RUGBY REFEREES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 194, 9 April 1932, Page 6

RUGBY REFEREES

ROTORUA ASSOCIATION HGLDS ANNUAL MEETING A RULING ON ;HOOKING . Mr. L. C. Clarke presided over the annual meeting of the Rotorua Rugby Referees' Association, which was held last evening. The balance sheet for the past year disclosed a credit of £2 2s, and the secretary reported a satisfactory seasoxi's workings. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted. — President, Judge Holland; secretary, Mr. W. P. Martin; representatives on Referees Appointments Board, Messrs R. G. Webb and R. Mason; delegate to .the Rotorua Rugby Sub-Union, Mr. L. " C. Clarke. The following new members were elected: Dr. W. S. Wallis, Messrs Penno, F. J. Lenihan, L. Dixon, and W±kiriwhi. It was decided after a brief discussion, that in view of the preva.ling conditions the membership fee should be reduced from 5/- to 2/6 with a proviso that if the financ.al position of the Association should render it necessary, a levy up to 2/6 can be imposed upon members. Mr. R. Mason brought up the auestion of the recognition given given the Association in the appointment of referees to control Bay of Plenty Union games. Mr. Mason pointed out that in the past, the Union, or rather, its referees' appointment board, had appointed Rotorua referees without reference to the Association. He considered that the Association should at least be notlfied of such appointments. Mr. R. G. Webb said that he considered the present system was working satisfactorily and that direct appointments by the Bay saved' time. It was finally decided on a show of • hands, to write to the Bay of Plenty appointments board asking that anv appointments of Rotorua . referees should be notified to the Association. It was also decided to write requesting that the Bay of Plenty body supply the names of referees who had acted during the past season in order that they might be placed on recordn.

Judge Holland and the secretary were appointed grading officers to grade the referees for the season. It was decided that thi grading list should be supplied to the appointments board for its information. Mr. Webb brought up the questior? of the 3-2-3 scrurn format'on and pointed out that in the absence of any definitg ruling from the New Z »aland Union upon the procedure in hooking with the new forrnation, the Association should set up some tern porary ruling in order that its members might know where they stood ;n the matter. He moved that until a definite ruling was received from the governing body, the ball be allowed to be hooked after it had passed one man on either side of the scrurn. The motion was carried. The chairman expressed the opinion that referees should strictly enforce the rules regard'ng players' uni forms and adherence to the propestarting times for matches. Personai ly, he proposed to stand on the sid line any player who was not pro perly turned out. He also considire that sprigs should be carefully scrut inised as he was convinced that som players were wearing boots whicl were dangerous. Mr. Clarke's view received general support and a motio1 to that effect was recorded. It ws made plain, however, that the rul regard'ng uniforms would not be ap plied to primary schoolboys. !It wa ■ also decided to recommend to th sub-union that a bell be rung five minutes before the advertised starting time of a match. It was decided to conduct a lectur- ; ette and refresher course on the rules before the opening of the season.