Rugby Union Official Claims Press Report Unfair

Chronicle (Levin), 8 July 1948, Page 4

Rugby Union Official Claims Press Report Unfair

A claim that a report published in * the Press was unfair came from Mr. G..T. Clunie at a meeting of the • Horowhenua Rugby Union's management committee on Tuesdaynight. He was referring to the report of the discussicpn at the last meeting of the committee foliowing receipt of a charge from Mr. A. Chapman that Mr. Clunie had made accusatio'ns against his refereeing in the Waikanae-Parapara-umu junior. game on June 12.' I The report had represente'd him as a sideline heckler, whereas he had called the referee aside at halftime and spoken quietly to him, said Mr. Cmnie. That impression ha'd been given and he thought the chairman of the committee should' have taken steps to have it corrected. As this had npt been done he, therefore, felt that he had no option but to resign. •. The chairman, Mr. A. Gillesple, said he was surprise'd to see the proceedings had been reported. "When I asked Mr. Clunie for an explanation of the incident, he'was n.ot i'on the mat' as the headiine sai'd," added Mr. Gillespie.' "We have our meetings and they are open meetings at which- a representative of the Press is present," said Mr. C. E. Wiseley. "Provided we do not go into committee, the Press is at liberty to report what it thinks fit. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot expect the Press to acivertise our sport an'd then block them from taking what they think fit from the open meeting." The report had been correct except in one small detail, remarked Mr. Wiseley in conclusion, but the discussion had been condense-d, . Mr,, Clunie said that if he had been chairman and a report ha'd been published which he .thought was unfair, or -gave an incorrect perspective, he would have had it corrected. No member of his club had ever "chipped" a referee from the sideline, and in this case he had only spoken to the referee quietly at half-time. Under similar circumstances he woud do the same again, 'despite the rules, if he thought that conditions were going to have an adverse effect on the game. "I think the action of the union is wrong if, because of the shortage of referees, it is not going to criticise them for fear of losing their services," continued Mr. Clunie. "If a referee is wrong he should be taken to task." I He was of the opinion that referees should be strong enough v to admit that they made mistakes, said Mr. T. Winiata. ' z ' I The committee had accepted Mr. i'Clunie's explanation, commented • !Mr. D. Oliver. No charge had been Imade against the referee, but he 'had asked for an assurance that the union was satisfie'd . with his refereeing, and the union had given him that. "I have seen him referee ot'her games and feel he is |a satisfactory referee," added Mr. Oliver, "but I dfd not see the particular game in question." J Mr. Gillespie said that Mr. Clunie had the confidence of the con^ 'mittee and the union. His loss to | the union would be a serious blow, j particularly in- the southern end, |an'd for that reason he would ask Siim to reconsider his'' decision to . esign. Mr. Clunie had been assojciated with the game for some 29 years and was one of those able to ■ lopk at rugby matters without parochialism. . The union would regret to lose his services. ! Mr. Clunie then indicated ihat he would withdraw his resignation, a I decision which was received with Jacclamation." . >