CONTROL OF RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 146, 21 June 1923, Page 11

CONTROL OF RUGBY

THE REFEREES' PART

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION

APPOINTMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS. -

Referees representing' various associations throughout, New Zealand met in a committee-room of the Town Hall last evening to consider various matters relating to the control of Rugby. The occasion was the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Referees' Association. Mr. D. M'Kerme (Marlborough) occupied the chair. Others present were: Messrs. T. A. Fletcher (Auckland), L. J. Furrie (Taraiiiiki), Q. Mullany (Hawkcs Bay), V. C. Atkinson (Wanganui), A. E." Neilson (Hastings), E.- W. Lowe (Manawatu), A. M'-Bain (Horowhenua), E. T. Bailey (Taihnpe), .T. Moffitt (Wellington), J. S. King (vice-presi-dent, Wellington). H. J. M'Kenzie (Wairarapa), J. Francis (West Coast),-A. Henderson (Canterbury). E. S. Hylton (Dannevirke), W. Cummings (South Canterbury), H. S. Leith (Otago), \V. Atkinson (North Otago), C. Eastwood (Southland), B. Edwards (Nelson). The Chairman expressed pleasure at seeingl, by the'good attendance and the presence of a number of members of associations outside Wellington, EO-nyich ■■interest''in,, 1 tlie'affairs of the association. Those associations, which iiad sent a niembec forward to" the,-meeting -were.. to" be.congratulated on their enterprise. He hoped that the conference,business would be of benefit. The conferences held prior to the annual meetings had | proved "satisfactory, but.it was desirexi that remits should be forwarded early in order that they might be sent on to the various associations for consideral tion. The financial position of the N.Z.R..R.A. was good. The report and balance-sheet, details of which . have, been published in "The Post," were adopted. .APPOINTMENTS OF.REFEREES. The appointment of referees for biff matches was a subject of much discussion. ■ • • - Mr. H. J. M'Kenzie (Wairarapa) moved, pro forma, "That rule 2, section (b), be ' amended to read as follows: Its (t-hs N.Z.R.R. Association's) -ob- | jects shall be to assist the New Zealand! | Kugby Football Union to -provide refe- ! rees for any match when requested, such referees to be appointed by a board, ' consisting of three members of the, New Zealand Referees' Association." The mover intimated that as there was another motion coming forward ■which met the position more satisfactory, in the opinion of his association, he desired to withdraw his'motion, but the delegates decided that it should stand. , My. Mo£fitt seconded the motion, and pointed out j that the present system of appointment I by his .association worked more satisfao toriry than the old sytem, which provided that the board should consist of one member of the Referees' Association, one member of the Rugby Union, and one representative of the players. The constitution of the. New Zealand Appointment Board—two members of the New Zealand Rugby Union and one member of the Referees' Association—was not right. The right people to comprise the Appointed Board, were the referees: < Mr. Atkinson (Wanganui):—"Does tbo proposal mean that the usual privilege to visiting teams would .not 'ap-. ply?" ' Mr. Moffitt: "Oh, no!" ' ' It was pointed out that unless the two unions concerned, in-a match disagreed regarding the referee, the New Zealand Appointment Board was-not asked to appoint a, referee. Mr. Fletcher (Auckland) said that the whole matter was in the hands of-the | New Zealand Rugby Union. Until thai body s bylaw was altered the Referees' Association could not make use of it. An amendment was'moved by Mr. E S Hylton (Dannevirke), providing that an object of the association shall be to assist the New Zealand Rugby Union to provide referees for any match when requested. j _ The amendment was seconded and carRANFURLY SHIELD MATCHES. Mr A. E. Neilson (Hastings) moved : That referees residing in the province where the shield is located for the time being shall receive preferential treatment -. m the selection of a referee for a shield match, provided such referees are fully qualified, and are recommended by the I Kugby Union of such province to "the .New Zealand Union." The mover said j that the proposal was in the interests of ' those associations which hold the shield. "It rather amuses m« to see this remit from Hastings." remarked Mr H J. M'Kerwie "Before ' they got tho shield, thuy did-not think ver\" much about the referees. The remit, is an injustice to the smaller unions'" Mr Furrie (Taranki): "Any as.socialion holding the shield should not be above finding hi, outside referee " Mr. W. Atkinson (North Ota'™) said that his association- was ■' 'sh'onglv against ths motion. ' " ■ Ml. Atkiiwon (W«n S aniii). S aid tint in the event of tlio shielrl join-,- to aWiviimi, they would look forlhe'best M'ei'ei iti New /.taliuid to control matches Ho was favourable to fostering intor-chan-fi ol referee?. a ' 'flia nmiiun jvuij U«(, '- A pwiJsaJ/ also froi O iUiLia^ tlu^

