SUPPORT FOR REFEREES

Chronicle (Levin), 7 April 1948, Page 4

SUPPORT FOR REFEREES

Management Committee .To Write To Clubs -• * •',■■■■ •• . The Horowhenua Referees' Association last night f ound support fOf their compiaincs when the question oi the mfringement of the public" on the playing areas was •raised at the first meeting of the new mahagsment committee of the Rugby Union. The committee idecided to write to the clubs ' instrucfcing them that £he referees will in future take drastic aetion if they do not ensure that onlookers ;; are kept a reasonable distance from ' the touch line. The number- of referees. this year had dropped seriously, said the delegate from the asscciation, Mr. J. D. MeFarlane. The association had only 11 certain, four uncertain . and three possible referees- for thig season. This was not nearly sufficient and unless the clubs helped out there would be certain games that would be without referees. The association also felt .that there was too much abuse from the sideline, continued Mr. MeFarlane," and the referees w'ere not prepared to carry on unless support was fortbcommg. Many were prepared to sit down- in the middle of the; paddock and wait till onlookers dispersed from the playing area, or even go to the extent of calling ofi the game. The association was concerned at the criticism levelled publicly against referees by players, onlookers, club offlcials and, last year, eveii a member of the management. committee. ,. It was really [too much, and the association at a meeting this week had decided tb ask the union for definite support in whatever steps it took to stop that sort of thing. It also asked that a member be included in the grounds inspection committee. Considerable concern at the positjon was expressed by members of the committee, and various instances of encroachment by the public ,on certain grounds were mentioned. The general feeling was that much as it would be regretted, drastic action by the referees was necessary even to the extent of calling ofi a game. "One has to be a fighting man to keep some people back," said the president, Mr. A. Gillespie. Another member said he thought the blue u-niform of the police was the only authority that was respected. In regard to the question of referees, it was decided to see if the southern clubs could supply more, as it was this sector of the union that was weak in referees.