ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 813, 10 May 1910, Page 4

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL.

NEWSPAPERS AND REFEREES.

FAIR COMMENT OR LIBEL?

At a meeting of the Referees' Association held last night tho chairman (Mr. D. M'Kenzie) drew attention to a paragraph that had appeared in tho "Evening Post" on April 30, wherein it was stated that, the referee was altogether too slow in using his whistlo, and several, minor injuries had resulted from his failure to blow his whistle. The chairman said this paragraph had been brought under his notice, and he mentioned it at the mooting because it was a qnbstion as to whether or not tho association should take any action in, the niattor. Ho certainly thought' the referee concerned had an action for libel. ' • ' '

Mr. J. Meredith thought the "racing reporter" 'must'have been at work on tho football that Saturday, as he saw in one paper that "Duncan won by three lengths after a good race." He ■gave' it as his' opinion, however, that this was "very amusing, very clever put together like." Mr. .T. Quinn considered that the association should take no notice of the newspapers, but the chairman again remarked that he thought the referee concerned had an action for libel.

Mr. Meredith considered that the paragraph was as serious as accusing the rcfere© of manslaughter.' He drew attention to a note that .liad appeared in The Dominion concerning the question of tho referees not being as strict as fonriorly regarding the use of the boot. The comment apparently did not agree with the views of Mr.' Meredith, who returned to the question of / manslaughter again. Reverting to the Karori match) the chairman ■ said that a 'certain amount of reflection was cast by- the "Post" paragraph. The question was whether notice should be taken of it.' Certainly a number of injuries had, occurred in the ■ match —-one man had had a couple of ribs broken, and another had to retiro from the effects of a hick on tho leg. Ho did not see that the referee could be blamed for that.

Mr. F. Laws oonsidered that they might take some notice of the paragraph with the idea of deciding among tliomsolves whether they were too slow or toot quick with the whistle. The general opinion (he thought), was that, there was-too much -whistle. This opinion was often expressed, and yet as soon -as tho referees were going to let the game run along a little the papers disagreed. Mr. Quinn again gave it as his opinion that 110 notico should be taken of the matter. - He believed ■ that the Karori correspondent of tho paper had been responsible for tho paragraph, and was probably more used to milking cow 6 than playing football. , .Another member of the association expressed .the opinion that it had not been intended'to cast any-reflection on the' referee. '_ Tho note had probably been written in' fair spirit. Mr, Moller failed to see how this could be, seeing that tho referee was -accused of. being t-be'eauso of injuries to'players-' Finally, "however, the matter was passed over without 'action .being taken, and other business was .proceeded with. ' . ■ ' REFEREES',.'ASSOCIATION. A meeting ■of the Wellington RefOrecs' Association was held in tho Y..M.0.A. Rooms last .night; Before 'tho ordinary business commenced a re:'sbliiti6"n \vSs''ijaßsjtt;iexpresising> ; regr6t ■at'the : "death-'-'6f liife- Majesty-the- King; '■ Mf-.yCaTd'-' , 'ivas v appointed -to act. 011 'the: dipufisttibh ''towait •' on tlie -Rugby . Union-!on, iWednosday night: in place of:. Mr.vF." liawSj'-whQ will bo .-unable-to at-' tend;'-: The : deputation ■is to bring -, before the'-union-the-question of placing in the hands.of,tho association:.the sole control--of the appointment of ' re? fereos for competition matches. -After a,discussion 'on ■ newspapers,;reported elsewhere, the mooting wont-: into a lengthy ■ discussion on tho amendments to :tho 1 rules' of :Rugby, which are tocome into force- as from Saturday A: resolution was-passed condoling with Mr. A. Thompson, a member of tho association; in a family bereavement. ■ . . : It was decided that in future-tho appointment list be passed.round 011 Monday ovenings for tho purpose of an-ang-ing any exchanges that may be found to be necessary. "DEEPLY REGRETTED." THOSE MATCHES ON SATURDAY.' (By Tolceraph.—Special Correspondent.) Ghristchurcli, May 9. Some comment was raised by the decision of the Cant or bury Rugby. .Union to continue tho football competitions, although most of the players expected a postponement , 011 account „of tho King's death. At Lancaster Park tho matches were continued us usual, but, prior to the senior match, College v. Old ,Boys at the, show, 'grounds,_ tho players expressed a unanimous wish to postpono tlie game, and proceeded .with it under protest, only because the referee. declined to take the responsibility of postponing it,. 111 the absence of any information from the Rugby Union officials at tho North Park, the news did not reach the players until tho hockey aiid football matches had been commenced,' and it was decided, alter consultation, to continue them. . .

The president. .of tho Canterbury Rugby Union (Mr. G. H. Mason), when seen by a reporter 'this morning, said that ho deeply regretted tlie fact that 'sotno of the matches held under tho auspices of his union liad been con-, tinned" after the news of tho King's death had reached tho city. "Had 1 been in town," said Mr. Mason, "'I would have at once given instructions that all matches were to be stopped." He added that he was especially sorry that, when a member of the Management Committee of; the Union, carried the news of the King's demiso to Lancaster Park, the" referees in tho matches there had declined to stop play, and that, in direct opposition to the wishes of some of the players, play had been continued. He also regretted tho fact that those in control of tho matches on the North Park had not had the good senso to postpone all matches as soon as the news of tho King's decease' was officially convoyed, 'to them.

"I am sure that everyone connected with'-the game had as much, feeling for the 1 King and the Eriipire as the rest of the people." He concluded: ".But an unfortunate lack of initiative involved all .-footballers in ft most annoying and deplorable confusion."