RUGBY MANAGEMENT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 September 1931, Page 6

RUGBY MANAGEMENT.

MEETING OF DISTRICT COUNCIL. JUNIOR PLAYER OUT FOR• TWELVE MONTHS. The Horowhenua Rugby District Council met in the Band Room on Tuesday evening, when there were present the President (Mr A. Richards), in the chair, and Messrs G. Mitchell, W. Hannon, F. C. Meyer, F. Robinson, P. F. Saxby and J. Casey (secretary). WAIKANAE CAPTAIN DEALT WITH, Mr H. Hemi, referee in the Athle-tic-Waikanae junior match played at Waikanae, reported that he had to order Thomas, captain of the Waikanae team, oft for striking and punching an Athletic player while he was on the ground. Before going off he wanted to fight any of the Athletic players or the referee. After being on The line for a while he called out to his mates to put the boot in to a player on the ground and used improper language. Not satisfied he later came back on the field of play and had to be ordered off again. The referee also reported two of the Waikanae players for taking the field in wrong colours. Thomas was not in attendance to answer the charges made in the referee’s report. Mr Meyer, said the player made a big mistake in going back after being ordered off. “It is a bigger mistake to flout the Council by not appearing” commenced another delegate. Mr Hannan said a serious view should be taken of the matter. He moved that Thomas be suspended for twelve months. If they let an offender of this sort down lightly it would not do football any good.

Mr Robinson said he understood Thomas had been playing for three years and in that case he would second the motion because the player should have known 'better. Mr Mitchell considered the motion rather severe. Mr Robinson: It wants to. be severe.

Mr Mitchell: Taking into consideration the referee, it seems pretty sevea^e.

Mr Meyer said Thomas belonged to his club and in ordinary circumstances he would do his best to defend" him, but the player had absolutely defied the Council.

Mr Mitchell: That may be because he is a young player and does not like to come up before us. Mr Meyer said the player knew the position. The President: The captain should set an example to the others. Mr Meyer said the' Waikanae Club had got a good name for clean play and a matter like this was no going to do it any good. Mr Mitchell: Hid you see the incident? Mr Meyer: Yes, there was not much in it. It was really started by the other chap when both were on the ground, and the referee “spotted” Thomas. ■The motion for suspension for twelve months was then put and carried. CASE OP REFEREE. At the previous meeting the Council discussed the protest made by the Moutoa Club against the , referee,. Mr Hemi, who acted in the Moutoa-Wan-derers match on May Dth. The matter had (been referred to the Referees’ Association, and as no reply had been received, a further request was made for it- This was the match in which ■Roberts was ordered off and was subsequently suspended for eight weeks for striking the referee. Mr W. G. Phillips, secretary of the Rugby Referees’ Association, now wrote in reply stating the Association regarded the complaints against Mr Hemi as unwarranted and unfounded. He had controlled games of all grades for some years under the jurisdiction of the Association and had not had any previous convictions. He absolutely denied having lost control of the game at any stage. Mr Hemi had controlled several games since the incident and there were no complaints. The referee stated that he could prove that he did not challenge Roberts to a fight, as alleged,'and he challenged the Moutoa Club on this point. ’‘We would like to ask the following questions as the protest has come through the Council; (a) When and in what match has the complaint ‘no proper control’, been levelled against this referee; (b) during a Rugby match, provided, say, with an ipeompetent referee, what is the signal -for a fiasco. Rugby, as this Association knows it, is not played by ruffians. We understand that Mr Hemi was appointed to referee a Rugby match played by sportsmen. Had we known previously that the Wanderers team consisted of prize-fighters this Association would not have allowed a member to officiate. The fact that Mr Hemi placed two players on the line is evidence that he watched for rough play. We consider that, in comparison with previous similar occasions, Roberts was dealt with too leniently 'by the Council.” The Association considered a referee’s report was not necessary as the Council should have dealt with the matter at the time with the particulars before them. They had delayed this report so as to watch Mr Hemi closely and see if there were any further complaints. He had been specially asked for as a referee recently by other clubs.

Mr Hannan said they had not referred,, the Moutoa protest to the Referees’ i Association. The Council considered it was the referee that was at fault since he admitted that he struck back at Roberts. The Council wanted the Referees’ Association- to deal with him for that. Mr Mitchell said there were other complaints also. Mr, Saxby considered the Referees’ Association had been very discourteous in holding over their reply for sixteen weeks just to watch the referee. It was rather, strange that when they got. the reply there was more trouble with . the . same rdferee. - . • The President: It: seems .■ rather • a coincidence* It would seemi the refer re'e. is .always in trouble. .• ■> Mr Saxby pointed <out that -..the; Mom toa Club had their witnesses present at the enquiry to prove" their case. The for the delay —’that-• they

wanted to- watch the referee —was a washout. • Mr Hannan moved that the matter be re-submitted to the Referees ’ Association - with the intimation that the Council considered the referee was at fault in that he admitted striking 'back at a player, and that he should be dealt with by his Association. Mr Robinson seconded the motion, remarking that if there was any evidence to be brought it should be stated to the Council. The motion was carried. Later in the evening, when the officers of the Referees’ Association were present the matter was mentioned to them. Mr Hannan said Mr Kingi, the Referees’ delegate, told the Council they were referring the matter to the N. 3. Referees’ Association. In the letter before them that evening they were told that it had been held back while they watched the referee. The referee, when before the Council,, admitted that he struck at the player, Roberts, and that was what they wanted the Referees’ Association to deal with. He had to speak plainly in the matter and say that he doubted whether the referee was competent to control the game. In practically every case where there had been trouble it had been the same referee. His personal opinion was that the referee was too quick tempered. It would have been better for both the Council and the Referees’ Association if he had been reprimanded. Mr Robinson said he quite agreed with .Mr Hannan. He had seen Mr Hemi referee alright and had seen him make grave errors. He had put men like Tatana, Satherly and Roddickoff —players of international and representative standing. The speaker had managed these men all over the North Island and had never seen anything but excellent behaviour from them. There was no trouble with them under other referees. It really looked as if the fault was with the man controlling the whistle.

