TROUBLE OVER A RUGBY MATCH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 215, 5 June 1919, Page 5

TROUBLE OVER A RUGBY MATCH

RESIGNATION OF MR. T. H. JONES

A CONDITIONAL WITHDRAWAL

The action of Mr. T. H. Jones, in resigning the position of honorary secretary of tho Wellington Rugby Union as as ; a result of the trouble which occurred in connection with tho refereoing of •■the-Maori match at Athletic Park on Tuesday was discussed at considerable length, at last. night's meeting of the Management Committee,of tho. Wellington Rugby Union. Tho chairman, Mr. W. E. Hornig, said It was brought to hisfnotice on Monday afternoon that Mr. Jones had been appointed to referee in the match. He told Mr. Jones that if he rcfereed it might cause no end of trouble with the .Referees'' Association,/seeing that, with exception of one match, he had not acted ns a referee for some time. In addition, it was pointed out that itwould bo hardly fair for Mr. Jones to act especially as his services would bo required at the Athletic Park on Tuesday afternoon; About a'quarter-to 8 p.m. on' Monday, Captain Hall, of the Maori team, rang up, and stated that, talking the matter over with members of the Referees' Association and the Management Committee of, the union, he haddecided'to ask that Mr. L. Simpson bo appointed referee" instead of Mr. Jones. Accordingly, Mr. Simpson was notified that he'would be referee. Mr. Jones; Before a quarter to six? Mr. Hornig: After a qui.rter to six. ■•Mr. Jones: Eofore'tho referees' meeting.:

~ Mr. Hornig added that-on the following morning he asked Captain Hall what the position .'was.- The latter replied that ho did not know that Mr. Jones had not refereed for a number of years, and that he was honorary secretary of the union. He also said he had not understood-that' Mr. Jones would not have time ,to referee. As a fast game

■was anticipated, lie was not satisfied that Mr. Jones would be in a fit enough condition to control the match. The matter was also discused 'that moraine by Messrs. Griffiths, Lundon, Perry and Cook, members of the' Management Committee, and the speaker, 'tml they were all unanimous'that Mr. Jones would he reuuired to attend to union'business at the Park, and, therefore, would not be in ti

position to take-the'match.. Consequently hefthe speaker) rang up Mr. Jones, and explained the situation. to him. Mr. "Horniß read a letter reeeivtd from 'the Maori team, apologising for the change thath ad been made' in connection' with

the referee. The letter, written-by'Cap--1 tain Hall, explained that three names were selected from a list of referees submittd—Dr. Crawford, Mr: Simpson, and Mr. Jones. Finally, Mr. Jones was drawn, but after hearing that, on ac- ■ count of- illness, he had not' refereed for some, time, it, was, decided to select Mr. Simpson, ,'.-.. Referees Agrseable.

Mr. Jones said that he waited on the Referees' Association on Monday night, and it was agreed unanimously that ho should take the match, as he was a fit and proper person to do so. When objection was raised to his acting he notified the Referees' Association that, he

would withdraw, but they "would not hear of it." ... .The referees considered ' that his being selected. to control the Rame was a compliment to himself, and they wore all very pleased that ho had received the appointment. ■ Mr. Sinipfon told him' to go on, and wished him good luck. Mr. Jones said that the position was very painful. for him to be placed in, because Mr. Hornig had wtat- . Ed that, if the reforees confirmed the ap""pointment, there could be no further ob-' Section to his acting. He was'in the act of putting on his referee's uniform

when Mr. Hornig rang up, and stated that a, fnirly representative meeting of members and the Management Committee had come to the conclusion that he should be requested to. withdraw .from ihe .match. . He was.ipsot by, the .•in- ' forhiatidir, biit.ho.replied that,:in view of what' had occurred, under no circum-' stances would' he fake tho match, noteven if every, member of the union or every member of the Maori team asked him to do so. S6 far as he was concerned there would be no referee for the match. , Mr. H. Buck: Who was the first one to approach Captain Hall about Mr. Jones being referee? / Mr. Jonesi'Mr. F,erry. Mr. Perry: I said .'that Mr. Jones had i>ot refereed for fonf or five years. Cnptain Hall told me he would sooner have Mr. Simpson. , Mr. Jones: "You took it on yourself to say that I could not referee in a fast, open game." Continuing, Mr. Jones isaid he did not want to referee particu-' larly in tho mate)), except that he wished to meet-the compliment that had been paid him in >his selection. He' had refereed for the Maoris abroad, and he ■ felt disgusted when Mr. Hornig rang up • a few minutes before he ' left for the Park, and requested 'llim to withdraw, especially after being 'informed that if the referees confirmed the appointment there would be no objection to his controlling the game. "If Mr Hornig, or the union, think that a man can take lying down what I had to take from Monday afternoon to the time I was going to the Park, then.l don't think they have any appreciation of a man's cense of honour," declared Mr. Jones "That has led to my. resignation. 1 •w6nt say anything.about Mr. Simpson's action, us I will leave that for the Referees' Association to'deal with." Mr. Jones said he thought' Mr. Hornig ltncw on Sunday night that he was selected as referee. He produced a type-written letto;, signed by/Captain Hall, which stated .that he had been selected because of his ■refereeing capabilities. Mr.-Hornig: Who drafted that letter? .Mr. Jones: I did, and Captain Hall Bigncd it. '. Members expressed the opinion, that the misunderstanding had been most unfortunate. They agreed that it would be a pity if Mr. Jones's services were lost to the union, particularly at tho present time. The system of appointing referees needed alteration.

Mr. Ijornig and Mr. Terry endorsedthese views. They both said thev hiri no..personal feeling in the matter.' "1, for one, would be sorry to loose Mr. Jones." remarked Mr. Hornig. "He is one of the most enthusiastic Rugby men w; have in Wellington—perhaps in New Zealand—and more than that, he is a worker. Perhaps Mr... Jones showed a lack of judgment in nccepting the appointment."

Resignation Withdrawn, On the motion of Mr. J. Prendovillt-, seconded by Mr. G. Jackson, it was djcided to ask Mr. Jones to withdraw his resignation.. _ Mr. Jones -said that he was anxious id resume referee in;:, raid he would only accept reappointment on condition, that he did not havf. to attend 'the Athletic Pari: ;jsi Saturdays. He had taken adrice, and .had learned that it was not. necessary for him to attend the Park every week. This suggestion was agreed to, it lioiii'. explained that Mr. Jones need only attend the Park on the occasion of representative matches and big cup fixtures, unless other arrangements wen, made beforehand.

Mr. Jackson proposed, and Mr. 11. Huck seconded, that Mr. Jones should be reappointed, and the motion was carried unanimously.