EARTHQUAKE EFFORTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 21

EARTHQUAKE EFFORTS

REFEREES AND UMPIRES

THE "SMASH" SHOT

It is most gratifying at this late ioimt-o find that those clubs and individual members hilhorlo unable to stage their special effort of help for the sufferers in Hawkes Bay district, arc determined nevertheless to do their bit. Now that matches for tho most part liavo been brought to a conclusion, many pleasant and profitable little gatherings have taken ■ place, all of which'add appreciably to, the grand total of a truly splendid district effort.

Among recent functions may-bo'men-lioned a. gala day on tho lawns of the Johnsonville Club, when the sum of itss was raised towards assisting those refugees directly under Iho care of tho local Town Board. In this suburb the folk have.made themselves responsible for certain refugees' welfare, and tho :iniount received from the gala day in question, has brought tho total (o close on £200 for this special purposc.lHiring the afternoon various competitions were hold, (hi: winners being Mrs. Nalder (Khandallah), target; Mrs. Anpcll (Johnsonville), peg; Mrs. Living (KhandalJah), French; and Miss Mavis Rice- (Johnsonville), ladder. Between forty and fifty members and friends were present, and though tho weather was not all that could be desired the day proved thoroughly enjoyable At Lyall Bay, Mrs. Moran, vicepresident, and one of tho foundation members of the club, gave a most enjoyable evening which took the form of flag bridge. The sum of £2 15s was made which, coupled with members' donations, raised the club's total effort to £11 2s. This amount was handed over to the Rod Cross Society. Mesdames Monks,' Wilton, and Piper were hostesses at the Woburn club's function, held'at tho residence of Mrs. Piper, in Waterloo road. Musical items ljv Mesdames Leighton and Piper, together with a delicious afternoon tea and interesting competitions made a delightful afternoon-pass all too quickly. Tho Earthquake Fund will benefit by a further addition of £6 2s 6d, plus £2 30s raised by voluntary subscriptions from, the members, who are to be congratulated on tho outcome of their effort. " Trophies for the competitions, donated by Mesdames Rosonbaum, Collie, Davis, Bohan, and Cleland were won by Mesdames Peck, junior, Quinn, Warden; Wilkic, F. Leighton, Monks, junior, and Barnard. The function was brought to a close with hearty votes <jf thanks, .to Mrs. Pipor for tho use of her home and lovely garden, to the ladres who gave the prizes, and to Messrs. Martin and Bremner, two bowlers •whose kindly assistance was much appreciated. ' Inter-club Games. The undermentioned are results of previously unfinished inter-club games

i(i tho iiilonuodi.-ilo grndo:— I Wobuni v. Kclbuni No. 2—Mcsdamrs Monks and Rowo defeated Mesdames Goodcr nnd Nieholls, 26-24. Banghnairc- v. Wobuni. —Mcsdames Smedlcy and Phillips lost to Mesdames Rowo and' Alexander, 23-26. !: Hutt v. Woburn.—Mesdames- Jcnness and Parker lost to Mesdames'Rowe and Alexander, 23-20. ■ King Brooches. ■ .".".. In the match played against the Hntt for these trophies Mesdames Alexander and Piper (Wobuni) won from Mesdaraes Jcnncss and Hollarrl by 1G points. -. Silver Buttons. In the contest for the Buttons, prc-. sentcd to Canterbury district this season, Mrs. Scandrett (United) was suecesful in the "A" grade, and Mrs,. Freeman, also of United, won tho.'.'B'.' grade. The "C" grade winner proved to be- Miss Maze, of tho Barringtoiv ■Club. Canterbury Association. The sum of £;i7 15s 3d was raised as the ouleomo of a novelty croquet tournament organised by the Canterbury Association, and held in delightful weather on the lawns of tin; United Club, Christchurch 'on Saturday hist. Clubs participating in the entertainment of visitors were. Barringlon, Cashmere, Edge ware, Elmwooil, .1 jinwood, New Brighton, Opawa, Bed dill's, St. Albnns, Sunnier, and United.- The amount was raised to augment, the Mayor's Earthquake Relief. Fund. .Referees and Umpires. Law 4S in. the New Zealand Annual sets forth tho fact, that "Either side may claim that ah umpire, -agreed on by'"tho two sides, be appointed for any part of tho game," and, further, goes on to explain the duties of an umpire— viz.: (a) "To determine all.. questions of fact, or replacement, subject to law 33 (a), (b) "To sec that tho balls and clips' arc properly placed,;' and (c) "To adjust hoops and pegs as may bo necessary." This is all very clearly and specifically mapped out, and yet one.finds numerous cases where some umpires claim to, and- others are expected to function, as referees. There is a very big difference- with—a- veiy big distinction between-umpires and referees, and much more care and discrimination is needed in making these appointments if the players are to learn just when to call an umpire and when to ask for a referee, and what to expect from either. On the face of things, it would not be in tho best interests of tho game if every umpire were given the powers allotted exclusively to referees of (a) deciding all questions which may be submitted concerning the interpretation of tho laws of croquet; (b) of deciding questions ..which may involy.e disqualification of a competitor; or (c) of calling immediate attention to any irregularity in play, etc. Even an assistant referee's powers and duties are re-, stricted, and rightly-so-when it comes to a matter--of disqualification. Yet. when umpires are "termed" referees they, if they so wish, should not be denied the powers of that position, nor

