A SLIGHTED REFEREE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 4, 5 July 1910, Page 10

A SLIGHTED REFEREE.

TO THE BDITOH. Sir, — It cannot be said that the partisans of the Wellington Football Association have achieved anything to their i I credit in the stormy protest made against the appointment of Mr. W. Wood as referee in the forthcoming [ Brown Shield match, and their subsequent rejection of him. Is it not somewhat, extraordinary thatf neither the members of the Management Committee nor those of the Wellington Referees' Association have yet given one single reason which, iti the mind of an impartial judge, would be sufficient to condemn Mr. Wood? Mr. Auld says that Wood has verbally resigned from the Referees' Association, and that he has not attended the meetings. Is Mr. Auld aware that Wood is still a member of the larger and (one may presume) more impartial body (hi a match where Wellington is a participant), -namely, the New Zealand Referees' Association? j Mr. Wood's appointment was a perfectly regular proceeding, made by a body competent and authorised to make such appointments. What is the real basis of the objection against Wood? It is known that this gentleman has incurred some unpopularity among certain members of the Management Committee and the local referees, but no one so far has impugned his capabilities as a referee. I may say that I witnessed, three important Brown Shield matches last year in which Wood was referee, and on all hands heard commendation about his evident knowledge of the game, his quick observation, and impartiality. That ho made a few unimportant mistakes is admitted ; that another referee would not have made> as many, if not more mislakes, is not so clear. It is true that the Wellington Referees' Association was not consulted prior to the appointment > but this is surely a flimsy objection, and I to put it forth as a reason why Wood > should be- rejected savours of pettiness. There has been a conspicuous 1 lack of sportsmanlike feeling and generous opinion during thei whole discussion, and I am astonished that this can be said of the 'exponents and friends of a game like Association football. Mr. Wood is a capable referee ; he was properly appointed ; personally (so far as I know him) of estimable disposition, and his rejection by the New Zealand Council i augurs ill for that spirit of harmony and helpful co-operation so much needed

if the fortunes of the game are to prosper. — I am, etc., FAIEPLAY. Wellington, 25th June, 1910.

In the course of a letter to the editor, Mr. 'W. Wood states that Mr. T. H. Jones, the author of one of the letters appearing in last Saturday's Post, "for whom I entertain the highest feelings, of respect, might have" allowed himself to grow out of the swaddling clothes stage of football before he struck out as a 'protestor' against an appointment which, it has been admitted by officials of the W.R.A., was in order. Both Mr. Jones and Mr. Walker, your other correspondent state that I had ceased to be a member of the W.R.A. "On the 19th April I intimate verbally to tho W.R.A. that I intended to place my resignation in the secretary's hands. Numerous requests from those present were made with a view to persuading me from doing it. The chairman (Mr. Fordham) was asked if he could accept a verbal resignation, and he distinctly said 'no, he could not,' my written resignation never went in, because I was requested and pressed by numerous players, both in senior, junior, and boys' grades not to leave them. . . On the 25th April, a week after the meeting referred to, the Management Committee of the W.R.A. include my name in their list, which they forwarded 'to the New Zealand Referees' Association for registration purposes. Their own action in so doing clearly indicated that they still acknowledged me as a member of their body. "Both Mr. Jones and Mr. Walker have_ stated that I have not refereed (officially) this season. Can a man referee a match without being asked? Can these gentlemen point out a single instance where I have received an appointment and not fulfilled it? Your correspondents alßo state that there are plenty other referees, capable men, who have been passed over, and a few names are submitted. Comparisons are odiousbnt I would suggest to both Mr. Jones and Mr. Walker to get about amongst the senior players and ask for their opinion on some of the names which they suggest, and I venture to predict that they will very soon change their mind." Mr. Wood proceeds to state that the whole trouble lies down underneath 'trivial and silly statements," and concludes with the remark that such pquabbling is doing no end of injury to the same. j