BOUGH FOOTBALL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 248, 2 August 1932, Page 2

BOUGH FOOTBALL

UNION DENIES CHARGES. PUBLICATION OF A LETTER. REFEREES' ASSOCIATION CENSURED. The matter of allegations of rough football was further discussed at the meeting of the Management Committee of the Ashburton Rugby Union last evening, when a report on a letter on the subject from Mr J. W. Bowden was received from the Ashburton Rugby Referees' Association. Members of the committee severely censured the Referees' Association for •having allowed the letter to be published in the newspapers, when the Union had considered it in committee. Regarding Mr Bowden's letter, the Referees' Association wrote stating that it was of the opinion that the referees had, in the past, used their utmost powers to put down rough play, but even though the Union had assured the Association of its utmost support in any action it deemed advisable to adopt in carrying this out, the Association felt that it was to no useful purpose for the referees to take drastic steps to put down rough play, while the Union continued to question the referees' reports on points of fact and allowed outside evidence to influence decisions of the Management Committee. The Association assured the Union that its members would continue to use their utmost endeavours to have Rugby football in the County played in the true spirit of the game. Mr H. D. Johnston: I read Mr Bowden's letter in the "paper the other night and I think it is a breach of etiquette on the part, of the referees to publish it when we took it in committee. It was addressed to us.

Mr R. H. Loy: It is not very consistent; quite recently the referees wrote asking us to take such things in committee. (

Mr R. H. Biggar: It's a rank discourtesy.

Mr Johnston: It certainly doesn't improve the feeling between the two bodies.

Mr Loy: When they ask us to take that type of letter in committee they should do so themselves. Mr Johnston: It's rather a secondhand way for things to get into the paper.

The chairman (Mr H. Sarney): They haven't returned the letter to enable us to reply to Mr Bowden. Mr Loy: It seems to me that some people are unable to distinguish between rough and hard play. There was some comment in the "Guardian" the other night on rough play, stating that injuries were too frequent. Two of the injuries referred to were pure accidents. It leads people to believe that play in this County is unduly rough. It should be denied that the play in question was rough. Far too much has been said about rough play.

Mr Johnston: The referees knew that Mr Bowden's letter was taken in committee.

Mr Riggar: They must have been anxious to publish it, for, so far as I know, that was the first meeting of the Referees' Association the newspaper reporters have attended. Mr Johnston (looking at the reporters) : They must have been invited. Asked what had been in the covering letter to th© Referees' Association, the secretary (Mr G. V. Furby) stated that the Union's letter had merely asked the Association to consider and report on Mr Bowden's letter. Mr Johnston: They must have had a rehearsal. • .' ". . Members expressed the opinion that the referees had committed an act of discourtesy when they took the letter in open meeting. Mr Johnston: I'd like Mr Bigga* to put a, motion forward on this matter.

Mr Biggar: Why me? Mr Johnston: Because you can give them the sort of thing they deserve. Mr Biggar: Then I will move that the Referees' Association be written, to pointing out that the letter was taken in committee and this Union considers it discourteous for the referees to have considered it in open meeting under the circumstances. Mr Loy seconded the motion, whicn was carried. , It was further decided to ask the Referees' Association to return Mr Bowden's letter.