Rangitikei Rugby Dispute

Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7486, 9 June 1934, Page 12

Rangitikei Rugby Dispute

REFEREES DECIDE TO CARRY ON A special meeting’ of the Rangltikel Rugby Referees’ Association was held in Marton on Wednesday night, when members were called together to consider the position which had arisen as a result of the decision of Die Itangitikei Rugby Union not to remove a resolution (anent lifting the suspension of the ex-Bulls player Claude Ellery) from the records. Mr. W. E. Gibbons, who occupied the chair, briefly touched on the facts relating to the case (which have already appeared in the Times) and gave an account of the recent meeting of the union, at which he had expressed the opinion that he would not take the whistle if the motion was not rescinded. He had not given the feeling of the whole association in doing so, and the union had been fully aware of this point. Mr. Gibbons pointed out that the whole position indicated no coniidence in the Referees’ Association. “I, for one,” he said, ‘‘have no confidence in the union who had concluded by saying: ‘Bet the roferees go; we can get somebody else.’ This is apparently all they think of us,” ho said. Mr. Gibbons added that Messrs Hcnwood, Bull and McKenzie had voted against the referees whose association they were members of. Mr. Guy Thompson pointed out that the three members concerned were absent., and ho considered they were not present by design, apparently being unable to face the music. Mr. G. W. Brown considered the action of the president in asking Mr. Gibbons to attend the meeting and then to allow the latter to bo cross-examined, an extraordinary one. Other members concurred with this view, and the chairman pointed out that he thought the union knew it had done wrong, but used any argument to save it from climbing down. Mr. Cowdrey (Haucombe) said that years’ committee had dealt with the case to the satisfaction of the referees, and any contrary action this year was a sluion' the previous committee rather than on the referees. Mr. Bloyd Hammond, who had been responsible for the suggested conference to patch up the trouble, said the action of Wanganui in declining the recommendation really carried the day for the Rangitikei referees, thus malting the conference unnecessary. The speaker pointed out that the motion had been lost on the chairman’s casting vote, and this indicated that the latter must take full responsibility. Everyone in Rangitikei knew the union had been in the wrong, and if the referees took drastic steps it would penalise the rank and file of the players. “I want you to stick to the players,” said Mr. Hammond in conclusion, “and let the union stew in their own juice.” . Mr. Dashwood: "While the union is in its present mind, I, for one, don’t feel 3afe in taking the whistle. Mr. Cowdrey: It's a terrible lesson to them. Mr. Gibbons: I want to be fair to the union—l think they would stand to the referees if there was trouble on the field. Mr, Abel: Although my motion was

defeated, and while I am a little sore about a certain line of attack adopted, I must be fair to the union for there is a definite majority on the union who agree that a mistake was made. Both Mr. Dashwood and other referees may be assured of this. Mr. A. T. Gatrell, last year’s union president, wanted tho whole thing dropped, saying that nasty things had been said and done by union men, and that Claude Ellery had been “murdered’ through ignorance and inability. After further discussion, in which several members indulged in much plain speaking, a motion, moved by Mr. Gatrell and seconded by Mr. G. Brown, that “in the Interest of the game and players, this association will carry on despite the union's attitude,” was carried unanimous-. II Mr. Dashwood, who resigned from the association when the union passed the resolution recommending that Ellery’s suspension be lifted, said ho could not Ignore the appeal made by Mr. Lloyd Hammond. "X stuck up for my rights, and although the union was not with me, I achieved something. For the public, the players and the national game I will cany on,” he said. To-day's Football. Fixtures for to-day’s matches which will be the last of the first round games to be played in Rangltikei, are as under: Bulls v. Old Boys, at Marton; Rata v. Mangaweka, at Mangaweka: Athletic v. Halcombe, at Halcombe; Hunterville v. Toko-Stanway, at Hunterville. The Bulls team to play Old Boys at Marton will be: T. Shaw, N. James, T. Prichard, R. Carter, T. Dwyer, W. Bromley, N. Barrell, L. Harper, P. Governor, F. Cutts, R. Bromley, J. Henderson, F. Gabites, S. Sanson, F. Stock. Reserve, D. Henderson.