CORBESPONDENCE. FOOTBALL GRIEVANCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1924, Page 1

CORBESPONDENCE.

FOOTBALL GRIEVANCES.

(To the Editor). Sir.—The report of tile Westland Suh-l'nioii’s meeting is as far as it rofer.s to the Arahura Club’s request does not represent what tiie Club derided to ash for. J would therefore thank you for space to put the Club’s attitude liefore your readers. At the last Meeting it was decided to ask the Sub-C'nion to Itet the Referee’s Association to .submit three names from which the Arahura representative and their opponent’s representative were to agree on one. This is a very different matter from the Arahura Club submitting three names. The iSub-rniuu were asked to devise the machinery to give effect to this. If the I'nion cannot grant this reasonable request and still allow the Referees’ Association to appoint fit hid Excelsior supporters to referee any matches in which Arahura is engaged, then this ('lull will he reluctantly compelled to drop out of I he competition. Now Mr Editor 1 see rogks ahead, where l would like to see a fair course, and 1 am sure that with your spirit of fairness and for the benefit of football generally you will allow me to try to -set the Arahura E.C. players right with iho public. The Arahura players were by not a. few dublied “No Sports’’ for walking off the field recently. .They were similarly cnTled “No Sports” by sumo of their admirers for ever walking on the field that day. Seeing that in April last they protested against this particular referee and were assured by the Referees’ Assn, executive iiHirer that they would not have him again, do you not think that they were “No Sports” not to stand lo their resolution ami refuse to play. Some queer things happened last year and the year before to Arahura players under the two Referees objected In:—ln one match at. least- three players were ordered oil' the field for doing not as much as .Jack Steel did recently when he fended two players and ran straight into Snodgrass. The Arahura full back had a little pony grazing in the field with saddle and bridle on —well over tile dead hall line—and it was decreed liv the referee that if the hull touched the puny Arahura would lose tile mulch. I think it was in the same match an Arahura hack lost his trousers and went on playing while an S.O.S. was sent out to Jack l’uncli for a pair, hut. in the meantime some kind person supplied a safety pin for the long working jersey, and the player went merrily on; live and live the hall come to him and he ran with it well up the Held, then some wretched harrackcr lor the opposite side drew the referee’s attention—exit I [enure. I am very sorry to say that l lie pathetic incidents of bias or incapacity outweigh the comical in ibis Chili’s recent experiences, and can only trust that a little tact will he shown and that the other Junior Clubs, and in fact seniors tor that matter, will join the Arahura (Huh in trying to induce the Rugby t'liion to bestir themselves and see that all games are properly refereed. Thanking you f am etc., COMM ITTKMAX.