RUGBY REFEREES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8733, 15 May 1914, Page 7

RUGBY REFEREES

AND LOCAL COMPETITIONS A REQUEST DECLINED. A deputation representing the New Zealand Referees’ Association and comprising Messrs D. McKenzie and L. Sievers waited on last night's annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, to urge that the union intervene in the matter of the appointment of referees.

Mr -McKenzie said they' came to ask that tho union instruct the various affiliated unions to insert a clause m their by-laws relating to club competitions so that the appointment of referees should be in the hands of the local Referees’ Association. They wished that the referees should be permitted to manage their own affairs. They claimed that the appointment of referees was purely the business of the local referees’ associations. Mr Sievcrs said they wanted affiliated unions to give the local referees’ associations tho power of the appointment of referees. They wanted to create a good feeling between tho associations and the unions, a feeling that did not at present exist in all cases. The vesting of the power sought for in tho referees’ associations would make for the creation of a good spirit, and do away with all bias. They wanted the referees to be independent of tho players altogether. They did not want to interfere with tho interprovincial matches; their request had reference only to the local matches. The chairman (Mr G. H. Mason) said it was a question whether the New Zealand Union should dictate to affiliated unions as to how they should manage their own internal affairs. It would be a very dangerous thing to do.

Mr E. O. Hales asked if tho New Zealand Union had power to dictate to local unions as to how they should manage their affairs. The chairman ruled that to do what was asked would require a new by-law of which four weeks’ notice should have been given. To do that the union would have to hold a special meeting. Mr Hales moved that the New Zealand Referees’ Association be informed that the New Zealand Rugby Union is unable to carry out their proposals without special notice of motion to alter the by-laws. Mr R. M. Isaacs moved as an amendment that the executive be instructed to give notice of motion for the next annual meeting giving the power of the appointment of the referees into the hands of the local associations. He did not consider that tho referees were endeavouring to rule the roost. A union that did not give the referees the power of making the appointments was acting wrongly. The amendment was lost.

Mr J. H. Lynskoy moved as a further amendment, tl That the New Zealand Rugby Union do not interfere with affiliated unions in the management of local affairs, and that tho Referees’ Association bo so informed.” This was carried.