SOCCER REFEREES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 240, 10 October 1934, Page 15

SOCCER REFEREES.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION

DISBANDMENT BY BOARD,

MATTER BEFORE N.Z. COUNCIL,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. | The strained relations between members of the Auckland Referees' Association, culminating in its disbandment by the control board and the suspension of several members, formed the subject of correspondence before the New Zealand Football Association at a meeting last evening. Accompanying a letter from the Auckland Football Association was one from the New Zealand Referees' Association asking that the New Zealand Association receive a deputation consisting of Messrs. G. Jackson, A. E. Caisley and T. G. Wilkes to discuss the disbanding of the Auckland Referees' Association by the control board and also the suspensions. ."How far we can interfere in the matter I don't know," said the chairman, Mr. B. L. Salmon, "but I have no objection to receiving the deputation." Control Board Explains. The state of things ruling in Auckland is set out in the following letter received from the secretary of the Auckland Football Association:—"l have to advise you that at its last meeting the control board decided to disband the Referees' Association as now constituted and to form a new Referees' Association, a committee being appointed to arrange for referees for the remaining matches of the season. "This action was taken as the result of incidents which have brought about somewhat strained relations between the two bodies, a climax being reached two weeks ago, when certain referees failed to fulfil their appointments. No notice was received from the referees concerned of their intentions and it was only indirectly on the Friday before the matches in question that information was received that they did not intend to put in an appearance. It was necessary to arrange for substitutes at short notice. Referees' Invitation to Meet Declined. _ "At a meeting of the Referees' Association held the following Tuesday no action was taken in regard to the referees, and a letter was sent from the control board asking the Referees' Association whether any explanation of their conduct had been received from the defaulting referees and what action was being taken by the Referees' Association. "A reply was received from the association requesting the whole of the control board to attend its next meeting, when a complete explanation would be„ given. At the same time it was noticed that the remaining matches set down for last Saturday were to be refereed by referees who had previously failed to turn out. It was felt that it was not the control board's duty to wait on the Referees' Association and that that body had failed to deal with its members as it should have done. A resolution to disband the association and form a new one was unanimously passed at a meeting of the control board held on September 19, and the appointments made by the Referees' Association for last Saturday were cancelled. "It is not anticipated that there will be any difficulty in forming a strong new association composed of a number of members of the disbanded association, with the addition of numerous referees who were not willing to be connected with the late Referees' Association as then constituted."

GAMES FOB SATURDAY. THISTLE TO MEET TEE REST. Matches to be played under the control of the Auckland Football Association on Saturday:— Senior Grade.—Thistle v. The Best, Blandford Park, 3 p.m., Mr. A. Firth. Second Grade. —Dacre Cup replay: Abels v. Thistle. Blandford Park, 1.30 p.m., Mr. A. Fletcher. Fourth Grade.—Knock-out final: North Shore v. Metro-College. Blandford Park, 12.30 p.m., Mr. W. Austin. Sixth Grade.—lvnoek-out final: Comrades A v. Comrades B, Blandford Park, 11.30 a.m.. Mr. C. Williams. The sole selector to the Auckland Football Association. Mr. A. E. Backhouse, has chosen the folio-wins team to represent The Rest in a match to bo played aeainst the Thistle senior eleven nt Blandford Fark on Saturday:—A. Watson, P. Gerranl (cantain), R. Stone, R. Haperett, C. Ward, T>. •Tones, J. Flashman. R. Welch, .T. Mac Mil .T. Jepson, T. Farnan, Li. Mullane. E. Barry.