THE REFEREE’S LIFE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 22 November 1927, Page 3

THE REFEREE’S LIFE

NOT A HAPPY ONE THE GIBBONS DISQUALIFICA- > TION. MR McVILLY ON SPORTMANSHIP fPer Press Association). Wellington, Nov. 21. "A referee’s position is at most au' unpleasant one/’ said Mr K. W. McVilly president of the N.Z.A.A.A. at the annual meeting held to-night. “He has to decide on the rules of the game and whenever he has to give a decision it is generally a most unpleasant task. I take it that no sports body appoints as a referee a man in whom it has no confidence, and who is not regarded as a sportsman in every sense of the word. Having accepted the position it is on him to see that the rules are carried out in the best sporting spirit. He is there to see fair sport and to give a definite decision when appealed to. If ho knows his job and has the courage of his opinions h e doesn’t care two straws what the man in the street says. He gives an honest opinion, and is regarded as au impartial 'man, his decisions invariably being accepted.” These remarks were made in connection with Mr McVilly’s disqualification at the last Nev/ Zealand Championships at Auckland of Gibbons (Wanganui-Taranaki) in the one mile championship. INTERFERENCE APPARENT.' Mr Connop, one of the WanganuiTaranaki delegates, stated that his centre wished to know the reason for the disqualification. He said that requests had been sent to the Auckland centre, but no notice had been taken. In answer to this Mr MeVilly said that while in Auckland it was liis unpleasant duty to have to disqualify more than on e competitor, although he saw breaches of the rules no action was taken until his attention was drawn to the matter by the various officers. As far as Gibbons was concerned, his interference was apparent to' everyone. "Within one minute after my decision 1 acquainted the Wanganui-Taranaki people with the reason for the decision. I don’t care two straws what anybody thinks. Once 1 make up my mind that a thing is wrong 1 say it is wrong, and 1 don’t care twopence for anyone. I give an honest decision. I went to Auckland to see the championships conducted according to the rules of this association, and I must confess my surprise and indignation in finding that my decision, which was given honestly, should be questioned by tho Wanganui-Taranaki centre the only centre that has ever questioned the -decision of a referee. ” THAT CENTRE NOT SPORTING. Referring to a statement by Mr Hugo (Wanganui-Taranaki) that ‘ ‘ thero is more in the matter than meets the eye,” Mr MeVilly said: “I, as president of this association, insist that your representative obey the ruling of the president. What doesn’t meet the eye is the vindictiveness of the Wanganui-Taranaki centre towards the president of this association. I will not have my integrity and honesty impaired by the Wanganui-Taranaki centre or by anyone else. My services in the world of sport are appreciated not only by the Wellington centre, but by every other centre except tVanganui-Taranaki. Apparently they do not like honesty, courage and straight dealing. They want to win not in a sporting way, but in any way at all. It is idle for that centr e to say that they do not know why their man was disqualified. It is utterly absurd, ridiculous and unsporting. I always thought the Wanganui-Taranaki centre were sportsmen. Why don’t they take their licking in a sporting spirit? So long as I am referee at any meeting and any question is put to me I will give my honestly and in the terms of the rules of the association, and I will not go back on my decision.”