ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 858, 2 July 1910, Page 12

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

(By Cent«e-Half.) Tho Case of Mr. Wood. It is not'a very pleasing thing to have, to say that the Wellington Football Association is not altogether ..a happy family just now, though recent events induce the hope that the future will bring a littlo more harmony into tho circle, tor some time past Mr. W. Wood, for some reason or other, has been out., of sympathy with his fellow sports, and his appointment liy the New Zealand Referees' Association the other day as referee for tho Wellington-Wanganui representative football match (which takes place to-day) was the signal for an. ebullition which subsided almost as quickly as it rose. The facts of the case, briefly, are as follow Mr. W. Wood is recognised by competent judges to be a very capable referee, probably as mod a referra as there is in New Zealand. He was—and still is—a member of the Wellington Referees' Association, and of the New Zealand Referees' Association. As a member of tho former body lie had some differences of opinion with his colleagues, mid at one of the meetings lie announced his intention of resigning, but subsequently altered that intention, and no formal notification in writing of his /resignation was sent in. Ho does not appear to have been during tho succeeding period a regular attender at the meetings, nor does he appeal' to have communicated to his colleagues his decision not to procecd further with his resignation. [lis remissness in these two respects, if it be a fact that lie was remiss —ami nothing has transpired in rebuttal —must be held against linn. Hut that is, after all, beside (he larger question which must be looked at. The courir.il of'the New Zealand Football Association, in making arrangements lor the Uvown Shield match. Wellington v. Wanganui, roauested the New Zealand

