DEALING WITH OFFENCES.

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 1, 1 July 1922, Page 14

DEALING WITH OFFENCES.

'_ In previous seasons the system of trial in cases of players ordered off the field has created some comment, and there was a repetition last week in connection with the Mouatt case. "Drop-kick" has ■previously expressed the view that the system is riot entirely satisfactory, and does so again. The referee makes a report on the alleged offence, explaining hia action .in ordering- the player off. Then both player and referee attend the next meeting—-or are supposed to attend, for in one or two instances one of the two parties was missing. The procedure usually resolves itself into a statement by the referee.and ,a denial by the player. What is the Management Committee to do? "Drop-kick" has listened to many of these cases, and lias every sympathy with the committee. The, referee has a most onerous and difficult duty to perform, and he performs.it in an honorary capacity. This players ought to recognise, and never, even if the referee makes a palpable, mistake, dispute his decision. This is a fundamental rule of the game. and no decent sportsman should ever in the course of a match ..express his resentment: -. Afterwards he might discuss it in c reasonable spirit.,, Meanwhile, -the Management Committee has to decide between player and referee. Tho committee is. in the unenviable position of being ■between the devil and the deep_ sea. Generally tlie referee's evidence is accepted. No outside evidence is .allowed in explanation or extenuation, although it was don© in the Mouatt-case, a*fter ft disputation had waited upon the chairman and the committee. The present system is quite contrary to any-form: of criminal, procedure. The only remedy in the opinion of "Drop-kick" is for tho administrative and executive side of the union to be divorced from the judicial side. There should be a special judicial ;body to deal with offences by players. Such a body might include representatives of the Management Committee, of the Referees' Association, ' aiid of the players themselves. If such a body were in axistence it could deal with cases more fully and fairly, with power to hear and call evidence bearing on the subject, so that neither party would feel that he was labouring under injustice. Furthermore the Management Committee would be relieved, of a most trying and irksome duty, which tabes up too iinuch of its' valuasble time. .. There is danger of injury to the Rugby game in the confusion of executive and judicial duties by. what is really an executive body. The suggestion'that a.judicial committee should be set up was made: in the form of a notice of motion by Mr. G. F. Jackson at this week's meeting-. It is worthy of note that the present chairman (Mr. J. Prendeville) has also moved in the matter in previous seasons, but he .received little support. His""proposal was as follows: —'That rule 14 b.e revoked and the following rule- substituted: '14. The Management Committee, shall appoint, a special committee .of three membera, who need not.be members of tbe Management Committee, to hear and report upon all cases of players being ordered: off the field by the referee. When a player has been ordered off the field by a referee, both the referee and the offending player shall attend before such committee at 8 p.m. on the Monday following such ordering off. The committee shall submit a report on each case to the Management Committee by 8 p.m. on the Tuesday of the same week. In all cases heard by such committee the statement of the referee shall be accepted by such committee as a correct statement of. the facts, and the player will only be heard in explanation of his conduct or in mitigation of ■ penalty j but if such committee considers that there is a doubt as to the identity of the offender or that there was provocation or other special circumstances,; it may admit and hear evidence in support of the player's contention, and the referee-may call evidence in reply thereto.. In special cases the Management Committee may extend the time in which such committee shaJl report.' "•