REFEREES AND UNION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 August 1924, Page 10

REFEREES AND UNION.

COAFiaiE.vCE TO RE HELD. As tiie outcome of complaints b\ die liCta.j.u envision re (cnees that tjiayms .-eporteu to tne Taranaki Rugov uinun diu not receive penalties in aeeping with their oitentes, a special meting ur tne lai anaKi Referees' Association resolved to asu tne union to meet tne leieree.s m conleieiice tu dis- . nss the [urination of a tribunal to deal .vi-ii tne puiusnineiu ot plavers orcki.ea on the field. Theie were present: Messrs F. pu.cue (presicleuc), o. Hopkins, j„. Moodncro. e. snooker, . uocn, \\ Diidger, A. Davis (northern division;, d. L . •Johnston, ,S. .1. Furrie l , If. Saun- • lers, |<. Harku-ess (central), r.,. iseiison, iC Mason (southern). Alter some discussion in regard to voting pmveis, il was agreed to proceed a.-> a meeting oi Uc-legates, the woilliorn members appoint.ng Messrs tiOcii and Rooiver as tueir lepresentatives. Air Hopkins said that ireferees had the right to protest if they considered a sentence. passed by Hit union was too lenient and likelv to undermine leieree.s eoiitiol of matches.

Air .Saunders said tne position was not singular to laiamikj. and thaL similar complaints were made all ovei ih-e Dominion. air Hopkins said the union had failed in their only Ijv consistently imposing a minimum penalty and ne\er a maximum. Air Goodaere agreed, and said thai such aiLion created dixiieulty for reieree.s in then- efforts to keep the game (dean. He said that while it was true the referee oiten stated that the offence was not seiicus, the union did not recognise a lequest for a severe penalty. He objected also to ireferees being sev-eiely cross-examined, and added a written statement made by thorn should stand. 4 lie chairman said it was optional for a reieree to attend a meoing of the union. Air Goodaere urged that the very best plan would lie tor the muon t.n appoint a. tribunal to deal with all earses reported. Air Hooker stated that rarely did a leleree cider a man off unless the incident warranted a severe penalty. Eventually the following motions were carriec) * Mi Goodaere moved: “That this meeting of the Taranaki Referees’ Association ask the ’laranaki Rugby Union to met them in conference at its next meeting to discuss the formation of a ti ibunnl to deal with punishment for players ouleied off the field by referees.”—This motion was eanied.

(in the motion of Air Furrie, it was also decided : “That ns trouble is frequently arising between players and referees on playing giounds improperly pioteeted from encroachment by spectators. this conference wishes to bring before the Taranaki Rugby Union the a-cessit for proper control of playing areas by club officials, this matter also to be discussed at the conference.” Complaints wore also made of delay in advising referees of appointments, and this would also be discussed, at the conference, where one delegate will be present to represent each division.