THE REFEREES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1754, 20 May 1913, Page 9

THE REFEREES.

COMPLAINTS RE ASSIGNMENTS,

GRIEVANCES AIRED.

A meeting of the Wellington Rugby Referees' Association was held at the Civil Service Association's/ rooms last evening, Mr. D. M'Kenzia presiding.

Appointment Board Attacked. Considerable . discussion took placo on tho treatment which members of the association had received from tho Appointment Board.

Mr. W. C. Church bitterly complained of his appointments. He had been a member of. tho association for the past nine years, and his appointments (for the last four years in particular) had been very "tin-pot" affairs. If he was not given better consideration he would send in his resignation. The chairman asked tho meeting whether they. considered the matter serious •enough to approach the Rugby TJiwon on, and all present answered in the affirina-

Mr. Chuirch said that he had acted as a refereo Saturday after Saturday, and ho had never heard of his decisions being complained of. He could not soo why ho •"did not get a fair hearing." The chairman; Neither do I. 1 Mr. D. A. TayloT suggested that a deputation should wait upon the Rugby Union at its next meeting to discuss the appointment of referees, and the treatment of ncferces generally. Ho moved in that direction. The motion was carried unanimously. Mossrs. J. Francis, R. Fordyce, and the chairman were appointed to act as the deputation. . . Tho chairman said that the point et issue was that the association had twi?ntythreo members, and out of that number very, very few got important games to control. , ~ . , , Mr. E. B. L. Reado did not think that Mr;. Church's cdse was an isolated one. Nearly all tho itrferees whom he knew had comnlaints about the _manner in which thiy had been treated by tho Appointment Board. " After further discussion. Mr. Jones moved: "That it be an instruction to tlie committer to discuss with the Rugby Union mutual agreements for all matches under its jurisdiction." Mr Fordyce seconded the motion. Mr. O'Suilivan thought it very unwise on tho part of the association to introduce the question of mutual agreements. It lias been brought up before to the detriment of the association. Tlie chairman thought that it would be wise to hold Mr. Jones's motion over. In reply to Mr. O'Suilivan, tho chairman said that the question of mutual agreements was not for any single referee, but for the referees as a whole. The de nutation should approach tho Rugby Union with legitimate complaints. ' Mr. Church's complaint was a legitimate one. Ho had been a senior refereo for two years, and during that time ho had only received three senior matches, and they were very poor affairs. _ The speaker instanced another case which illustrated tho unfair treatment which had been meted out by the Appointment Board. In conclusion, the chairman said that it would be much better to hold the motion oyer until after the report of the deputation hail been received.

Mr. Jones then withdrew his motion. "That's An Old Dodgn." Mr. Taylor made further complaint regarding the methods of the Appointment Board. He objected to being made a convenience of. Last week he was down to referee a match at Miramar, and at 5.30 p.m. 1 on Friday last he had been informed that this match lmd been postponed, and that he would be required to take a match at Newtown Park. "Now,' he said, in conclusion, "that's making aconveaience of a man." > A member: "That's an old dodge."

Mr. Taylor: Perhaps it is, but they are not going to dqi.jt a»{iin., o ,.. , The discussion then* lapsed.

Action of Member of Classification Committee. The action of a member of the Classification Committee (Mr. W. J. Meredith) wan next discussed. The position as gathered from the discussion was as fol-lows:—-The Classification Committee consists of Messrs. Meredith, Francis, and Fordyce. and they are supposed to visit the junior referees whilst they have control of matches, and to recommend to the association those referees whom they consider are qualified for orolv.otion to senior 'referees. This work of classification was to take about four weeks, and the committee (who are senior referees) agreed to stand down during that time. When they had done ono week's work, Mr. Meredith was informed by the Appointment Board, that another, referee was required for the coming Saturday. Mr. Meredith, then consulted Messrs. Fordyce and Francis and told them that as it was his turn, he would probably bo appointed, and that Messrs. Fordyce and .Francis could classify tho remaining members of tho Referees' Association: . Messrs. Fordyce and Francis were quite agreeable to this suggestion. In conscquence of a private letter received by the secretary from Mr. Meredith, the secretary understood that the three members of the Classification C-om-mittco were open for appointment for Saturday next. Taking for granted that the contents of the letter were correct, the secretary gave the names of Messrs. Fordyce, Francis and Meredith to the Appointment Board, and they. were consenuently unpointed. Messrs. Fordyce and Francis denied that they had offered themselves for appointment. Tliey were quite _ agreeable to let Mr. Meredith be appointed, but they did this on the understanding that they were to act as the classification committee for Saturday next. They w.ere both extremely surprised to find that they as well as Mr. Meredith had received appointments. The following motion was carried unanimously: "That the Classification Committee continue its duties next Saturday, and that the appointments be referred back to the board w-ith the intimation that Messrs. Meredith, Francis, and Fordyce are not available to act as referees as they wero appointed under a misapprehension."