REFEREES’ OBJECTION

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1930, Page 9

REFEREES’ OBJECTION

NORDON CUP APPOINTMENT. Strong exception to the method of the appointment of Mr. H. C. Johnson, Stratford, as a referee for the recent Nordon Cup hockey match between Taranaki and Wanganui by the Taranaki Hockey Association was taken at a meeting of the Taranaki Hockey Refereefl’ Association at Hawera last evening. Mr. W. J. Shepherd presided. A letter was read from the president of the Hockey Association, Mr. I. J. Bridger, Eltham, stating that the secretary was on holiday and he himself was not prepared to attend the meeting. He suggested that a deputation from the Referees’ Association should meet hifl association. Mr. Shepherd stated that the appointment of a referee without consulting the Referees’ Association was regarded by the members as an insult. Mr. Johnson was not at that time a financial member of the Referees’ Association, Mr. Shepherd said, nor had he recognised or assisted it. - . .

The Referees' Association had been accused of attempting to assume control of hockey in Taranaki, but. Mr. Shepherd could assure the Taranaki Association that the sole object of the formation of the Referees’ Association was to help the game and to see that suitable refereee were appointed to control matches. lie regretted that Messrs. Bridger and Urry were not preeent, but was prepared to recommend that a deputation should meet the Hockey Association. That he had been wrongly accused of arranging Mr. Johneon’s appointment as referee for-the match wae Mr. 0. J. McFadyen’e complaint. He emphatically denied the statement and the imputation that he wae “out to run the whole show” as far as hockey in Taranaki was concerned. His interest In hockey wae entirely to help the game. He did not desire to belittle Mr. Johnson's capabilities as a referee, but the fact remained that his appointment had been made without the Referees’ Association being consulted. The New Zealand Hockey Association had confirmed the appointment and that of a Wanganui referee, but the New Zealand Hockey Referees’ Association had appointed two- of ita candidates as referees. At Wanganui the local man had stood down in favour of one of the Referees’ Association's ' . After considerable discussion it was agreed that a strong deputation from the Referees’ Association should meet the Hockey Association. There was evidence from a number of sources that the work of the Referees’ Association was very much appreciated, said Mr. McFadyen. Unfortunately there seemed to have grown a misapprehension in some quarters that it recognised only the men’s association. Such was not the case; the referees were just as anxious to help the ladies’ association and hoped they would be’given greater opportunity of doing so.