Outside Chat.

NZ Truth, Issue 159, 4 July 1908, Page 4

Outside Chat.

The deliberations of the Wellington Referees' Association causes more diversion weekly than all the efforts of Rickards' and Fuller's Entertainers rolled into one; It would be the very best thing that ever happened for Rugby were about 98 per cent, of the whistling fraternity mercilessly clubbed. Most of them exist for the sole reason of getting "stiffs" when the rep. fixtures happen along. Walshe, the e_-Pone_e player was chosen to play wiDg-forward for the Hawke's Bay team that played against the Britishers on Wednesday, a position he haa never played m before. The composition pf the Hawke's Bay team gave rise to much hostile criticism. A Union 'to be called the Otamatea Union and comprising players from . Port Albert,. Batley, Waipu and Maungaturoto has been formed, the number of registered players being 120 . When Barney Campbell was advocating the playing of test matches m lieu of the North v. South Island fixtures with the Anglo- Welsh team, at the annual meeting of the N.Z.R.U., he said he was prepared to guarantee that so far as the Otago players were concerned there would be no difficulty 'm getting the • men away to Wellington or Auckland if chosen m the fern-leaf combination. Yet we find that neither McDonald or Casey ' would play m either the second or third test matches, on the score ot inabfility to secure the requisite leave. So much for the worth of Barney's assurances. Jimmie McMahon, who is Jo manage the ' N.S.W. team for England, is wellequipped m the matter of experience .with football touring teams, having been through New Zealand, and many times to Queensland. - It is said that Giltinan, ILe secretary of the N.S.W; Rugby League, had the damnable hide during the recent Maori professional match m Sydney to make his way to. the touch-Jine and report to Asher that 1 one of his men had booted Messenger. Giltinan had no earthly right under the laws of the game to do such a thing, and Asher would, have doing the correct thing had he consigned him to a place which the gospel tells us is warmer m its effects /that the Gold Coast. Votaries of the winter pastime are hap--py now that the Athletic Park is once more the deciding ground of senior competitions. The Rugby Union has made a, ~B*<_cious bungle over this Miramar Park deal/lfc<.^fche suburban transaction is a millstone whi«ii^will hang heavily round •its neck for thenSsitAjnpee years. It doesn't say a great deal iSi--«i e _ intellect' ol the Rugby Union . officials their Chairman has to pull the UnioiTb>st^_ol vthe bog. Tom Hales reckons tnafr *»« Tat i i&aar couid be ik&de to pay, but he does nov tSe. how-. the trick is to be done. bn]o_ £i ve wa y *° Tom and let " -?§gH^P£ '' l: "^ominionist Treasury. A '*^QsP*".- \ Tom's brilliancy should Hq a higher sphere. - ' this seas- '■''•' * ' T^rttoall. At are- . . half tho • *** " „-"*■

—— __IMI IMIHWI IW_WIII*»«""»J"'||HIIIIII II H'IFJ" i'—'UHi: game eu.ded m a draw. In tbe play-oH Hunslet , came off victorious by 12 bo 2.'A member of the New Zealand Rugby Union is credited with saying that Wallace would decline to .receive -a testimonial on his retirement from the football field. A man who would refuse a cool thou, nowadays is a fit inniate for Porir rua. How many committeemen of the Union, including ,|l Gally" m particular, would modestly decline adding to their banking account by methods involving^n.o responsibility or worry on their account ?