PROPOSED PAYMENT OF REFEREES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26397, 16 April 1951, Page 3

PROPOSED PAYMENT OF REFEREES

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION’S OBJECTIONS (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 15.

The payment of referees was discussed by the New Zealand Football Association at its meeting on Saturday. It was decided that payment would be too close to professionalism. Mr J. Houston said that because of the shortage of referees it would be helpful to the Association code if referees were paid a small sum. Other supporters said that the paying of referees would encourage more people to take an interest in this side of the game. It would also give the association more control over the Referees’ Association.

The proposal was strongly opposed, as the majority of the delegates considered that it would be bordering on professionalism.

The proposal was not accepted. Instead it was suggested that the Referees’ Association be given financial help. Officers elected were:—patron, the Governor-General (Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C.); president, Mr W. Nash; treasurer. Mr W. L. Wilson; council. Messrs J. Kershaw, J. G. Shankie, B. S. Conner, -J. Houston, W. A. Chapman, G. Jackson, J. J. Keen, and J. Cowie; representative on Football Association (London), Mr K. de Maus; representative in Canada and the United States, Dr. H. N. Holmes.