FOOTBALL REFEREES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5437, 19 June 1929, Page 2

FOOTBALL REFEREES.

CONDITIONS ON THE PLAINS.

ASSOCIATION RE-FORMED. The Hauraki Plains Rugby Referees’ Association was re-formed last night at a meeting convened by the Rugby Union with that object. There were present Messrs H. Dent, president of the Rugby Union, A. E. Ludlow, V. Hayward, E. Flavell, C. Hayward, P. Williams, F. Stretton, J. Reed, G. T. Davidson, G. Paton, C. Bertelsen, C. Molloy, and F. Clotworthy. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Messrs J. Kidd, C. Callander, C. C. Clark, A. Cleave, and L. Berney. In opening the meeting Mr Dent explained the necessity for re-forming the Referees’ Association, and asked for a full and frank discussion. Mr Davidson, past president of the association, explained that the old association had become defunct because there had been an insufficient attendance at the annual meeting to officers. He explained how the association had met regularly on a Monday evening to discuss rules and rulings. Personally, he would not be able to referee in the future, but he would assist a new association in every way possible. He did not think an association would succeed unless members attended the weekly meetings and discussed rules. Referees should recognise that they were not infallible, and they should admit their mistakes and not take exception when at meetings other referees pointed out faults.

Mr Bertelsen asserted that the old association had not received the backing of the Rugby Union. This was challenged by Mr Dent, who pointed out that much had been made of trivial matters. As long as he was president of the union he would see that the union did back up the refere.es.

Mr Ludlow said that referees had taken exception to the lightness of the punishments meted out by the union or its judicial board to players who had been suspended by referees. Mr Reed said that in past seasons many referees from the outer districts were not able to attend the meetings of the association, so were not able to get to know the fine points of the rules. Unless this was done there could not be uniformity, and without uniformity players learned to take .advantages. If a number of referees were available in Turua or any other centre the association should hold meetings in those centres. After a long discussion on minor points it was ascertained that the men available to referee were known to be Messrs L. Berney, C. Clark, G. Paton, J. Kidd, A. Blake, W. Marshall, A. Cleave, J. Faulkner, L. Cotter, J. Reed, F. Clotworthy, L. Pentecost, C Molloy, A. E. Ludlow, A. Tynan, and W. Scott. With this membership of active referees it was agreed that the Hauraki Plains Rugby Referees’ Associaiton be re-formed.

Mr G. T. Davidson was appointed president of the association, Mr W. P. Wylde secretary pro. tem., and Messrs J. Kidd, H. Berney, A. Tynan, and D. Pike vice-presidents.

Tentative appointments for the matches on Saturday next were made.