INTERESTS OF THE GAME

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 20

INTERESTS OF THE GAME

REFEREES' PART

It is a practice of tlie'Xcw.Zealand Kugby Jieferc.es'_ Association to issue to aflnlalcd bodies copies of questions and. answers' regarding points in the Jaws bl the game' A copy of each cireuliuMs placed before the' Now Zealand Kugby Union's management coniinitloo for confirmation, and when tlie iirst .of this, year's issues was tabled at the N.Z'.B.U. committee meeting this week, the desirability of all questions and replies being circularised amongst referees' associations was questioned. Questions raised by. some associations were regarded as being not of the kind to bring.under the notice of all associations', and in such cases, it was thought, tho reply should be sent only to the association forwarding the query. There was a case in point in the circular before the meeting, which rather showed up tho inefficiency of a referee: In cases like that the best interests of the game Mere not being served, said the chairman (Mr. S. S. Dean), in having the matter sent to all associations. Another question gave risej'to some discussion on the tackle. There, was a frequency-of cases, it was stated, in which a player after being tackled got up and carried on with,the ball in possession. "The sooner we give referees :m instruction in regard to the tackle rule," said the chairman, "the better it will be in the interests of1 our' own game." Members agreed that, the rule was a very hard one,; and Mr. A. C. Kitto doubted whether it was altogot her beneficial to tho game. Mr. 11. S. Lcith: If you carried that tackle- rule out in its, entirety you would not have a. game. Discussion, then turned to what is generally termed the "mark," meaning "fair catch." It was clear that members were alive to the fact that some referees differed from others in opinions as to what constituted a "fair catch." There had been some instances last Saturday of claims which appeared to be fair being disregarded, and one. member remarked that a referee on being asked for a definition, of a "mark" had replied that lie could not givo one, as there was no mark in football according to the lules. . ■