REFEREES TAKE UMBRAGE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1212, 22 August 1911, Page 2

REFEREES TAKE UMBRAGE.

A LETTER BY A MEMBER TO THE TRESS. At tho weekly meeting of the WeDington Referees' Association lost .night, there was considerable discussion over a letter which appeared in Saturday's Dominion, over the signature of "Tom 11. Jones." Tho subject was introduced by Mr. R. Fordyce, who asked if the writer of the letter was tho same T. .11. Jones who left the Wellington Rugby Referees' Association to join the "Soccer" referees, and who subsequently returned to tiho Rugby Association. If ho was the same official, Mr. Fordyce expressed the opinion that "lis had never done the association much g-«(i." Mr. Neilson, a member of tho Appointment Board, replied to the letter so far as it affected himself, and expressed tho opinion that Mr. Jones's action in writingin tho press was quite wrong. Ho explained that Mr. Jones had written to the Appointment Board, and had asked that his name be taken off tho list if he could not be granted better matches. Tho board had taken him at his word, and had decided not to consider him again, and the next thing that they became cognisant of was that he was taking matches by tho "mutual agreement" scheme. Mr; H. E. Card thought that Mr. Jones had been carried away by a little success. lie did not know whether it was his appointment to "the match for tho wooden spoon"- last Saturday or to tho match North v. South Country representatives that had caused him to constitute himself the Chief Justice of the referees. Mr. F. A. Laws considered that it was not fair for Mr. Jones to attack his fellow-members of the association through the press. No doubt Mr. Jones's purpose had been to "curry favour" with the public and with members of clubs. The speaker added he had been "thinking hard" since the letter had appeared, but hail been unable to think ot any good that Mr. Jones had ever done for tho association, and, as for his attack on him (Mr. Laws), he was prepared to give ~i to any charitable institution if it could be proved that he had been given "a better run" by the Appointment Board than Mr. Jones had been given. Tho latter was noted for his letter-writing, and, when ho was secretary of the Southern Football Club, the Rugby Union had to keep an extra waste-paper basket for his letters. It used to be a standing joke: "Are there no.more letters from Tom H. Jones?" The chairman here remarked that Mr. W. J. Meredith had called on him that morning to say that ho would be unable to attend the meeting, but wished it known that tho statements in tho letter that, referred to him were "absolutely incorrect." Mr. Ingram considered that the statements in the letter which referred to him should bo proved or withdrawn. Messrs. Martin and Sievcrs also condemned tho letter. The latter, referring to tho mutual agreement scheme, considered that, as far as tho association was concerned, it was unworkable. Mr. Keys characterised Mr. Jones's letter as mere "flap doodle," and not worthy of discussion. Mr. Waters, in the course of some remarks upon the letter, stated that they had in the association the biggest Ml' of mnligners and .calumniators that it was pos-iblc to got together. The argument on the "mutual agreement" question was getting sickening and they , ought to pass a by-law that would settle j the question, and smash or make tho association. . The chairman (Mr. D. M'Kouzie) remarked that, as the letter had appeared, tho association was entitled to reply. He. thought that it was out of place for a paper like The Dominion to publish such a loiter without first referring it to the association so that a reply could havo been given in a footnote., He agreed with Mr. Keys that the letter was purely "flapdoodle," and parts of it, ho thought, came within the law of libel. He went' on to refer to Mr. Jones's connection'with another sports body, Referring 'to the "mutual agreement" scheme, the speaker thought that it '■pelt ruin t'o the association. Mr. Fordyce moved that: "The association inform Mr. Jones that, in writing to the press, he did something that wa£ distasteful to this association and that he be osjeed to apologise for his misleading statements." TJlis was seconded and carried without dissent. Mr. Keys moved that three members of tho association be asked to reply to the' letter, but tho motion was withdrawn on the chairman printing out that the press would probably publish tho discussion that bad taken place at the meeting. He thought that it was better to leave the matter there. APPOINTMENT OF REFEREES. . At tho meeting of tho Wellington Reforces' Association last evening something like finality was reached oii tho "mutual agreement" question when it was decided to accept tho Rugby Union's invitation for three members of the association to confer with the union. CIVIL SERVICE. At a meeting of delegates held last night it was decided to call for entries for the'forthcoming tournament, these entries to be open till Thursday next. Tennis have the option of playing on Saturday next at 1.30 p.m. if they so desire. Otherwiso matches will bo commenced on Saturday,- September 9.