GIBERTIAN SITUATION

Evening Star, Issue 22383, 6 July 1936, Page 12

GIBERTIAN SITUATION

REFEREEING RUGBY GAMES TWO OFFICIALS FOR ONE MATCH LEGAL LETTERS INTRODUCED A Gilbertian situation arose on Saturday afternoon when two Rugby referees arrived at a ground to referee a single game. After negotiations had taken place, however, matters were satisfactorily adjusted, and the game went on as arranged. The situation appears to be an echo of something that occurred last year, when one or the clubs made a request to tho Rugby authorities that Mr Norman Tilley should not be appointed to control matches in which any of its teams were taking part. The request was observed till last week, when, evidently overlooking the matter, _ the Referees’ Appointment Board appointed Mr Tilley to act in the third grade match Kaikorai-Southern. One or two members of the Appointment Board, with the sole idea of saving any illfeeling that might arise, agreed to transfer Mr Tilley to another match, and to appoint Mr Henderson from that other game for the Southern-Kaikorai match. In the next plfice it seems that members of the Appointment Board who had not been communicated with wanted to know what right the other members had to make a change, and back went Mr Tilley to the SouthernKaikorai match.

It was at this stage of the proceedings that Dr Perry, president of the Otago Rugby Union, interested himself in order to relievo any tension that might have been created. He saw Mr Tilley on Saturday morning, and was successful in persuading him to exchange with Mr Henderson. Having done so, tie went home fully convinced that matters were running smoothly. Later, however, he was telephoned and informed that Mr Tilley had changed his •mind and that he was going to Tonga Park to referee in the game for which Mr Henderson had also agreed to act. The time of the commencement of the game was approaching fast. It was hurriedly arranged that another referee should take Mr Tilley’s match, or rather the match, which Mr Henderson was originally to have taken. Dr Perry set out for Tonga Park in his motor car to ascertain the position. There were two referees for the one game! It was agreed that Mr Tilley should act, and tho match went on. It appears that the decision to transfer Mr Tilley to a match other than the one which he was originally appointed' had , a sequel on Saturday morning, when two members of the Management Committee of the Otago Rugby Union, and a prominent, official of the Referees’ Association, received the following communication from Mr James L. Calder, solicitor, who is the immediate past-president of the Referees’ Association:—

“Dear Sir, —1 have been consulted by Mr Norman D. Tilley in connection with the revocation of his appointment to the match Southern v. Kaikorai, third grade, at Tonga Park this day. On the facts as presented to me, it is alleged that you wilfully and illegally attempted to interfere with this appointment, and 1 am instructed to inform you, as 1 do hereby, that you will be held legally liable for these alleged actions and any future actions which might tend to interfere with the carrying out of his duties at the above match this day.—Yours obediently, J. L. Calder.” ’ . , , One of those men who received the letter stated this morning that lie at first regarded it as a joke. Later lie learned that two others had received the sime communication. The outcome of the wfiole affair will be awaited with interest.