mr Graham explained that the gate receipts had shown a drop of nearly £SO on the 1936 season and had totalled £72 13s 3d, while the stand takings had dropped from £35 5s to £29 0s 6d, so that in the circumstances they had come out of it as well as could be expected. Mr McDermott congratulated the treasurer on his balance-sheet and said that members would be pleased to know that, provided an allocation was made of the money granted to the Thames Valley union, they would show a credit on the year's workings. The balance-sheet was then receiv-

ELECTION OF OFFICERS Prior to the election of officers, Mr McDermott said he felt he had had his (urn as an officer and he would like to see a new president elected this year in his stead. However, in the face of the unanimous wish of Ihe club delegates, he consented to nomination and the election resulted as follows: —Patron, Mr W. M. Wallnutt; vice-patron, Mr \V. Brown; president, Mr J. L. McDermott; vicepresidents, Messrs J. Thorn, M.P., J. Talbot, W. Reed, W. Morrison, H. Gibson and M. Arbuckle; honorary vice-presidents, left to the in-coming committee; chairman of committee, Mr J. L. McDermott; secretary, Mr 10. Furey; treasurer, Mr L. Graham; auditor, Mr I. T. Fallwoll; management committee, Messrs L. G. Leopold, L. Peebles, I. Johnson, N. Blomquist, F. Stamp, W. Beresford, YV. Davidson and J. Wyatt; the selectors were left in abeyance; delegates to Thames Valley Rugby Union, Messrs McDermott, Furey and Graham. Mr C. Burt declined nomination as a member of the committee.

Mr McDermott thanked the outgoing offices and said he was sorry to see that Mr Burt was not again taking office as he had been a wonderful worker. He (the extended a welcome to the new committee members, who then took their places round the table, and said he hoped their term of office would be a pleasant one.

THAMES VALLEY MATTERS Discussion took place as to whether 'Walhi should enter the Thames Valley competitions for the Poland Memorial, Sharebrokers' and McLean Cups, the chairman mentioning that during the two years the local teams had not entered the competitions the union had benefited very much indeed from (he visits of other outside teams, both financially and from a playing standpoint, (hough he would not say that they could not get out- | side teams here as well as entering Hie Thames Valley competitions, provided they did not interfere too much with club fool ball. It was eventually decided, on the motion of Mr Wyatt. seconded by Mv McDermott, that Waihi should enter for the three Tluun.es, Valley competitions. Mr Stamp thought the delegates lo the Thames Valley union should endeavour to get a share of the £125 allocated by the New Zealand Rugby Union as the Springbok matches had taken away from their gates. Mr Burt, president of the Valley ' union, explained that that body had : made no claim for a shaan of the ''

combined Thames Valley-King Coun-fry-Waikato v. Springboks match at Hamilton and had asked the New Zealand union to make an allocation from the total profits of the tour instead, and he thought that money should go to strengthen the parent body (Thames Valley) and then the sub-unions.

After further discussion the mater was left in the hands of the delegates.

Mr Farrell asked permission for the High School Old Boys' Club to pit y the Te Awamutu seniors and jun'ors on Rugby Park on April 23. the request being granted. It was decided that the official opening of the season should take place on Saturday, April 30 and that :earns should be nominated for the various competitions at the next, meeting of the committee on Monday.. April 11. APPEAL FOR REFEREES I Mr Eklund made a strong appeal for referees as they were going to be vtry short through members leaving the town or retiring and said he hoped to see some of the old players come forward and help them out. He also said there was one thing the referees appreciated, and that was the services of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and remarked on the very valuable aid given to injured players. The chairman agreed with the previous speaker with regard to the value of the work done by the members of the St. John Ambulance, to whom thee thanks of the union and players were due, thanks also being due to the referees for the willing assistance they had given during the year in the control of games, and he also made an appeal for support for them during the coming season, the meeting then terminating