RUGBY REFEREES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 387, 19 March 1937, Page 4

RUGBY REFEREES

SUCCESSFUL SEASON. Annual Meeting of Taranaki Association. A most successful season was reviewed at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Referees' Association held at Stratford last night. Reference was made to fhe excellent manner in which games had been controlled and to the loyalty of members to the association. Mr R. R. Tyrer presided over a large attendance. In opening the proceedings. Mr Tyrer slaid he Was very pleased to see such a good muster of members. Tlhrough the visit of the Springboks the, year was a most important one, and he hoped that the coming season would be most successful. The season had again been successful, and players and referees had worked well together, stated the report. The loyalty of referees to the association had been proved, an! it was felt that, the game had not suffered through the control by ilrembers. There was one executive mee-tinc held during the year and it was attended by all delegates. An extraordinary general meeting i Was held which was- attended by representatives of the three divisions' I There wlas a. cash -balance of i £3/-/9 shown in the cash statement. ■ The executive again thanked the I Tiaranaki Rugby Union for their fin- ! uncial assistance. I The annual conference of the New ! Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association ! was held at New Plymouth, and i members availed themselves of the - opportunity of attending same. I Members who controlled interna-

j tioual, and other provincial games j were congratulated. The good work jot the various committees and oiacials ■was acknowledged by the tjxrculTve. i Members were generally thiinke-j for their services, and it was hoped I.hat their co-operation would conI tinne. President’s Review. ! The finances consisted, almost I wholly of the grant from ths itugby Union, >xpresses absorbed praefica’- | ly the whole of that amount, said "Mr I Tyrer in moving the adoption of the | report and balance sheet. Last y ar ; was the jubilee year, and it was uiso ja memorable year, as, the New ZeaI land conf rence had b .en held at ;New Plymouth. IL was sure that all ; who attended and L-ard the address j by Mr. D. McKenzie Went away from j the meeting r, absing that they had [learned something. During the year I there had been a dispute with the jßugby Union over the question of priviltges. The majority thought that I the privileges should be coni inued i and he was very pleased at the I loyalty shown by members. It was [one of the finest phases of the yc< r. .The cost of the conference debited j was £3 3s 4d and the Associ tion | was indebted i o the Rugby Uni. ■■ r | a special grant, of £lO given dui’ng ;a. year of heavy commitments. Ou account of the Saturday half-holidn'-there would be a change this yrnr tn the Central and Southern divistions, and it might mean some new arrangements in regard to grounds and additional travelling, but whatever the results were he Trit sure that referees would do their best. [ With the Springbok matches this year i olay would be under English rules. It I might be hiard for players, bub l it would be harder still for referees. Changes in Rules. In Mr. Tyrcr’s opinion there were too many changes, but as referees all they could do was to loyally support the controlling body and carry orfi their iirstructcons. He had heard fairly prominent refere.s say fliat they did not agree With a certain rule ! and would not enfoice it, but that was not the right attitude. He thoug-.it that the Association had done very well in getting through the year with such a small expense considering the scattered nature of -the districts and lhe fact that there were three divisions. In concluding, Mr. Tyrer expressed pleasure at tile excellent work of the retiring secr.-tiry, Mr. L. R. S. Retie r, and (thanked members for the honour of electing him as president il-fst year. He Lad very much pleasure in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet. As auditor, Mr. L. J. Furrie congratulated the secretary on the excellent way in which the accounts had been submitted. Itie cash balance if £3 Os 9d was very satisfactory, considering the feet that the conference, costing £to 18s 4d, had been held. Touching upon (he question of travelling expenses, Mr, Furrie said that the three division.? seemed to be working on different lines. In cerain cases travelling expenses* were dot paid because lhe LX'es were so ow, and he would like to see a proler and definite arrangement mala ■ith the Rugby Union. It h-au never .-en pointed cut that certain mem-

bers had travelled at their own exI pense. Election of Officers. Officers were, elected as follows: President, Mr. A. G. Stevens (Haw|iTa), vic.-president, Mr. F. J. Eggleloii (New Plymouth); secretary and i treasurer Mr. C. R. F. Tilley; uauditor | Mr. L. J. Furrie; delegates to Tarai mki Rugby Union, M. ssrs L J Turlie and R. R Tyrer; delegate to New Zealand Refe-vcs coaferenc". Mr. L. R ,S. Ratter (Ne-w Plvnmutb). In the eou-ae of discussion concerning referees’ expanse?, Mr T"y: r =aid there should he son;o airnngement to meet the posincn. it V’.is not fair that referees should be out ot pocket, while on the other hand small country clubs could not afford To pay. "1 don’t think that we can get very far with this matter," said Mr Stevens. “Each division hat its own difficulties. The whole question is: if the expenses are not paid who ;s going to meet them?’ Members: The Rugby Union. Mr. Stevens: How are you going I to do it? It Was resolved on the motion of I Mr. Tyrer that where a conveyance | was available actual expenses be charged, and that where a car was used the charges will be 6d a mil? one way with a maximum charge of - £l. A copy of the resolution will be forwarded to the Rugby Union. Mr. L. H. Clapham said that lower grade matches were run under ’’ratferty” rules. On occasions a referee would strip off and a team wotfM uot turn up. The Rugby Union knew nothing of such happenings and were only looking to the gates. Delegates were instructed to support a remit from the Kaponga cicb to the annual meeting of the Rugby Union expressing general dissatisfaction with the control of junior football in the Southern Division.