SHIELD GAME

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20505, 25 August 1936, Page 6

SHIELD GAME

S. HOLLANDER TO REFEREE APPOINTMENT SURPRISES OTAGO By Telegraph—Brest. Association DUNEDIN, August 24. As a result of South Canterbury’s request for an outside referee for the Ranfurly Shield match against Otago on Wednesday, the matter was referred to the New Zealand Appointment Board in Wellington, and that body appointed Mr S. Hollander, of Christchurch, to act. The matter was discussed at to-night’s meeting of the Otago Rugby Union. The chairman, Dr Perry, said it had been stated that Mr Hollander had for the last three years been a resident of Timaru. Could anybody confirm that statement? Mr Spedding said he understood that it was only in March last that Mr Hollander left Timaru to reside in Christchurch. Mr Hollander had been a referee in Timaru last season. A member stated it had been reported that Mr Hollander coached the South Canterbury team last year. Mr Spedding said that Otago should take a definite stand. Mr Wootton: We agreed to have an outside referee and it is not fair to have a man who has been resident in Timaru and also a coach there. A telephone call was then put through to Wellington and Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said he knew nothing about the matter and never interfered with the Referees Appointment Board. Mr Harris said that they had no objection to Mr Hollander, but the point was that South Canterbury had asked for an outside referee and it seemed peculiar that a man should be appointed who was the coach in Timaru last year. Last night it was ascertained from Timaru that Mr Hollander was a referee in Timaru last season, but did not coach the South Canterbury team.