A REFEREE'S JOB.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19164, 22 November 1927, Page 8

A REFEREE'S JOB.

MR M'VILLY INDIGNANT. SQUABBLE IN N.Z.A.A.A. (press assocutioh telegram.) WELLINGTON, November 21.

"A referee's position is at most an unpleasant one," said Mr B. W. McVilly, president of the N.Z.A.A.A., at the annual meeting held to-night. "He has to decide on the rules of the game, and whenever he has to give a decision it is generally a most unpleasant task. I take it that no sports body appoints as a referee a man in whom it has no confidence, and who is not regarded as a sportsman in every sense of the word. Having accepted the position it is on Mm to see that the rules are carried out in the best sporting spirit. He is there to see fair sport, and to give a definite decision when applied to. If he knows his job, and has the courage >of his opinions, he doesn't care two straws what the man in the street says. He gives an honest opinion and is regarded as an impartial man, his decisions invariably being accepted." With reference to Mr McVilly's disqualification at the last New Zealand championships at Auckland of G. Gibbons (Wanganui-Taranaki) in the onemile championship, Mr Connop, one of the Wanganui-Taranaki delegates, stated that his Centre wished to know the reason for the disqualification. He said that requests had been sent to the Auckland Centre, but no notice had been taken in answer to this. Mr McVilly said that while in Auckland it was his unpleasant duty to have to disqualify more than one competitor. Although he saw breaches of rules • no action was taken until his attention was drawn to the matter by the various officers.

"Ab far as Gibbons was concerned," added Mr McVilly, "his interference was apparent to everyone. Within one minute after my decision I acquainted the Wanganui-Taranaki people with the reason for the decision. I don't care two straws what anybody thinks, once I make up my mind that a thing is wrong, I say it is wrong. I don't care twopence for anyone; I give an honest decision. I went to Auckland to see the championships conducted according to tho rules of this Association. I must confess my surprise and indignation on finding that my decision, which was given honestly, should be questioned by the Wanganui-Taranaki Centre, the only Centre that has ever questioned the decision of a referee."

Referring to a statement by Mr Hugo, Wanganui-Taranaki delegate, that "there is more in the matter than meets the eye," Mr McVilly said: "I, as president of this Association, insist that your representative obey the ruling of the president. What doesn't meet the eye is the vindictiveness of the Wanga-nui-Taranaki Centre towards the president of this Association. I will not have my integrity and honesty jmpugne'd by the Wanganui-Taranaki Centre, or bv anyone else.

"My services in the world of sport," continued Mr McVilly, "are appreciated not only by the Wellington Centre, but by every other Centre escept Wanganui-Taranaki. Apparently they don't like honesty, courage, and straight dealing. They want to win, not in a sporting way, but in any way at all. It is idle for that Centre to say that they do not know why their man was disqualified. It is utterly absurd,.ridiculous, and unsporting. I always thought the Wanganui-Taranaki Centre were sportsmen. Why don't they take their licking in a sporting spirit? So long as I am referee at any meeting I will give, my decision honestly, and in terms of the rules of the Association, and I will not go back on my decision."