“SLUR ON TOWN”

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12196, 22 July 1925, Page 9

“SLUR ON TOWN”

JOHNSONVILLE PROTEST REMARKS AT RUGBY UNION REFEREE CRITICISED "We consider the reports in the Press have cast a slur on our home town and our club, and wa are here to answer thq statements made." Thus Mr F. Jacobs, the chairman of the Johnsonville Football Club management .committee, which awaited on the management committee of the Wellington Biugby Union last night, The speaker referred to the report of the previous week’s meeting of the committee, when a discussion arose over a statement by the'-referee of the Marist-Johnaonville match, op the had behaviour of the crowd. Mr Jacobs said that, he was present at the mateh.. and Baw all that nappened. Be did not wish to justify the ordering off ef a player, but wished to stop an, impression that had got abroad that the chib was not doing its duty and that they had given the referee a bad time. “A MILD GAME” ’ Be said that the game during the first spell was very mild; in fact it reminded him of a Sunday-school picnic. He did not see anything untoward 1 happen, although he said .that Johnsonville were getting the worst of the bounce of the Ball and some of the decisions. Mr A. Jackson : You don’t want that! ,to go in Mr J. IN. Millard; We are not here to censor the Presß. “EXAGGERATED AND UNFAIR" Mr. Jacobs: The referee made statements that were grossly exaggerated and unfair, and them are not quite* feats. The speaker then produced a plan' of the ground, and showed the position of the crowd, etc. He said that after the game the referee went over to the crowd and wagged his finger at them, and that this indiscreet behaviour provoked the spectators. Mr Chaney, the captain, then asked him to come to the dressing-shed in order to save further trouble. ’ This he did. Of course a bit of a crowd congregated, hut even a dogfight would collect a crowd. Ho had made inquiries .from the custodian, who had reported .that he had not heard any bad language., .While the referee was In the dreßslngrehe'-l he was sitting by himself, and had not been jostled, or was there any endeavour to mob him. Mr Fletcher, who they looked upon as a foremost exponent of tho laws of the game, had made statements which he ivaa quite entitled to make, but he had not rpferecd there for five years. "AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDE” Mr H. D.; Morgan said that after the game the referee adopted an aggressive attitude to one of the players, who' had been bickering during the game- but the whole thing fizzled out under a tpinuta from when it started. Mr J. Prendeville then read a letter in which Mr Morgan, a .member of the Junior Advisory Board, the Junior Selection Committee, and the union official at Johnsonville, had asked, the union to accept bis resignation from all three positions. The ' speaker. said that it was' through" fin oversight of his that Mr Morgan had not been consulted, and he asked' him to withdraw Mb letter. . Mr Watson, bore qut the contention of his colleagues. WHERE FAULT LAY , Mr Prendeville said that the fault did not lie.i.w'ith .the, .ddb,', but,, ad in,'other, instances, that had been brought under' their .notice with ; a few irresponsible spectators. i Mr WntSohj There were nof more than 30 people on the ground. The club has since taken steps to keep the people away from the line. , Mr. Fletcher said that his remarks had. been said in a jocular manner when he thought that they were in committee. Mr Jacobs: They appear differently in print. Mr A. Jackson: No; we were out of committee. Mr G, F- W. Jaokson: Tho Press have a rjght to take anything in open meet, ing. In thanking the deputation for coming ferwaiu. Mr J. Prendeville said that there w' i no-doubt that the referee’s actions vere not free from comment, and they would ask the referee to come before them again. At the request of the meeting Mr Morgan withdraw his resignations.