REFEREES' STRIKE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 134, 13 July 1914, Page 3

REFEREES' STRIKE.

POSITION IN WELLINGTON. Apparently the Wellington Rugby Union is not having much difficulty in dealing with the '' strike'' of referees who, against the laws of the game, want to get the full power of appointment of referees for club matches into their own hands. "Lock," writing in the "Dominion" of Saturday, summarises the position thus: — "The trouble which has been brewing in the Wellington Referees' Association came to a head during the week. The Referees' Association has struck, and those of its members who remain loyal to it will not fulfil their appointments tc-day. This is very satisfactory. The crisis had to come sooner or later, and only people afraid to face the position Mould have wished to defer the settling day. As a fact, the* trouble has so far never assumed a dangerous-aspect. 'The union has been in the right throughout the piece, and the association has acted unwisely. If the present association goes out of existence, a new body will 'fill the gap almost immediately, and will include in its manks many of the old institution's members.

'' One of the most satisfactory features is that the best referees are standing by the union—and the game. Rugby has many friends, and the strike leaders need not imagine that the cessation of their attendance at the meetings of the old association will materially interfere with the game. The old associaiton lias for some time past been far from a live body in seme important respects, and its recent suicide (so long threatened) will be quite a good thing for Rugby. This i:.- not said in depreciation of the services of members of the association, but simply because it is an important fact. There are unmistakable signs 'hat the now state of affairs will ultimately be better than the old, and therefore there is no course open to ail to whom the matter is impersonal but vo welcome the association of the future.

"The Rugby public will be glad to hear that the union states that so great has been the response to its appeal for referees that every match fixed for this afternoon has been provided for."