REFEREE SOLE JUDGE OF FACT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3801, 5 June 1928, Page 1

REFEREE SOLE JUDGE OF FACT.

(Concluded from page 3)

Mr. 11. McDonald (Schools) : Being a referee, he has'sole charge. The chairman: Yes. Mr. Robinson: He must report the player for misconduct, and it is left for us to deal with. The chairman said lie did -not propose to allow any evidence on the matter of fact. If the committee thought otherwise, he would abide by their decision; but he had given his ruling. SHANNON CLUB DISSATISFIED. Mr. Richards said that on Friday last, at a meeting of the Shannon Club, the appointment of Mr. Neville was discussed. The Club decided that it. would send a telegram to the Referees’ Association on the Saturday morning, asking them to change the appointment for that day’s match, if possible. A reply was received that the Association could not do this. Mr. 'Richards added that in the last four years Mr Neville had ordered off quite a number of Shannon and Miranui players. The chairman stated that, if objection was to be taken to an appointment, the protesting club must have the consent of the other club on the Monday night preceding the match. Mr. Richards: We did not have time to get the other club to agree. Mr. W. Phillips (Referees’ Aseiation): When did you know he was appointed? Mr. Richards: About Wednesday. Mr. Phillips slated that the appointments were made on the Saturday morning, and then posted. Mr Richards also explained that there was some delay in getting the club members together for the meetings

The chairman stated that Mr Neville had been refereeing for a good many years, and was recognised by the Association. The committee had better deal with Mason’s ease.

Mr Richards: Has Mr Neville been officially reinstated as a referee? The Chairman: He was never disqualified. He is a member of the Referees’ Association and an ex-member of the Council, and I should not have allowed you to discuss his ability at all. A PREVIOUS CAUTION. Dealing with Mason’s case, the chairman said that following the previous complaint this had had been let olf fairly leniently. On the present occasion he had admitted having used the expression for which he was reported. If there was an inference in the statement about “playing sixteen men,” as made to the spectators, then it was against the referee. Players had often been heard, from the line, to say, “We are playing sixteen men,” and the inference was generally againSt the referee. Mr J. W. Rimmer (Treasurer): I think he has substantiated the charge that the referee has made against him, and in spite of a previous warning by the referee.

Mr Mitchell remarked that in the circumstances of this ease, with spectators heckling a man who was going to make a kick at the goal, he would he likely to say something after missing the goal. The spectators were alluding to a man having broken his collar-bone in another match, but that was agninst a different player. It seemed that Mason had been up against hard luck. SUSPENDED TO JUNE 25. The chairman moved, and Mr J. W. Procter (Hui Mai) seconded, that Mason be suspended for three playing Saturdays, which would debar him until Jlune 25th. The mover said that this would act as a warning to other players. Addressing Mason, he said he hoped that player would never appear before any Rugby Council or Union again. Mason: Will that stop me from playing in the seven-a-side? The chairman: Yes, from all R ugby. PROTEST WITHDRAWN. The Shannon delegates intimated their willingness to withdraw their club’s protest, as it related to matters of fact coming under the referee’s jurisdiction. The chairman remarked that it was hardly fair for a club to put in a protest if it was going to withdraw it; but this case could be allowed to pass. Mr. Mitchell said that after the protest had been ruled out of order, no further action could be taken. _ The chairman: Then it rests with us whether we hand the money back. „ t» On the motion of Mr. E. M. Ryder (Wanderers), seconded by the chairman, it was resolved that the Shannon club be allowed to withdraw its protest, and that the fee of 10/- be refunded. —Chronicle.