Rugby Union's Discussion On Referees

Chronicle (Levin), 4 August 1948, Page 4

Rugby Union's Discussion On Referees

That all appointments made by the Referees' Association to matches p^ayed under the jurisdiction of the' Horowhehua Rughy Union be confirmed by the union was a suggestion forwarded by the ShannonFootball Ciub and discussed at last night's fortnightly meetifig of the: management committee. The club also stated in its letterj that it thought that referees shouid, sever all active connections with' individual clubs, and that a special1 generai meeting of the union shouid I be held to diseuss these points. j During a lengthy discussion on' the former point, it was decided( that it be a- recommendation.to the, Referees' Association that an! appointments committee comprising' one member of the 'association and{ one member of the management1 committee of the union be set up,| and fttfther that it te a recommendation to' the association that the rule in their laws governmg the matter he altered accordingly. After a full discussion it was agreed that this question could be made one of those which couid be discussed at a special generai meeting, which the chairman, .Mr. A. Gillespie, stated would be held prior to the next annual generai meeting. Arising.out of a senior. competition game played hy Shannon •against Athletic, at Levin, on July 24, was a further letter from the ' Shannon, Club, askirig that the manageni'ent committee seek an explanatiori from the Referees' 1 Association as to why certain "tries" were disallowed. In its let- : ter the club' detailed four instances ' dufing the match, and asked that | they be invgstigated and an 1 explanation given. Rising to a point of order, the 1 Referees' Association delegate, Mr. 1 C. E. Wiseley, said that the letter ; dealt with fact and not the laws of ; the game, and that. in cases of ! fact the referee was the sole judge. Supporting him, Mr. D. Oliver : said that there was a rule governing the matter which stated that a referee was the sole judge of time and fact. . Afte^ further discussion it -was decided that the letter be handed | to the Referees' Assoociation for ! comment.