MISUNDERSTOOD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10298, 5 June 1919, Page 6

MISUNDERSTOOD

A- RUGBY : --TANGLE

UNION SECRETARY ANNOYED

' Strained delations have existed during thq past few days between certain officials' of tho* ' Wellington Rugby Union over the appointment of the referee for .Tuesday's game between Wellington and! the. Maori, fifteen. As explained .in yesterday's "Times, iVlr T. H. Jones, secretary of the union, had originally been appointed referee, but certain developments brought about his withdrawal from the'"niatch. In consequence of tho developments, Mr Jones asked_ the union last night to accept his resignation as secretary. .... The chairman (Mr. W. F. Hornig) said the position was that it was brought to his notice on Monday afternoon that Mr Jones had been appomt|ed to control the game. Tho iuformaI ticn caino unofficially to him, and that j notification was the first he had heard of tho . appointment. After some trouble he managed to get into touch with Mr Jones, but prior to that he had instructed the printer to leave the referee's name out of tho programme altogether. Speaking to Mr Jones on the telephone, he told ■ him that his" actum' would "probably cause some "trouble" with 'the "Union and the Referees' ""association: " He then made r it'"pl.tTri"that"his''obje(stton3 were that Mr Jones had not refereed for a considerable length of time, and that'his 'services'would "be required at Athletic , l , afK'~on""tKe~Tu'eVday.'""Under these circumstances' he" thought Mr Jones would be""ill-advised"in acting as referee. The "matter was 'fully considered by those responsible, and subsequently Mr Simpson was appointed. Un tho Tuesday morning members of the union conrerred with the managers of the Maori team, but the matter was unavoidably overlooked,!" Later there was a conversation with Mr Hall, of the Maori team, and *the conclusion was arrived at, that while Mr Jones was a fit and proper person to referee, his physical condition would not stand the strain of a fast, open game. A meeting ; .of ..members of the manage•mettt..;,committee was held that morning, and it was decided that Hr Jones was wanted at fJie park. Mr Jones: Was Mr Simpson appointed "prior to the meeting of the ?. Tfie chairman: Yes.

Mr Jones: sTelTr™TOat is a most pointy Mr Jones added that Jia,,aske&. Mr Hornig if the fact that at. the Park was the only .objection to hisrefereemg, and Mr Horning replied ".No, perhaps it is not." Ho could not realise that after all the .work' he- had done for the union there was any member who wanted to deprive him of any little pleasure he might derive from acting as referee. Mr Homig said to him that there would possibly be, trouble with the Referees' Association, and that some members of the union con"sidlr&l it undesirable that he sh'bultl : referee. Mr Hornig had also agreed that if the matter was put before the Referees' Association it would bo in order. He thought he had been treated very discourteously. If Mr Hornig had .any objection. .to,, his taking tne match, a meeting of,..the union could have been called. ■ Mr Hornig withdrew the objection that he (Mr Jones) would be required at the Park, but next, morning he renewed that objection'.' Mr Jones had gone to the trouble to personally place the matter before the Referees' Association on Monday night, this being done witli the chairman's suggestion. The association expressed confidence in JUr Jones, but in view of the attitude taken up by members of the Kugby Union he decided to withdraw from the match. The first intimation Mr Simpson, had that he was to he referee was at tho meeting that night. Mr Simpson had absolute knowledge that there would bo developments. Mr Jones considered that Mr Perry had a good deal to do with influencing the-Maori managers. He said it was a very painful experience to him to be informed by Mr Hornig that morning that his withdrawal from the match had been requested. Mr Hornig hail ! expressly told him that if the Referees' Association approved of his i appointment there would be no further objection, -ancr-yet at the meeting of members df the union on the Tuesday morning, at which there was no quorum,' the decision had been ar|'fiv"ed'"at.*" He 3 "could'' not understand rMr"Horh:g's statement that tho matter had been overlooked at the early meetfng, because "it actually cropped Up*"iif'the" room; •*-'

*Mr"Perrysaid he told Mr Hall that Mr Jones had-not refcreed for four ,pr, fivo years, and said they had better appoint-Mr Simpson. Mr -Jones said he* was only anxious to referee bocaus©«of «sthe compliment paid to him. He- vvae. disgusted with tho action of .*Mr Horjajg, seeing that he had previously stated that he would withdraw his objection if the Referees' Association approved of tho appointment. If members expected him to take such a slight lying down, they could not have much"of an opinion regarding his personal honour. It was, at least, the duty of those responsible to ring him up when tho change was made.

Mr Millard said that, in his opinion, Mr Jones 'was wrong in accepting the position, but he thought the matter of appointing a' new referee could have been done in a more businesslike manner.

Mr Jones produced a letter signed by Mr Hall, stating that gentleman's personal, appreciation of Mr Jones's capabilities -as -a- .referee.--

•Mr Hornigj May'l-ask who wrote that letter? •' •• -

Mr Jones: You may. I drafted it, and Mr Hall signed it. ' Mr Prendevillo considered that the whole trouble had been due to want of tact and butting in. Mr Jones should havo consulted tho'chairman before accepting the position, but it seemed to him that there was soni'cthing not altogether fair in getting'the game taken away from Mr Jones. It was a most unfortunate business, and it was »lso unfortunate that Mr Jones had rusted into print. There had been a lot of ahillynshallyinig somewhere, but they should consider tho matter from all its aspects, as they could nob afford to lose the services of Mr Jones—a most capable secretary rind fc great Rugby enthusiast.

There was further discussion, members generally agreeing with tho opinions -evwrewod bv Mr Prendevillo. Kvontually Mr Jone. 3 consented to continue "to • aoh 'ns>"secrctary,, subject to" conditions' r'-V'tiv-c"- tn_ Irs duties. Thus elided a -short-but lively controersv