THE RUGBY REFEREE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10725, 24 October 1928, Page 7

THE RUGBY REFEREE

SHOULD HE BE PAID

WELL-RNO WN CONTROLLER. OPPOSES 'IDEA.

NO WHIP OVER THEM NOW

(Special To The Times). AUCKLAND, Oct. 23. Describing himself as a man who dared to criticise the English team that recently visited New- Zealand Air. L. Bull, one of the'referees of the League football code; said, on; Saturday evening that, if payment of referees were introduced, he was finished with the game. , ' The' subject came up at a gather-' ing' of the‘ Deyo’nport United football club, when Mr. AT. Cleary, one of. the committee of the club 1 , in toasting the referees'- as “men who are popular when we win. and unpopular when we lose,*’ said he considered! that, as the whistle . controllers had to. give up their afternoons, and really the kep mofi in sport, since any slacking up of the game would kill it, they should have their services properly recognised. If payment were made, and .the .referees. jvere graded, ..then the junior ..men would have reason to ma kg. them selves efficient referee's, although.the. -willing horse, were now being worked to death. (He had known one man handle three matches in an afternoon). His own personal, opinion. was that the best remedy was. to pay, the men and endeavour to train recruits. This woujd eliminate the present habit' of imposing on good sports. ■ - ■ Mr. L. Bull, in responding made a spirited reply that now the referees could express an’ opinion without fear. Their services were voluntary, and there \\-as no whip over them. They did;, their best to enforce the rules, and if critics thought they could do better, let them come out and take the whistle. .