CONFERENCE OF REFEREES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 58

CONFERENCE OF REFEREES.

The Conference of New Zealand Referees, promoted by the New Zealand Rugby Union, was opened at the Trocadeio on Wednesday afternoon, and continued on Thursday. Delegates were present from almost every Rugby Union m the colony. A number of local footballers were present as audience. The following is a fist of the delegates: — Movers Ohlsen (Auckland), Levien (Nelson), Miller (Poverty Bay), Hallamoie (Hawke's Bay), Restieaux (Otago), Darley (Bush Union), Healey (Marlboro ugh), Syme (Taranaki), M'lntyre (Horowhenua), Norris (Wellington), (iarrard (Christchurch), Ho^an (Wanganui), Galbraith (Southland), Lewis (South Canterbury), Skogland (West Coast), and the Appeal Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Mr Ohlsen was appointed chairman, and Mr Garrard secretary. Mr Ohlsen expressed the opinion that the conference of referees should frame laws for itself, irrespective of English rulings. The sense of the meeting, as exprassed by the delegate?, wacs altogether against the proposition, it being felt that such an innovation would cause confusion. Air Garrard proposed that all rulings Arrived at by the conference should bo submitted to the English Rugby Union foi approval, and that pending such decision the rulings be given effect to in this colon}'. This was agreed to, after discussion. Mr Restieaux asked to have the matter of wing forwards made the subject of a strict ruling by tho conference. It was decided tLafc it was impossible, under the rules, to prevent wing-forward play, but an agreement was made that aU offences by wing forwards against the rules be strictly dealt with. Discussions took place on matters arising out of scrummages. It wa proposed that in the event of a scrum overlapping a goal line, it is lawful for the defending sid£ to heel back ; and that if the ball be not clear of the overlapping part of the scrum, it can be made dead. Seven voted for the proposition and seven against. The chairman gave his casting \ote with the ayes, and declared the proposition carried. Re try and touch down, it war decided to note, "so as to pre*s the ball 011 the ground." Fair Catch.— lt waa decided that if a referee, anticipating a fair catch, blow his whistle, but a fair catch be not made, a scrum should be formed.

One of the oldest colonists in Tasmania, Mr Edward Duinaresq, now in his 100 th year, drove from his house into Longford, the nearest township, a distance of come sfven miles, to record las vote at the late Fedarwl elections.