CONTROL OF RUGBY GAME

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1931, Page 5

CONTROL OF RUGBY GAME

REFERLES REVIEW YEAR

APPOINTMENT BOARDS PLANNED.

ANNUAL MEETING OF DIVISION.

The annual meeting of the Northern Division of Taranaki Rugby Referees’ Association was held at New Plymouth last night. Mr. E. Jackson presided over an attendance of about 20 members.. The committee desired to express its pleasure at the thoroughly satisfactory season’s work carried out by the members of the association in the interest of Rugby football, states the annual report. Each sub-committee had carried outfits duties faithfully and'.well, and their efforts at all times had met with the approval of the majority of members. In a few cases, where the decisions were not to the liking of any individual member, the affected one had accepted the decision in a manly spirit, and so long as that feeling of .good-will and loyalty predominated the individual members of the association would continue in harmonious relationship with each other,, and by their combined efforts, maintain the high standard already reached in their particular sphere of the game. / The weekly meetings had been Veil attended, the average attendance at the 14 meetings being 15. That proved undoubtedly the interest of the members in'-their work and the desire to gain theoretical knowledge and uniformity of rulings which strengthened their confidence on the field of play. An additional interest in rulings was shown in the past season, due to the visit of the British team. In the interests of all referees it was hoped ■ that prior to the forthcoming season the . New Zealand Rugby Union would definitely lay down the rules under -which the game was. to be played in all parts of the Dominion. In that connection it was interesting to note that Mr. Baxter, manager of the British team, in his report to the Home Union advised that all dispensations granted to overseas unions be withdrawn and that the game be played under the same rules throughout the Empire. ROUGH ELEMENT ABSENT. - Harmonious relationship existed between the various football clubs in the district and the association. Clubs, undoubtedly appreciated the, association’s efforts in providing capable referees to control their competition matches. The games during the last, season were characterised by- their sporting spirit, the rough, element being almost entirely absent. ' U- ; , ’ During the year the association lost the services of two of. its valued active members, Messrs. Bryant and O’Grady, while-on the other hand three new members enlisted. Special thanks were due to Mr. O’Grady for the time and trouble he took to draw up the splendid set of" rules under which .the association now operated. The association congratulated one of its members on being selected to officiate at : one of the British matches, also those who were chosen to referee representative matches. The; balance-sheet showed a .surplus of receipts over expenditure of £4 3s 7d. Receipts included donations amounting to £7 10s and subscriptions £4 7s 6d. The chief items of the expenditure were secretary’s honorarium £6 6s, rent for meeting room £2 16s, picnic expenses

£3.. In moving the adoption of the report and. balance-sheet the chairman congratulated the association on its fearless control of the games. He was sure the clubs appreciated 'the held of the association to the game. They would have noticed that the English Rugby Union had ordered the ire version to the 1 old rules in New Zealand. This would mean some difficulty to the referees again for some time, but it would probably be an advantage to the game. Probably they had been drifting . from the old game of Rugby and if they got back to the old rules they would see the fine old dribbling rushes of; the past-again. If the. game was played under the old rules in the best way the public would see just as attractive football as ever. He referred to the benefit of the lectures to the referees, of Mr. J. S. King, who had been an acquisition to : the association. Messrs. Harrison and Clarke wrote resigning from the association. The association decided to write thanking them for their services. OFFICERS APPOINTED. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr. E. Jackson; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. Roberts, A. J. Papps and H. Masters; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr. B. Bullot; honorary auditor, Mr. C. 0. Berg; management committee, Messrs. G. Hooker, J. Johnston, F. J. Eggleton, N. Frost, S. Kibby; chairman of management committee, Mr. J. S. King; representative on senior appointment board, Mr. F. Roberts; junior appointment board, Messrs. B. Bullot, J. Scrimgeour and J. Johnston; central executive, Messrs. J. .Scrimgeour and F. Roberts; examination board, Messrs. G. Hooker, F. J. Eggleton and J. S. King; classification committee, Messrs. A. Davis, F. Hooker, R. Johnston; coaching board, Messrs. J. S. K- g, F. J. Eggleton and G. Hooker. The association decided to -forward the following notice of motion to the annual general meeting of the Taranaki Referees Association:—“For the purpose of appointing referees to senior matches and cup finals only there shall be two appointment boards, one in the northern division and one in the southern division. The boards shall consist of three non-active members to be elected by the respective divisions. The boards will appoint all referees for senior matches and cup finals played within their own divisions. To select referees for representative matches the appointment board shall consist of the chairman of the northern division appointment board and the chairman of the southern division appointment board, together with a third person to be elected at the annual general meeting of the association. , That appointee shall not be a member of either the northern or .southern divisions and shall only be called upon to act should the chairman fail to agree. The board shall also act as a senior executive classification committee."

It was decided to support the nomination of Mr. L. J. Furrie to the management committee of the Taranaki JRugby Union. The secretary was voted an honorarium of £6 6s.

Messrs. A. Guy and C. Evans were elected members.