REFEREES' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 30 May 1919, Page 3

REFEREES' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING,

The annual meeting of the committee of the Northern Referees’ Association was held on Thursday evening, when If! members were present. Tho chair was occupied by Mr. G. Hopkins. The chaiman in referring to a grievance between the association and the Rugby Union, in regard to the conduct of spectators towards the referees at football matches, said that it appeared to him that tho referee had very little support from the public, and that tho Rugby Union bad lacked backbone in meting out punishment to offenders. In one case in particular had he been dealt with by a magistrate, the culprit would have received a severe lesson. He thought the Rugby Union should show much more finmiess in such cases. However, he would leave it to members to decide whether they were prepared to let by-goues be bygones, and make a fresh start. This course was agreed to, on the understanding that the union should make it perfectly clear to the public that they oftuld not come on to the ground and interfere with or insult the referees.

The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. F. T. Bellringer; vice-presidents, Messrs. S. G. Smith, W. T. Jennings and J. B. Hino. Ms.P. ,Dr. E. F. Fookes, Messrs. E. Whittle, Richards, J. S. Fox, W. Kaspar, W. H. Moyes, D. J. Malone, O. O’Carroll, A. Julian, G. W. Tayler, G. P. Harkness, T. Gardiner, and A. Humphries; chairman of committee, Mr. 6. Hopkins; secretary, Mr. B. Petty; executive, tho chairman, the secretary, and Mr. F. Roberts; examination hoard, Messrs. Hopkins and T. Potty; delegates to central executive Messrs. J. H. Thompson and L. Hum' phrios. Messrs. T. Wilson and C. Jackson (Stratford), L. Whittaker, J. Hoskin. F. Hooker, and W. M'Rae (Now Plymouth) wore nominated as new members, subject to the usual conditions. It was decided to ask the Rugby Union that the Northern Association he aliowed to have one representative on the management committeio of the union. Monday was fixed for tho night for the weekly meeting. Mr. West was appointed to take the match Okato v. Star on Saturday next.