REFEREES MEET

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 63, 12 September 1938, Page 16

REFEREES MEET

SMOKE CONCERT

AUCKLAND VISITORS

The keen rivalry and sporting spirit ; that existed between Wellington and Auckland Rugby football enthusiasts was shown on Saturday evening when some sixty referees from Auckland were entertained at the annual" smoke concert of the Wellington Rugby Referees' Association. * The gathering, over which Mr. J. S. King presided, was well attended. , , : "I think that when we look back ' over the years and review the posi--1 tion at the present time all will agree that things have advanced as far as the Wellington Rugby Referees' Asso--1 ciation is concerned," said Mr. J. GilChrist, proposing the toast of The Wellington Rugby Union." He added ; that the relations that existed between the Referees' Association and the Wellington Rugby Union were very amicable, and that they felt that there was not much that they asked the union that they did not receive. He ! paid a tribute to Mr. J. Prendeville, who, he said, had steered the union executive through a difficult period. Replying, Mr. Prendeville said he was glad to know that such a fine social side was attached to the difficult task of refereeing. It was good to make the annual gathering of the Wellington referees coincide with the visit of the Auckland referees, and he was pleased that such a good healthy feeling existed between the two associations. He would like to see that feeling continue for a long time, because as long as such enthusiasm was shown in the control of Rugby, its future was assured. . .. Mr. S. J. Haydon, proposing the toast of "The Wellington Rugby Referees' Association," congratulated the members on the inauguration of what he thought was the most ambitious referee programme in New Zealand — the regular interchange of referees between Auckland and Wellington, it spoke volumes, he said, that fellowreferees of the two provinces fraternised so well. CUSTODIANS OF TRADITIONS. % In reply, Mr. J. S. King said that the referee was only trying to carry out his part in fostering the grand old game of Rugby. To the referees was entrusted most of the custodianship of the game, and it behoyed them to see that the great traditions of football were kept up. The Wellington Rugby referees were proud of their association, its traditions, past members, and its records. The toast of the New Zealand Rugby Union was proposed by Mr. A. M. Fletcher, who said that as the 1933 season drew to a close the referees of Auckland and Wellington deemed it necessary to thank those who were in control of the game. The game of Rugby depended for its success on the players, the spectators, and the union, and it was the cardinal duty of the New Zealand Union to see that the spirit of the game permeated the country. Mr. A. C. Kitto said in reply that the New Zealand Union tried at all times to foster good feeling among referees. It wished to help them to get uniformity among rulings, he said. After Mr. King had proposed the toast of "Life Members," he presented Messrs. J. Moffit, A. E. Neilson, D. Calcinai, A. C. Kitto, H. Paton, G. E. Bradley, and C. Brocklebank with life members' badges. The toast was replied to by Mr. A. E. Neilson. Mr. D. Calcinai proposed the,toast of "The Teams," after which the captain of the Wellington referees' team was presented with the Green Shield for the team winning the annual match between the Auckland and Wellington Referees' Associations. The captains of the Auckland and Wellington teams, Messrs. V. Mace and A. Monigatti, replied. The Lougher Cup for the most improved junior referee was presented to Mr. K. Mclntyre. - Other toasts honoured were "Senior Promotions," proposed by Mr. G. E. Bradley and replied to by Messrs. A. Fletcher, E. Mildenhall, and I. Ramsay; "The Auckland Referees' Assosiation," proposed by Mr. B. Matthews and replied to by Mr. J. Finlayson; and "The Artists and the Press," proposed by Mr. A. R. Morice.