REFEREES’ ENGAGEMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8180, 23 July 1912, Page 8

REFEREES’ ENGAGEMENTS

PROTEST AGAINST BOARD’S ACTION. Some discussion took place at last evening’s meeting of the Rugby Referees’ Association over the action of Mr F. Martin in refusing recently to take a match to which he had been appointed, as a protest against the action of the appointment board in not deputing him to officiate in senior games this season. Mr Martin had written to the Wellington Rugby Union, condemning “the star chamber methods of the appointment board.” Mr W. Meredith, in mentioning that Referees’ Association had heard nothing more about the matter, said that personally he held very strong feelings about it. Any member who wilfully wrote to the Rugby Union, or the Referees’Association, decliningto take a match, was not fit to belong to the association. A member had no right to state in black and white that he would not take a match. Some steps should bo taken, llis reason for bringing the question up was that last Saturday Mr Martin was appointed to a match and other members of the association who were available were not set down to referee.

The chairman (Mr D. McKenzie) stated that if a member refused to take a match he ceased to he a member. Ho dealt with himself—ho placed himself on the honorary list. Mr Meredith did not think Mr Martin looked at the matter in that light. Mr A. Neilson (the association’s representative on the appointment hoard) explained that Mr Martin was appointed to a match because the hoard had no idea that he was standing down. Officially, the board had no notice of whether or not a man was available for matches.

Mr L. Sievers said the appointment board had replied to the association to the effect that it was not inclined to enter into any reasons for its action in not appointing Mr Martin to senior matches. Mr Martin desired to know tho reason, but the board had not given it. He thought Mr Martin was willing to stand down altogether. - “Personally I have a great deal of sympathy with Mr Martin,” said Mr McKenzie. “The appointment board should be prepared to say whether he is a senior referee or not. If they do not, I think he has a right to protest against any match at all, but he certainly should not refuse to take an appointment. Mr Martin should have a definite reply to his question.” Mr Meredith said it appeared to him that Mr Martin was not satisfied with the action of the appointment board. It seemed that ho was of opinion that he should have senior matches. The reference to "star chamber’.’ methods was a slur on the, association’s representative on the board. If Mr Martin were not satisfied he should resign. No member should dictate to the appointment board what he should or should not have. / It was resolved to refer the matter to the executive for a report.