UNFAIR TO REFEREES

Chronicle (Levin), 6 April 1948, Page 4

UNFAIR TO REFEREES

Abuse And Criticism Keep ' Membership Down There would always „be a shortage of referees while they were oeing continually subjectd to unfair criticism from spectators and players, such as had been levelled .at ohem during the past year, said the president of the Horowhenua Referees' Association, Mr. ' j;.' Av Zuppicich, at the annual meetmg iast night. One referee had intimated to him that, he was not going to officiate -this year just to gp on the field and be _ abused. fhere had never been an influx or overdose of members,^ and the type of. treatment- the referees were receiyirig from the players and the public was certainly not encouragmg- more to join. * Abuse had even been forthcoming from a member of the Rugby Union during a game at Foxton last year. The association. had laid a complaint against this offlcial, but nothing had been done .about it. "We will- have to see that we are up'held, not only with words but with action, . and then perhaps we will start to get an influx of memoers," said Mr. Zuppicich. The discussion arose from a complaint by Mr. F. G. Carrington that che public w.as continually erjcrsaching on the grounds, and that endeavours by' tbie referees to keep them back brought forth only abuse. • He urged that the union be qsked to take the matter up. What was required, he said, was a referee with the eourage of his convictions to- hold up or stop the game if the chlookers continued to encroach on the grounds. He was prepared to take such action himself. There was also the possibility of a person who encroached suffering injury. It could easily happen, in Which case the onus would probably be placed on the referee for not keeping the crowd back. . "If the RUgby 'Union took a flrm hand and backed us up. it would do a lot of good both for us and for football," added Mr. Carrington. - After further discussion, it Was' decided to ask the. union to support the referees in keeping spectators at a reasonable distance from the touch lihes. Various suggestions were put forward, such as the erection of fences or posts to mark the limit for spectators. It was also suggested that the management committee be asked to indude a member of the association on its grounds inspection committee, . : Still Numerically Weak Reviewing the. year," the president referred to the fact thaf the assdcibtion has lost three referees since last year, one with two years! service and one with three years. The association was still numerically weak though a great improvement ha4 , taken place .after the Rugby jjnion had assisted in finding members last year, following pn the annual meeting when there was not even a quorum. There had been 208 appointments last year, which had entailed much travelling. The past year had been the best the association had had for a long time. He had had: a good team of referees and they had all done a goefd job. The fact that the union had been behind them 100 per cent. had helped for the better working of the association. Mr. C. E. Wiseiey had assisted considerably with his lectures, which had been most valuable and which he hoped would be continued. He also hoped that the same loyal cooperation would be continued throughout the coming year. Though he wished to congratulate those referees who had been elected to the management committee, continued Mr. Zuppicich, he thought that there were perhaps too many on that body. The fact 'that clubs showed sufficient cohfi-" dence to ask them to " representthem was a compliment to the personnel of the • association, but, dn'fortunately, it too'k too" rriany of its active men. He hoped that when they ceased to become active members of the association, they would all find their way on to the management committee, as he believed that there were no better men for such jobs as ex-referees. The following officers were elected for the year: — President: Mr. J. A. Zuppicich; vice-president: Mr. C. E. Wiseiey; executive: Messrs. W. Williams, D. Oliyer and F. G. Carrington;* appointment board: Mr. J. D. McFarlane; secretary: Mr. J. D. McFarlane; delegate to Rugby Union : Mr. J. D. McFarlane ; classification committee: Messrs. Zuppicich, Lacey and Wiseiey. Appreciation of the serv-ices of the past vice-president, Mr. . E Lacey, who was unable to accept nomination this year, was voiced by Mr. Carrington, who suggested that his services be recorded.