RUGBY ADMINISTRATION

Chronicle (Levin), 13 May 1948, Page 4

RUGBY ADMINISTRATION

P-..U) .v. c gg g -- J — » Shortage Of Referees For Saturday's Games * There were eleyen Rugby matches scheduled for Saturday and at the most, eight referees available tq attend them, said Mr. J. a. • zupPicich, chairman of _ the Horowhenua Referees' Association, when he attended the weekly meeting of the Rugby Union's management committee' on Tuesday night. It was a situatton which the association had feared might arise, said Mr. Zuppicich. The referees available would be used for the main competition games, but it was the lower grades that would suffer. '' ' He did not like to see the lower grades stood down, but the association had just been "joggingalQhg" With its bare complement 'and this situation might arise again |and place the union in an even ^worse position. He considered that his assqciation's - membership was .kept at low ebb, inainly through jfear Of abuse. No referees, particularly .the younger ones, were keen to take on a job and be subjected to continued abuse from players an'd spectators. He had approached some of the past referees and asked them to again take part, but fhey were not keen. 'That was why he was so insistent that every protection be given referees. During discus'sio'n, Mr. C. WfikinSQh said that |n. regard to Saturday, he might be1 able to get one or two scnior players to referee the lower grades. Some he had spoken to were very keen to participate.That would be very much appreciated by the association, said lvir. Zuppicicn, but such players would of course have tq be nominated as members in order to adhere to tne rules of the association. They would, however, only be called ,on in such cases of emergency. ' It was also decided that delegates be asked to approach their cluos for further players who would be willing to help out. The provlsion of. line umpires by 'the various clubs was mentioned !by Mi", J1.- A, Zuppicich.- He said it iWQuld be appreciated if the clubs 'notified the association of the mames of fine umpires so that there would be no hold-ups on the grounds. The Shannon Club had its own fine umpires an'd this had proved a great help to the referees. ,He also extended an inyitation to any such line ' umpires "to attend the assoe jatiop's . lectures, which were conducted after the weekly , meetings. . He- also thought rifc { would be well for players themselves to attend as there was evidenoe of a lack of a proper understanding of the rules. The Referjees' Assooiation would only be too glad io explain any points, and would welcome players at the lecture . ... -Thi chaji'manvMy,' Gillespie,. -said he thought it would be a sound idea. end other members of the committee alsp fayoure'd • it. The Secretary was requested to write to clubs, pointing out both matters. | Foxton Schools' Position 1 The position of the Foxton schools, was raised by Mr. F. G. Carrington, who said that the question had arisen as to who would supply the schools with footballs, now that clubs in the Foxton district had gone over to Manawatu. The Foxton school teams could not be expected toTravel to Palmerston North for a game, and they woulfi like to arrange friepdly games with the local schools as in the. past, said Mr. Carrington. Hwveyer, it was now the Manawatu Union's obligatiqn to supply the school with footballs, The presldent, Mr.'A. Gillespie, said that an awkwar/f point had been raised. The uniop did not want to see the boys lose games. After some discussion it was decided that the union offer to supply the balls, provided the school played under the Horowhenua Union. deeidgd tfrat no meeting jwould be held next Tuesday owing to the difficuity members found in pbtammg sufficient petrol for the journey to Levin at the end of a mohth, The chairman, Mr. Gillespie, was g'iven leave of absence for the following meeting.