NELSON REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 August 1933, Page 2

NELSON REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION

[To the Editor] Sir, —The Referees’ statement, which appeared in your columns this evening, makes an allegation to the effect that your report of the Management Committee’s meeting, held on the Bth inst., contained many misleading statements. Anyone aware of the true facts cannot but admit that the Referees’ statement itself is entirely misleading. In the first place, the Rugby Union’s Sub-Committee was originally appointed to act in an advisory capacity only, and not for the purpose of approving, or otherwise, of appointments of referees made by the Appointment Board. The sub-committee pointed out to the Board at their meeting, on the Ist inst, that trouble was likely to arise if a certain appointment was made to the PirateRival .match. That was as far as the sub-committee was empowered to go; although since then, owing to the attitude of the referees in the matter, and pending the holding of a special general meeting of the Nelson Rugby Union, they have been given power to 0.K., or otherwise, any appointments. The Management Committee referred the appointment in question back to the Appointment Board with definite instructions that another referee be appointed. The Board, instigated by their Association, flouted the instruction, replying that no other senior referee was available. Apparently the Referees’ Association, through their Appointment Board, were, as they thought, standing on their dignity—the dignity of the child defying its parent. They saw fit, however, to appoint a senior referee to a local third grade game when there were other referees available This appointment was not made until after receipt of the Management Committee’s letter. It would appear that the matter was deliberately engineered to have no other senior referee available for the PirateRival match. The concluding remarks of the statement are indeed humorous. The only real obstacle to the smooth running of Rusrby matters in Nelson during the. last vear or so has been the action of the Referees Association. “Round table conferences” are not seemly between governing and subsidary bodies. The cor,’ect procedure is for the former to receive deputations and hear petitions from die latter, and to issue directions and nstructions to them. —I am, etc., R. J. EYRE. Nelson, 19th August.