RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 May 1931, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

HOROWHENUA DISTRICT COUNCIL The management committee of the Horowhenua Rugby District Council met last evening, in the Band Room, Levin, there being present: Messrs A. Richards (president), W. C. Childs (Otaki), W. C. Hannan (Wanderers), F. C. Meyer (Waikamae), M. G. McLean (Paraparaumu), J. W. Procter (life member), N. Kingi (Referees) and J. Casey (secretary). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. McGill (Otaki), S. Elliott (Otaki), P. F. Saxby (Mouoa), G. Mtchell (Shannon), and J. W. Rimmer (treasurer). PLAYED AS SUBSTITUTE. Information was received from the Moutoa Club that, in the match against Otaki on May 16th, at Otaki, it utilised the services of D. Tuna, an Otaki player, as a substitute, owing to Houtoa being one man short. The club had no intention of playing him permanently. Mr Childs stated that Tuna had been standing on the line and, without stopping to think that he might be debarred from playing subsequently for any other club, joined in with the Moutoa side when he found that they were short of one player. The Chairman said that, if the match had been won by Moutoa, such a win might have been disallowed. According to the Council’s rules, Tuna would now be a member of the Moutoa Club till the end of the season. Mr Hannan said it would be best for Tuna to apply for reinstatement in the Otaki Club, transfers being allowable till the end of the first round. Mr Childs, as secretary of the Otaki 'Club, put in a written application for the transfer of Tuna back to the Otaki 'Club; and this was granted, on the motion of Mr McLean, seconded by Mr Meyer. CHARGE OF TRIPPING. In his report on the Waikanae-Hui Mai junior match, played at Waikanae on Saturday last, the referee (Mr T. Parata) stated that, during the second spell, he had occasion to order off the field W. Bowling, a Hui Mai player, for tripping. He had previously warned this player during the game. Apart from this incident, the match was played in a very friendly spirit by both sides. Being unable to attend this meeting, Mr Parata deputed Mr Meyer to speak on his behalf. That gentlepan had acted as line umpire and had seen the incident. Mr Meyer endorsed the complaint, and said he thought that Bowling was warned three times, yet persisted in tripping. The referee had told Mr Meyer that the offence for which Bowling was put off was a deliberate trip. The player against whom the charge was made was not in attendance, and it was decided that he be suspended until he appears before the committoo RENTAL AND USE OF GxiOUNDS. The Town Clerk of Foxton wrote stating that the committee’s application for the use of Easton Park for the season had been considered by his Council, which had decided to accept the committee’s offer of a rental on the 'basis of 15 per cent, of the gross takings. Advice was received from the Shannon Borough Council that the use of its Domain would be granted at a rental of 15 per cent, on the gross gate takings and on condition that one representative game is played at Shannon during the season. From the Otaki Borough Council intimation was received of ’ its decision to accept a rental of 15 per cent, of the gross takings for the use of the Otaki Domain for this season. With the terms fixed for the Levin Park Domain, the rental of the main grounds in all the four towns is on the 15 per cent, basis. Mrs Christina Prouse wrote expressing her pleasure in again granting the use of the ground known as Prouse’s Paddock for football purposes when required; and she was accorded th e committee ’s thanks. The Chairman reported that the Whitanui ground was available to the Rugby Council free of charge and with the privilege of charging admission. INTER-PROVINCIAL REFEREES. The Manawhenua Union wrote asking the committee to submit, for the information of the Appointments Board of the N.Z.R.U., the names of not more than three referees who were eligible and Available to act in interprovincial matches; the list to be in order of merit, if possible. It was resolved to submit the names of Messrs T. Parata, E. Mulcahy and P. McLeavey. INJURED FOXTON PLAYER. A ’ report was received from Mr H. Hirini, secretary of the Foxton Football Club, that C. McCarthy, a member of the Foxton junior team, received an injury to the right arm in the match against Tokomaru, at Foxton on May 16th. . RUMOUR ABOUT WANDERERS . JUNIORS. Having been informed that the Wanderers junior team was, disbanding, Mr Tim McDonald, secretary of the Koputaroa Club, wrote stating that Alfred Winiata and Jim Hirini had asked him to make application that, in the event of such disbandment, they be transferred to the Koputaroa Club. The secretary stated that the committee had not received any notification that the Wanderers juniors intended to disband. RESTORATION OF 'STATUS REFUSED. Mr T. S. Clunie, Paraparaumu, wrote stating that he had been instructed to put In an application for the reinstatement to junior status of 11. Wchipeihana, who had not played senior football for three years owing to injuries. Mr Hannan remarked that the committee had already turned down two' similar applications. Tho Chairman moved that the application be not granted, Mr Meyers thought that the rule was a hard one in the circumstances. The Chairman: If we grant one, we will have others coming forward. Mr McLean: I think they should be taken on their merits. Last time he

