"Kissing Goes by Favour."

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 July 1910, Page 4

"Kissing Goes by Favour."

TROUBLES OF WELLINGTON I'OOTBALL UJSFKREES. At Monday's meeting of tho Wellington Referees' Association (tho .New Zealand Times reports) a letter was .received from tho Wellington College Club, in which it was stated that for the third Saturday in succession the referee appointed to control tho match in which tho elub's team was concerned ha<l failed to fulfil his obligations, and asking that tho association go into tho matter. llio Wellington Rugby Union wrote on the same subject. It asked that strong representations bo ma do to members of the association m regard to tho harm that was being done to the game and the discouraging effect such a state of affairs had on players. The letter continued: "On Saturday last (2nd inst.) the following referees did not [ take the matches to which thov wero appointed: Senior—.Messrs J. Francis, A ; Thompson and F. A. Laws; junior—Mr M. Gauntlett; fourth class—Messrs A .Moll or and S. Standen: first-class—Mr W. Roberts." The letter further stated that in some cases referees were not sure at the time they wero appointed whether or not they would be able to take tho matches allotted to them, and that the appointment hoard should bo notified to prevent the. making 'of appointments that could not be carried out. To endeavour to fill positions towards the end of the week was by no means an easy task, and the failure of referees to turn up meant that the union incurred considerable expense.

The communications evoked a great deal of discussion, in the course of which it was explained that, though tho Rugby Union's complaint was correct in so far as the referees named had not taken the martches set down for them, tin' only game that fell through as a result of the referee's default was the Mel rose-Southern fixture, to which Mr Laws had been .appointed. In regard to this match, and the union s complaint of the expense incurred through the referee not turnign up, it was stated that the appointment board had been notified of Mr Laws' inability to attend, and had permitted tho teams to journey to the grounds when they were fully a ware that there was no referee to take match.

llie chairman considered tho lunion ml exaggerated tho case, and had Miunecl the Referees' Association unfairly. Jf a little bit oi common sense had been used the union would have saved it'lle expenso of tho Melrose and Southern teams travelling to Karon. He considered that the Referees' Association should not be saddled with tho whole blame. Mr Laws had given notice that lw would bo unablo to take the match in ample time to permit of a substitute being appointed, and that the match fell through was tho fault of the appointment board alone. Mr F. L-aws said tho appointments of the board had not "-iven satisfaction to the. Referees' Association for some considerable time. lie considered that a crisis was approaching. It was often known 011 a Saturday night who was io referee a. inaeth on tho following Saturday. Ho questioned whether tho board was discharging its duty as fit should. There was no doubt in his mind that tho _ appointment of referees was "letting away from the Referees' Association and being brought under the control of tire players and _ tho Rugby Union. Whatever things might be 011 tho surface an under-current was working, and a mutual agreement • \vns known to exist. • If the appointment board was to make the appointments the. referees should support it, but as a body it should be open to the fullest investigation. If tho Referees' Association stood together as a body, all -the differences that wore now so much, in evidence would be wiped out.

After further discussion the letter from Wellington Collego was referred to tire secretnrv to deal with, and that from the Rugby Union to tlio appointments hoard' for a report.