should they be excused from the duties o- tho higher and more important office. The writer has been questioned over and over .again on the matter of umpires calling attcution to, or to put it more forcefully, of umpires "pulling the players up" for. irregularities in play without, having been appealed to, and ■according - to --regulation tho answer must always be "No."' The umpire has not thb'right to do so unless he or she is an official referee acting in the dual capacity of referee and umpire. For the benefit of those who wish enlightenment on tho powers and duties of referees, the -following may prove interesting:—Clause (c) will, next season, bo worded more .elaborately, though to all intents and. purposes the. meaning wil! remain unchanged."' Regulation 14: Referees. •■(a) i'o decide all questions which may bo submitted, to. him /concerning tho interpretation of the laws of croquet. " (b) "To decide .all questions'arising under "the laws of croquet which may involve the ' disqualification of a competitor. . . , , ■ . (c) To call attention to any irregularity in play,, and to warn any competitor whoso strokes are in his opinion not strictly in "accordance with the laws of croquet," and--also to warn competitors agaiusct undue delay ln.-a timelimit "game. ] . This clause, revised for next season, will read: (c) To call attention at once to any infringement of the laws of croquet, official decisions, or these regulations, and to warn, any competitor whoso play is in his opiuion not strictly in accordance with tho laws, and also to warn competitors against, undue delay in a, time-limit game. (il) At his discretion to disqualify after warning given under section (c) of I his regulation. (f) .At his discretion to appoint assistant referees for the. tournament,' whoso duties shall be confined to sections (a) ..and (c) of this regulation. (f) At his discretion to appoint umpires for tho tournament, either to take charge- of; a .particular match-or to be available to adjudicate at any time upon any matter of fast which may arise in play. It goes, without saying that umpires, and especially referees, should show every possible consideration for the feelings' of the competitors, especially those suffering from nervousness and inexperience. It is almost always possible to take up a position behind instead of in front of a player, though in several games played in Wellington recently the referee when watching the "peg out." took up a position a little to the side of, a,nd yet actually between the player and tho peg. This action unintentional though it may be is very disconcerting"'-tg.,.a junior, and as a "peg out" can be clearly seen (except when- the light -is-fading) from almost any point- on .the', lawn,- such-nearness is quite unnecessary. The Smash Shot. A point cropped up in one of tho junior matches where the player lost the chance of pegging out both balls soon after .becoming a rover, owing to tho "belief that, having previously roqueted and croqueted her partner ball, and failed to put it on the stick, she .could not peg-out—with--tho-last- shot; sometimes known as tho "smash" shot or "free" shot. Just as in the matter of a ball settling in the jaws of a hoop in prder. on- the. croquet stroko, the striker, if unable'to execute a partial jump-to-carry -it-through, will -play a smash shot which, if sufficient follow through is applied, will complete the running of the hoop for both balls, so

tho sauio shot played in such a manner that tho striker ball will carry on to the peg after- hitting the partner ball .on will score tho points and finish the game. This smash shot can also bo very effectively" Used when/one -has left tho-balls too close together.' By playing a cannon with the final' shot the whole position can be "altered; it is therefore wise to study, the possibilities of this most useful "stroke, and then to practise it assiduously. The writer places this stroke' second only in importance to the jump, stroko in an cm ergon C 3% "