REFEREE’S POWER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 59, Issue 4288, 7 June 1950, Page 5

REFEREE’S POWER

RIGHT TO STOP GAME

INCIDENT AT WAIHI

RUGBY UNION DISCUSSION

“The game was stopped by me at eight minutes after the second spell commenced,” stated Mr W. S. Walker, referee in the Rugby match, West junior team versus Katikati, at Waihi on May 2'7 last. “The coach of the Paeroa West team was shouting from the side line and had been doing so for the best part of the game. His remarks were that I was giving wrong decisions and when I told him to keep quiet he kept on saying that I was not fair. I then told him to leave the enclosure or I would call the game off. I gave him a chance to leave but he again refused and therefore I then carried out the warning and called the game off and awarded it to the Katikati team. The score was nine nil in favour of Katikati,” concluded Mr Walker. Mr R. Fitz Henry, delegate of the West club, informed the meeting that the West junior team was not likely to be a winning team in the junior competition and his club would not

like to create a position in which the fixtures in the competition might be upset. His club was satisfied with the result of the match. The chairman, Mr W. F. Faber, thanked Mr Fitz Henry for the attitude taken by the West club. Was Decision Correct?. It was pointed out that the question of the correctness of the referee’s decision had been referred to the Thames Valley Rugby Union and the Paeroa union should await the decision of the Valley union. Mr E. C. Morgan took the view that the Paeroa union should deal with the matter and come to a decision upon the incident.

Mr T. Richardson suggested that it would not be wise for the Paeroa union to make any decision at all on a matter which which affected the Waihi and the Paeroa unions. The proper course would be to leave the decision to the Thames Valley union. If that course were not adopted the incident might create resentment between the Waihi and Paeroa unions.

A report from the Paeroa union would have to be made to the Valley union, said Mr E. J. McKenzie. The Valley union had a report from the Waihi union but none had been sent by the Paeroa union. Powers of Referee “Has the referee power to award the game,” asked Mr Fitz Henry? As he understood it the referee made a report as to the game and the awarding of a victory • to either side was the province of the union. Mr Morgan moved that the Paeroa union express regret at the happening in the West-Katikati junior match. There was no desire to have the game replayed but the union required' a ruling from the refrees’ association as to whether the referee had the power to stop the game. Upon being put to the meeting the resolution was carried unanimously. Later in the evening Mr H. Verran, manager of the West junior team, attended the meeting and asked if any report was required from him. The chairman asked for an expression of opinion from the meeting whether Mr Verran should be permitted to make a statement. The meeting resolved that the report from the referee be read to Mr Verran and he be asked to comment on the statements.

■Commenting on the statement made -by the referee Mr Verran said that he did not at any time of the game annoy the referee except at one period whn he called out “give us a fair go.” The referee said “did you mean that?” Mr Verran replied “yes, I did.” He .denied that he abused the referee.

He was not on the ground at all. No member of the Waihi Rugby union suggested to him that he should leave the ground and the officials were there and saw all that happened, concluded Mr Verran.

Mr McKenzie pointed out that no member of the Waihi union had taken any exception to Mr Verran’s actions. Any spectator was entitled to call out and barrack. The discussion then closed.