FOOTBALL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 136, 9 June 1906, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UNION AND REFEREES. MEETING OF DELEGATES, The adjourned meeting of delegates of the Wellington Rugby Union in reference to the power of appointing referees was continued in Batkin's Rooms last evening, Dr. A. K. Newman occupying the' chair.' The chairman dealt with the proceedings of last Friday's meeting (already reported), fttld called upon the Management Committee to bring forward a formal motion. Mr. Weir, on behalf 'of the Management Committee, moved, "That the Management Committee have the sole "power to appoint referee*. "< He pointed out that the committee had decided on the point that the powi- should uot.be delegated to nny body, such as the Referees' Association. The committee as a whole considered it would be in the best interests of the game that th.e!T,cominittcc should appoint referees. Mr. Hunter seconded the motion. If delegates could not agree to" this, they might 6Uggest something which would suit them. The chairman, speaking as President of the Union, referred to the difficulty in bygone years in finding referees for matches. The referees had done very good work, notwithstanding tho fact that players appeared to look upon the referee as their natural enemy. He thought, however, that the referees should be a subordinate body to the Rugby Uniou. In answer to Mr. Coffey, Mr. Weir said the Management Committee had absolutely no intention of delegating its powers to the Referees' Association. Mr. M'lnbyre moved an amendment, that tho appointment of referees shall be in the hands of a committee / of seven, consisting of three members of the Referees' Association, two member* of the Management Committee of the Rugby Union, and two elected by captains of teams, the last four not members of -the Referees' Association. This committee to be unoer the jurisdiction of tho union, The committee to have solo control in the appointment and classification of referees 1 . In the event of any teams agreeing upon tho appointment- of -a referee for their particular match, a written request signed by the captains of f.hJB teams and agreed to by the referee be handed in to the secretary of tho committee at least four clear days before the match ; such request to be granted and no protest be allowed. That the Referees' Association bo requested to appoint three delegates to the proposed committee, and in the event of their not doing so, ' the" Management Committeo to have the power to make the appointments." Mr, Coffey seconded the amendment. He did not see eye to eye with the association in all matters, but it was entitled to a great deal of credit for tho work it had done. Mr.' "YVylio was in favour of the principle of Mr, "M'lntyxe's amendment. The Management Committee of the union was the right body, to appoint referees, and he understood the Referees' Association would agree to submit to the appointments being made by a board, such as proposed iv the amendment. After further discussion the motion proposed by *Mr. M'lntyre was carried by 17 votes to 13. Mr. J. T. King moved, "That it bo a recommendation to the Management Committee that players ordered off tho field should be allowed to call evidence." Mr. Weir" seconded the motion, but as it was pointed out that the Management Committee haC put a case to the New Zealand Rugby Union -for its ruling, the, motion was lost. ' Mr. W. King urged that it be a recommendation to the .Management .Committee that the disqualification imposed on a Petone senior player recently for indiscriminate kicking should be removed. It was decided that no action should be taken.