RUGBY REFEREES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 229, 22 June 1920, Page 5

RUGBY REFEREES

OPPOSED TO LIGHT PUNISHMENTS,

The attitude of the Wellington Rugbv Union in respect to players ordered off tho field for the use of bad langauge and other offences, formed the subject of consideration at last night's meeting of the Wellington Referees' Association. Mr. H. Paton submitted tho following propositions, and urged that they be forwarded to the Rugby Uiiion for attention :—

(1) That this association desires to carry out the powers entrusted to it, i.e., to control games, and CO stop Tough; play and the use of foul language. (2) To effectively carry out thes© dutieß members of the association must have the confidence and the strong support of the union. \S) Referees, in taking tho extreme, step of reporting players for frequent breaches of tbte laws of the game, do so after great provocation and in reporting such represent facts fairly 'i.nd -without bias, (i) This association respectfully represents to your union, in view of the light punishment given to players offending, it does not consider your 'union is affording the support that it feels should be given, and ventures to suggest that early offences should be deaft with < drastically in order that tho punisVnent meted out should serve as an effective warning generally. In making this suggestion the association feels sure that it will further assist the union, in that the time of your committee would not bo frequently taken up with inquiries into offences were drastic Action taken with early offenders. (5) This association is growing in strength and enthusiasm, and it is the desire of the association to enconrnge the enrolment of fresh members, but it feels that the imposition of light punishments onoffending players will cause the players to treat suchl offences lightly, and further discourage referees in reporting the same, and will undoubtedly have a de-teriorating-influence n.pon the game. Furthermore, tho lack of the union's support will discourage the -right element from ioining up as referees. (6) The above points are brought under your notice in the desire to.materially assist in keeping the Rugby game ' at' tho high standard which it has attained in ths past. Mr. • Paton stated that he made the suggestions with the belief that thb W.R.F.TJ. had not so far this season given the reports of referees serious consideration. Mr. A. Gimpbell said that the referees were the guests and not tho servants of the union or'players. If the Referees' Association did not obtain the consideration of the union they should not keep on writing, but should refuse to act—in otVr words; strike. , • The meeting decided to pass on the suggestions to the W.R.F.TJ. for consideration.