“ MARKING TIME ”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8784, 14 July 1914, Page 11

“ MARKING TIME ”

REFEREES ON VACATION DETERAIINED TO AIAINTAIN A FIRAI ATTITUDE. The trouble existing between tho Wellington Rugby Union and the Referees’ Association over the appointment of referees was further ventilated at a meeting of the latter body last evening. Air D. McKenzie was iu tho chair. A letter was received from the AVellington Rugby Union stating that they regretted very much the attitude of the association as conveyed to them, but could not seer* their way to depart from the stand that they had previously taken up iu declining to aisk their representative to withdraw from the appointment board.

Air AtcKenzio said they were there to consider the best course to pursue. Ho did ’lot think that tho association should disband, because in a few weeks the Rugby Union would discover that they wanted tho Referees’ Association. He was Sony that the association had. fallen into tho position it had. AA’hen ho road Thursday morning’s paper ho was disgusted to see that a number of those who had promised to stand by them had gone over to the Rugby Union. The association had determined upon si certain course, and these men should have stood by them and seen the thing through. It was now no use for tho association to meet regularly. Speaking for himself, ho would not go back into tho game whilst tho Rugby Union had control of tho appointment board. Ho had had’ enough and he was going right out unless tho concession asked lor the removal of Air D. D. AVeir from the appointment hoard —was granted. Air 0. R. Ingram moved: —“That the Rugby Union be notified that as far as this association) is concerned the members will bo available for positions, and the appointments bo loft in their hands.” In speaking to his motion Air Ingram said that quite a number of the association’s members had turned the association down. They may have had good reasons, but it was the first time he know •of that when the association had decided upon a certain course, some members had gone back on it. There were a number of very promising junior referees who would not like to give the game up, and it was with that end _in view that he hail moved tho motion. Tho Rugby Union had shown that they could do without the association, and the speaker thought that the right attitude for them,to adopt was to decline to have a member upon the appointment board till the Rugby Union held them worthy of consideration. lh , Rugby Union Aad shown that they did not want tho association, and they should let the union, have the responsibility" upon their own hands. Mr Martin second the motion. Air Si evens' said that personally ho was omiosed to the motion; no good could come of it. He thought that the best thing was to allow the matter to go on as at present and let the players see how they got on with the referees provided. If the association went out of existence the union were losing members they . could -not replace. They would certainly lose Air McKenzie and himself. .Ho had been a member of the association lor nineteen years. Ho always thought—and he still thought—that the appointment of referees should he in Ahe hands of the association. there would not be any wire-pulling then. Ho had come to the meeting that evening with tho idea of throwing in the sponge, but if a certain section wanted to. battle out the question, they might win through. The Rugby Union had thought that they had solved tho difficulty; they had not solved the difficulty, as they would soon discover. Trouble with the men would soon bo brewing. Air ‘Weir would then find that he would have a difficult problem to conciliate tho lot of them. Ho thought they should advise the Rugby Union that a certain section were desirous-of going on with tho game, but others were desirous of retiring. He would not, personally, support Air Ingram’s motion. , . ' ■ Mr Keys said he was sorry Air Ingram had moved his motion. He hoped thqt members who had refrained from handing in their names to the Rugby Union would continue to do so. His motto was “stand solid.” Air Shearer moved as an . amendment, “That the association go into vacation for tho time being, and that tho secretary be empowered to call members together if occasion should arise.” . Air O’Connor: “If a new association were formed, what status would it have with the New Zealand Rugby Union?” Air McKenzie; “They would be the body.” He thought that- all members of the association should have stood down. They should take up a firm position. If Mr Ingram’s motion were carried, the whole thing would slide. The motion was lost and the amendment carried.