REFEREE INSULTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1043, 6 August 1930, Page 1

REFEREE INSULTED

RUGBY SENSATION AT THE THAMES CIVIL ACTION DISCUSSED From Our Overt Correspondent THAMES, Tuesday. A sensation was caused at last evening’s meeting: of the Thames Rugby Union when Mr. G. Buchan, president of the Referees’ Association, reported that subsequent to his ordering of* of two players, R. Comer and B. Harrison. in Saturday’s match, Harrison had used an insulting and obscene remark to him, and that later in the evening a player of the City team. Henderson, who is also secretary’ of the City Club, had approached Buchan’* sister in the street and had asked here “How much did your brother make out of the match?” Mr. Buchan asked wi.ere this sort of thing was going to stop. Referees were used to abuse in the ordinary course of events, but when the matter became as personal as this had done he felt inclined to “chuck in the game.” If this sort of thing was to be allowed to go on, they would soon have no referees left in Thames at all. for no one was going to put up with -that sort of abuse. No referee minded fair criticism of his rulings, but this had gone too far. OUTSIDE UNION’S JURISDICTION Great regret was expressed by the chairman, Mr. H. G. Murray, that the matter was outside the union’s jurisdiction. as the actions did not take place on its property, but he advised that if the referee contemplated civil proceedings he would have the backing of the union. Other members stated that Harrison’s action, though certainly deplorable, was not so bad as Henderson’s, as it was said in the heat of the moment. and there was a doub: if the words complained of had been addressed to Buchan: but in Henderson's case there was to excuse, and the union regretted that it could take no action. A motion was carried that Mr. Buchan be notified that the union regretted the incidents, and requested him in case of any similar subsequent incident of the kind to take civil remedy, when he would have the union's full backing. It was also decided to notify Henderson that the union very strongly disapproved of his action.

For kicking each other, the only charge under which the union could deal with Comer and Harrison, both were suspended for one playing Saturday.