THE REFEREE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26531, 5 August 1947, Page 6

THE REFEREE

UNION’S DECISION SOUTHLAND APPOINTMENT “ For some time now we have been advocating outside referees for Ranfurly Shield matches,” said the president, Mr R. W. S. Botting, at a meeting of the Otago Rugby Football Union’s Management Committee last night when discussing the appointment of a referee for the Otago-North Auckland shield game on Saturday. “It would be a friendly gesture if we asked Mr J. North, from Southland, to control the game here. Members will recall that he was appointed to the match Southland v. North Auckland, which was originally to have been played on August 9. There should be the same friendly spirit among the referees in these matches as among the players and I think this is'*a move in the direction I hope things will take,” Mr Botting concluded. As the representative of the Otago Referees’ Association, Mr J. Hayes, said his association supported the appointment of outside referees, not only for shield matches, but for all interprovincial games. He agreed that the action of appointing Mr North would be well received. Consistent Attitude “We have given this question a great deal of attention," said Mr_ C. K. Saxton, “ and we must be consistent in our attitude.” The referee in Invercargill would miss his Ranfurly Shield game,, hfe pointed out, and it was only just that he,should be asked to control the one in Dunedin. Dr Perry asked what the attitude of the North Auckland Union would be to the appointment. Mr Botting: Presumably the referee for the Southland match has been accepted, and in this case would prove equally suitable for the Otago-North Auckland game. . The following motion, moved by Mr Botting, was carried unanimously:— "As a referee has already been appointed for the- prospective shield match between North Auckland and Southland, to be played on August 9, we, as present hoiders of the shield, suggest that the same appointment should stand—subpect to the consent of the N.Z.R.U. —for the forthcoming Otago-North Auckland match on the same date.” Amending the Rules “I do not want to flog a dead horse, but I would like to know where we stand. I can find nothing in the rules to show that notice is necessary before an amendment to the rules may be moved,” Mr Botting observed after a letter from the acting secretary of the New Zealand Union, Mr J. Prendeville, had been read. The letter stated, inter alia, that it was necessary to give formal notice to move any amendment. It was decided to write to the Management Committee of the parent body asking where, in the Ranfurly Shield rules, it was stated that this formal notice was necessary. Letters were received from the Canterbury and Wairarapa Unions-sup-porting Otago’s views on the appointment of outside referees. The Auckland Union advised that it was sympathetic, but the request of the Otago Union was not in accordance .with the shield rules. Another letter concerning the question was received from South Canterbury. This advised tha f the union there had always been in favour of outside referees for all interprovincial games.