Mr Meyer supported the other speakers. It was not a case where they had taken a set on a particular man. The position was that they had a series of complaints relating to unruly games when he was -refereeing. When they were getting such reports they were justified in asking the Referees’ Association to deal with the-referee. If they found the same referee going out again and the same thing happening, it became a question whether the referee could control the game. The speaker had tried to find a reason for these incidents and thought a.referee should not argue with the spectators or the players. If he did trouble would follow and the game get out of control.

Mr W. Phillips, secretary of the Referees’ Association, explaining the delay that had taken place, said the referee was not at the first meeting and the matter was held over. It was then decided to apply to the N.Z. Referees’ Association for directions how to deal With such a matter, and later it was decided to leave it over to watch the referee. At last meeting it was decided to draft the. letter that the 'Council had had before it. He pointied out that the Council had dealt with the players reported by this; referee and thereby upheld him. The Council must have found that the players were at fault. Other referees may have seen the same things as Mr Hemi but had not reported them to the Council. The President: All the trouble seems v to be in matches that he is engaged in. Mr Phillips: What other trouble have you had? The President: At Shannon, Moutoa and Waikanae. Mr Phillips: We have had two applications for this particular referee from the Hui Mai and Athletic Clubs. Mr Hannan said the stand they always took was to Tet the Referees’ Association appoint whom they like as they were the governing body. Mr Rose maintained that referees’ reports should go first to the Referees’ Association and if they found they were severe they would forward them to the Council. After further desultory discussion the matter was left to the Referees’ Association to deal with. OT A ITT GRIEVANCES.

Mr W. C. 'Childs, secretary of the Otaki Club, wrote expressing surprise that the Council had awarded the Hui Mai juniors the game against Otaki .set down for last This was an injustice to Otaki as at 1 p.m. on •Saturday Mr iScott, of Manakau, te)ephoned that Hui Mai was unable to muster a team and this advice prevented them from travelling to Manakau, In, view of this the game should have been awarded to Otaki. In regard to the senior, Wanderers had been given a bye for 'Saturday, whereas ac : cording to the fixtures, Otaki had a bye. As he had not received word of a change of fixtures he was not taking any action, but would stand to the fixtures and observe a bye for Saturday With regard to the first complaint, the Secretary said that the -Otaki delegates at last Tuesday’s meeting said their Club was defaulting on Saturday. That was where the information came from.

The Council’s decision awarding the match. to Hui Mai is to stand.

In regard to the seniors, the President said . two Otaki delegates were present at the meeting and d’ully understood the position. Otaki were to play Shannon at Shannon and Wanderers were to have the ( bye owing to so many of their players being engaged in rep. football. Mr Mitchell: Were the clubs informed of the alteration? The Secretary: Only the Clubs who were not represented at the meeting. The delegates are - expected to inform their clubs of such changes. The fixtures were also published in the press. The match was awarded" to Shannon by default. • • . ANOTHER DEFAULT MATCH, The Secretary moved that the HuiMai—Moutoa match be awarded to Moutoa in view of Hui Mai’s default on Saturday.' " Mr- Saxby. said Moutoa- were quite willing tp; play Hui. Mai at a later date if • t.hey , ,wished it as there had been a, standing. A'message came through from Mr Bxpwn, of Mariakau, about 11 o-’elockj stating 'they could

not get a team, and the Moutoa team was notified. At that time the Moutoa team was picked and travelling arrangements made. On receipt of the message the team dispersed. Later on. another ring come through stating Hui Mai could play, but by that time it was too late as the Moutoa players had scattered.

Mr Hannan said Moutoa were entitled to the game if Mr Brown had anything to do with the Hui Mai Glut). On the chairman’s motion it was decided that the match be replayed at the end of the round if the result has any bearing on the competition. CONFERENCE WITH REFEREES. Messrs J. Rose (President), W. G. Phillips (secretary), and-Kingi (delegate),- officers of the Referees’ Association, waited on the Council in accordance with the latter’s request to discuss various matters raised by referees and the Council, and the Association’s difficulties. The meeting went into committee. to deal with these. As a result of the discussion several matters outstanding were cleared up.

. The President said a lot ; of* good \yould come from the conference, and things would be on a better footing than in the past. The Council wanted the Referees’ Association to continue functioning and carry on its work. . . ... SENIOR FIXTURES. The .senior fixtures for Saturday^

September 26th, were arranged as fol—•lows: — ' ~ , • ' Wanderers y. Moutoa at Levin. Shannon v. Hui Mai at Shannon. Otaki a bye. There will be no junior matches.