played was in Wellington three years ago, for Oriental. Mr Procter: He played for Hui Mai juniors afterwards. 'The motion was carried. DONATIONS. Letters enclosing donations of £1 Is in each case wer e received from the Mayor (Mr Oi Blenkhorn) and Mr George Ramsbotham, Levin. His Worship stated that, if his contribution could be used by way of encouraging the sport among the schoolboys, he would be pleased. However, he would leave its disposal entirely to the committee, satisfied that the best use would be made of it. 'The committee’s thanks were passed to the donors, with appreciation of the Mayor’s action in fostering school football. COLOURS THAT CLASH. Reporting on the match between Otaki and Hui Mai seniors, played at Manakau on Saturday last, the referee (Mr P. McLeavey) wrote stating that a Hui Mai player wore a green jersey with a white band, resulting in much confusion at times. At halftime this player changed into his club colours of green and white hoops. Mr Childs stated that, before the game started, it was pointed out to the referee that the jersey then worn by the player in question was very similar to Otaki’s, which was green. At half-time the referee told Mr Childs that he (the referee) had requested the player to change his jersey, but he had refused to do so. There was an argument at half-time, between the players and spectators, as to whether the jersey was allowable. The captains conferred, and eventually the player changed his jersey. Mr Childs asked the chairman if a referee had any right to ask a player wearing a wrong jersey, before the commencement of a match, to change it. The Chairman: The referee is the sole judge of fact, and I take it that he has the right to, do so. He is in sole charge of the match. It was mentioned that it was a hockey (jersey that was the cause of the trouble. The committee decided to impose a fine of 2/6 on the Hui Mai Club, REFEREE’S POWERS ENLARGED. Mr Hannan moved that in future, when a player is wearing a wrongly coloured jersey, if it is in conflict with the opposing side’s colours, he must change it if requested to do so by the referee. J 1 he motion was seconded by Mr Childs, and carried. 1 TEAM ACCIDENTALLY DELAYED. With reference to the junior fixture, Tokomaru v. Shannon, at Tokomaru last Saturday, a report was received from the referee that the game did not commence until 3.45 p.m., owing to the Shannon team arriving late. The match finished at- 5.10, when it was almost too dark to see the ball. The Chairman stated that the Shannon team had been all ready to start, but the bus would not function. They had to travel by another bus, and the delay on this account amounted to 20 minutes. In addition they had been somewhat late in getting together. GROUND MATTERS. On the Chairman’s suggestion, it was agreed to write to the Foxton CluU, asking to have its goalposts padded, to obviate a danger to players. The Otaki ground was referred to in the report on the Otaki-Moutoa senior match of May 16th, by Mr E. Mulcahy, who wrote that two lines close .together were in evidence, causing some confusion. Mr Childs stated that what appeared to be an old line was a mark made by cycles. The playing-field was in the same location as for the* past seven or eight years, and the field was properly marked. It was not possible to overcome the difficulty mentioned until the ground filled up. Mr Hannan said that the best course would be to point out the existence of the confusing mark to visiting teams. WRONG COLOUR^. A report received from Mr T. Parata stated that, in the Waikanae-Otaki junior match at Waikanae on May 16, five Otaki players were wearing wrong colours. As the three weeks’ grace had not expired on the 16th, the committee took no action in the matter. ONE FOR THE REFEREES. Mr Hannan said that the referees’ reports were coming in very nicely this season, and those officials were deserving of commendation on the fact. The Chairman supported Mr Hannan’s remarks. The secretary stated that the Referee’s Association was functioning very well. Speaking of the match played between Wanderers and Shannon seniors at Shannon last Saturday, the Chairman said that congratulations were due to Mr Mulcahy, who had given a very fine interpretation of the international rules. The game had been a very clean one all through, and a very fine match for the spectators to watch. He had not heard one remark from the crowd about the refereeing. ALLOCATION OF REFEREES. In asking what system was followed by the Association in classifying referees, Mr Childs said that Otaki had a referee, Mr H. Tahiwi, who had been officiating for a number of years in junior matches. The speaker would lik e to know if Mr Tahiwi could be given senior matches. Mr Kingi stated that the Association admitted that Mr Tahiwi was capable of refereeing senuior matches, but ho understood that it was by agreement with the secretary of the Association that Mr Tahiwi refereed junior games as a matter of personal preference. It was only for that reason that the Association had allotted him the lower grade matches. As to the question of grading of referees, he wished to point out that the Association had not many men at its disposal. It was only this year that it had been fortunate enough to get two referees from Shannon, which it had never had before. The Association had reduced the travelling expenses of referees by more than half as compared with the corresponding portion of last season. As far as possible, referees were given the control of matches in their own towns. There had been no classification of tfeferees. , M r Chiffls thanked Mr Kingi for his

explanation; and the chairman said he thought it was quite satisfactory. TIMEKEEPING AT MATCHES. On behalf of the Otaki club, and acting for Mr McGill, Mr Childs brought up the question of timekeeping at matches. When a referee deputed the timekeeping, would it not be advisable, he asked, for that official to appoint two timekeepers, instead of one. It had been stated on the sideline that the Otaki-Hui Mai match was played five minutes short, owing to injuries. The Chairman: The referee has the right to keep the time, also the right to appoint anyone he may think fit to keep the time for him. He can appoint two timekeepers if he wants to. Mr Meyer: The referee also appoints his line umpire, and the spectators often give their decision, Mr Hannan; It is quite a good idea to appoint two timekeepers. It is easy enough for one person to make a mistake in the time. The Chairman quoted from the rules to show that the referee might not consult with anyone but the line umpires regarding time, and that he might allow extra time for delays. Mr Kingi stated that if a player was down for three minutes the game must go on, Mr Childs moved that it be a recommendation to the lieferces’ Association that, in the event of a referee making an appointment for time-keep-ing, he appoint two persons for that purpose. Mr McLean seconded the motion. The Chairman said this was a fair recommendation. It was quite easy to make a mistake when taking time off for injuries. Mr Childs stated that another minute in the Otaki-Hui Mai contest might have altered the result of the game. Mr Hannan supported the motion. Mr Kingi said that the referee generally gave the timekeeping to someone on whom he could rely. Person-

ally, he was in favour of having twotimekeepers. The motion was carried. The junior match at Waikanae on.Saturday resulted: Waikanae 20, Hui Mai 12.