RUGBY REFEREES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 299, 12 September 1921, Page 5

RUGBY REFEREES

Sir, —1 am surprised and indignant to read tho remarks of Mr. W. J. Hardham at ’ last evening's meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union with reference to the dtaim for out-of-pocket expenses made to the union by the Referees’ Association. Mr. Hardham is reported to have said that the claim was paltry, and apparently his influence decided the loom- , mittee to defer consideration of the* ’ laim. I have hitherto regarded Mr. Hard-’ ham as one of the (Dominion's best■ eports in Rugby football, but after read-’ ing his remarks I have concluded that, like many moro of our Rugby officials, his views do not extend beyond "gate Receipts.” I should like to ask Mr. Hardham his object in casting such a slur upon , . the Referees’ Association. Surely he. knows that members of this association are doing equally as much, if not more than his ot any other governing body in the interests of the "good old gams." Referees, being human, and not Rugby legislators, are all liable to make mistakes at times, but it cannot be said, that they do not do their best under all circumstances. Further, the game calls upon them to give up all their Saturday afternoons during the season,> and as a reward the "governing pody” nas this season otfsly consented to admit them "free' to the ground. ' Now the local union cavils at tho payment of actual out-of-ppeket expenses incurred each Saturday. Mr. Hardham ©.ills these expenses paltry! I would like to inform him that his "paltry" expenses in a very large number of oases- cover not only train and tram fares, but also lunch in town. Many of the games, as ho well knows, commence at 1.15 p.m. Spread this expense over the season, end I think he will admit th#t the association’s claim is reasonable and moderate. A referee expects more kicks than ha’pence—it is part of the game; but as one of the public I certainly think that the least the' union can do is to give the referees its whole-hearted support — I am, etc., NOT A REFEREE. September 8, 1921.