Referees' Association to appoint a referee and a linesman for the match. That body performed this duty by ballot, and Mr. Wood received a majority of votes. So far, everything was in order. Mr. Wood was on the list of referees eligible for appointment, and the Referees' Association, in appointing him, did so under the authority of tho council of tho N.Z.F.A. Before official notification of the appointment had been received and considered by the N.Z.F.A. the Wellington Referees' Association were verbally informed of the fact, and sent in a letter of proetst to the Management Committee of the Wellington football Association, complaining that this body should have boon asked_ to submit names for selection by the New Zealand Ueferees' Association. Tho Management Committee of tho W.l'.A. strenuously opposed the appointment, and refused to accept Mr.. Wood us referee for the match. Now, since the council of the N.Z.F.A. were solely responsible for the appointment of the referee, and the New Zealand Referees' Association made the appointment 4n terms of the authority given it by the council, it is clear that neither the Wellington Referees' Association nor the Wellington Football Associations' Management Committee had any voice in the matter at all, save that which might, as u matter of courtesy, but not as a matter of. obligation, be , extended to them by tho council of the N.Z.F.A.- The protests of these two bodies were du.ly,considered by the council of the N.Z.F.A., anil Mr. Wood's appointment, was negatived. There is only one other point. Complaint was made that the manner in which the New Zealand Referees' meeting—at which Mr. AYood was appointed— was convened was not very businesslike, and that some members wore unawaro of the fixture. If that were so, and it appears to have been so, the meeting could not have been a representative one. It is conceivable that a full meeting might not have returned Mr. Wood, but' no one will deny that his rejection at the ballot would have followed as the result of some other objection than that of his qualifications for appointment— these were admittedly high. It comes to this, then, that Mr. Wood's ultimato rejection by the council of the N.Z.F.A. must be regarded as having been based on personal, not professional, grounds. The whole tenor of the debate at the meeting which vetoed his appointment was' altogether in his favour, yet h'e was voted out! The New Zealand Council and the Wellington Committee of Management have behaved in a most illogical and unbusinesslike way, and have suffered themselves to bo made the mediums of a personal persecution of a capable referee. The Senior Championship. Another, turn of fortune last Saturday placed Swifts in tho position of leaders for tho senior division. Ramblers and Diamonds, who had shared first, honours with Sv.ffts, had to lie content with a draw each, whilst tho Swifts victory over Y.M.C.A. gives them a onepoint lead. , Ramblers. had no right, on form, to .retire from the battle with Thistle with only a draw to their credit, but it wad an off (lay for tho Red ahd Whites, and they will now have to put their best foot foremost to get on equal terms with Swifts again. There is little to bo added to Inst Monday's remarks on the Thistle and Ramblers contest. Suffice it to say 'that the meeting was a dull, uninteresting affair. The only event- which caused any excitement' was the ordering off of Hall and Johnson, who have since been dealt with by the W.F.A. The' occurence was. exceptionally unfortunate for Hall, who had been selected to Rattle for the representatives in . the Brown Shield match against Wanganui. Positions of Teams. The positions of the various teams in the first division contest are now as under:— • . > . 1> ' . ® J £ g i is '3 '5 i? 3 p <2 Swifts 7 5 2 0 10 Diamonds 7 4 2 1 9 ®amblers 7 4 2 19 Thistle : 7 2.3 2 8 Rovers 7 1 3 3 5 Y.M.C.A 7 15 1 3 The Representative Team. The team selected to play against Wanganui, to-day is practically as strong a combination as could be obtained, and though it is generally conceded that thero are odo or two weak points in the team there is no reason why the team should not bo strengthened for later. matches if Wellington, wins. Of the. goalkeepers, there seems to bo very little to pick and choose between, all tho goalkeepers this season. Hollis had tho fancy up till the Wednesday representative match, but seems to have lost his nerve since then. Webster has caught the selectors' eye this time. The only thing lacking with him is nerve in dealing with hot shots. Ilall and I'ye-Smith are undoubtedly tho best pair of full-backs, biit unfortunately another pair hud to bo selectrd for the match. The former was suspended on Wednesday night, while Pye-Smith received a strain last week which necessitates a fortnight's spell. Roberts, the emergency, and, Cornish will now defend. The half-back lino is strong, though whether Jackson is at tho top of his form at present is a moot question. Tho forwards should do well. Vessey is in his nutural place at outside-right, and if ho produces his best form we may hope for a good exhibition. O'Shea is a splendid inside man, but it is doubtful whether he has had sufficient goud football this season to bring him out to advantage. Gibson in the centre has been showing much improved form of late, and should do_ well. Ho is advised, however, to refrain from wandering from the centre and to remember.-' that thoro are three other forwards besides Timperly to pass to. Timperly is as good as ever, and will be a source of annoyance to Wonganui's backs, provided the . ground is not 100 l]eavy. W. Mouat, at outsideleft, is possibly' the only surprise packet of tho selection, but it is. difficult to sea wlio else could have been selected, seeing that Roddy is off form and Edwards is not solid enough in his play. Mouat and Timperly should niako an excellent leftwing. The Visiting "Reps." Little is known of the Wanganui men, and a critique has not been available. It is said, however, that they have been training hard for some time, and hope to givo the home team a "shaking up." Courts of Inquiry. The Y.M.C.A. on Wednesday night resembled a. Magistrate's Court when the case of Hall and Johnson, ordered off for fighting last Saturday, was considered. Over a dozen witnesses appeared, and a considerable amount of time was expended in examining these. Tho actual facts of the case were admitted, but tho evidence as to who started the fighting was somewhat conflicting. The weight of evidence, however, appeared to be against Johnson, and he received the heavier suspension. It lias been * must unfortunate affair all through, taking place as it did oil a public reserve, in front of a crowd. But for the prompt action of the referee in sending both players to tho dressingroom, it is extremely probable that the polico would have taken action. On top of this, Mr. W. Press reports having ordered oil' a Swifts second division player for striking an opponent. The mail in question seemed to have been a substitute, and the referee did not obtain his name; in fact,-ho did not receive a team's list from tho Swifts. The Keferees" Association is tu be asked why the referee neglected his duty in this respect. Another matter coming up for attention before tile Referees' Association is the fuse of a referee having, it is alleged,imbibed more freely than wisely beforo appearing to take of his game. If proved, no doubt tho Referees'. Association ivill take a firm stand in tile interests of the game.