ill the appointment, of a. referee for inleilproviucial and Moascar Cup ' matches, the names of all qualified senior referees of the province in which thy match is to be played may be submitted to the visiting team for a. recommendation, but | the local Rugby Union shall make the' final decision, was negatived. POSITION 01 SMALLER UNIONS. "The opinion was strongly expressed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union that it was in the best interests of the game that th<j smaller unions should amalgamate," said Mr. J. Moffltt in moving- on'behalf''of the executive that the words "or subunion" be struck^ out froni rule 5 regarding the eligibility of associations for admission to the association. Mr. Moffitt added that the executive considered that as the time was arriving when new associations would be forming, the smaller unions should amalgamate. ••:■■■ Mr. Hylton seconded th© motion, provided that the alteration would not be retrospective. The chairman ruled that it would not be retrospective. Mr. W. Atkinson said that the North Otago Association considered that it was in the intersts of Rugby football to have sub-unions rather than "a lot of tinpot • unions." ■ ■ ' " ' • .Mr. R. T. Bailey (Taihape) urged that the delegates would be well :advised in not passing the motion. The motion was lost. ■-,■■ ELECTION OF' OFFICERS. '" Officers for the ensuing year .were elected as follow :—President, Mr. D, M'Kenzie; vice-presiden'ts ) "Messrs.'D. J. Malone (Taranaki), A. Wallace (Poverty Bay), Gifford (Hawkes. Bay), A-' Williams (Wanganui), W. Maddison ■'(Hastings), C. W. White'(lfanawatu, J. S. King (Wellington), A. E. Hall (Wairarapa), W. Trewick (Nelson), J. \F. Peake (Canterbury), W. Cumnlings (South Canterbury), C. Eyre'(Otagb), V. E. Down (North Otago), and C. Eastwood (Southland); hon. secretary and | treasurer, Mr. L. Sieyers; executive, Messrs. J. Francis, E. S. Kylto'n, A; E. Neilson, H. T. Bailey. J. M6fHtt, and 11. S. Leith; lion, auditor, -MrV C. H. Mauson. : .GENERAL BUSINESS." „.'. ■Tlie Chairman proposed.that the conditions ragHi'dint; the allowance of a 'mark" should be in accordance with those rnlifig outside New Zealand . and New South Wales, i.e., that a heel-mark should be miido by. tlva player, daimng the mark. Several dclegales urged that the- present conditions in New Zealand should rule, and they were, supported by the'meeting. On the. question of recommending to the New Zealand Rugby Union that the rale regarding the formation of a scrumli'age be amended to be mude more dennote, the delegates were not prepared to give their support. It was suggested that a recommendation should go forward with a view to' taking'away the-right of appeal of players when the laws are broken. It waj bailed uport the fact that in the event of a side,heeling back over the goal line a'force-down'is awarded unless the at-, tack'ingfside appeals, whereupon a scrum is awarded. The recommendation was supported. Mr. Atkinson (Wanganui) anked that some'definite instruction should bo given as to the manner in which the ball should be put into the scrummage. The Chairman, after referring delegates to the ruling on the point, said that the referee was to judge whether the ball had been fairly put in. There could be' no hard-and-fast' rule oa ; the point. '