OBJECTION TO A REFEREE.

Evening Star, Issue 18669, 25 June 1924, Page 8

OBJECTION TO A REFEREE.

TO .HIE KDITOK Sir, —I was somewhat surprised to road in your columns that an expression of “ no-confidenco ” had been passed by the committee of tho Pirates Club on Mr G. M'Konzie as a referee; also that Mr Stuart, Pirates’ representative on the 0.R.F.U., staled that his club had not received a fair deal in the ’Varsity APirates match, refereed by Mr M'Kcnzio. As an interested spectator at this particular fixture, which provided tho “ fans ’ with tho best display of Rugby seen this season, I consider that Mr M'Konzio excelled himself in the handling of the game, and that no level-headed or fair-minded follower or player of Rugby football could take umbrage at his decisions, nor suggest partiality in any form whatever. Mr M'lvenzie has held the whistle for a great number of years now, and this unsportsmanlike action by such an old-established club is tho thanks ho earns for his unrecompensod services. It is significant that tho "grouch” should come from the club which lost the match, which is referred to by Mr Stuart as “a climax.” Tho "climax” can now be nought but a point-blank refusal by tho Otago Referees’ Association to appoint referees to act in any match in which a Pirates team, is engaged. — I am, etc., Confidence. Juno 25.

During the bearing of rases against juvenile offenders at Auckland, Mr E. K. Hunt. S.M., said ; “ All this talk about juvenile depravity is nonsense. It is nn!y bravado, and they are irresponsible when they arc together. Why, in my young rlays the village constable dealt with such offenders summarily, ami there was no more heard of the matter.” Sergeant Rowell : “Yes, your Worship; but in these days if such a thing was done the constable would be, charged with assault.”

“ Murder on a small se.alo,” said Mr W. J. M'Grath, at a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board, with reference to a recent suggestion by Dr Elizabeth Gunn, who had advocated that perverted or feeble-minded individuals be scientifically killed off by doctors, to preserve the purity of the race,. “Tt is a slur on the medical profession,” went on Mr M’Grath, “ that one of its representatives can advocate that doctors should bo more executioners. ”

In reference to the recent trouble caused on a Home-bound liner with a party of Maoris on board, who were (ravelling to the Emnire Exhibition, and were insulted by -South African passengers after leaving Capo Town, Sir John Hake, M.P., made some critical allusions at the annual smoke concert of the Karori Rifle Club, Wellington. “ New Zealanders,” said Sir John, “ would feel very much indeed for the Maori passengers who were travelling to the Exhibition. The Rhodesians had extended towards them the treatment they were used to giving the Kaffirs of -South Africa. The Maoris,” he declared, “are a people demanding the respect of every man in New Zealand. W© have come here and taken their land, and given them an opportunity of living their lives under civilised conditions, and we should see that so far as that side of our population is concerned every respect is paid to them as Britons. I regret that men who fought for the Empire had a slight put upon them by British ucnnlc.”