REFEREE ABUSED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 276, 16 July 1932, Page 3

REFEREE ABUSED

REQUESTS INQUIRY ON ACTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER. APPLICATION GRANTED. NAPIER, Wednesday. The unusual charge of being abused by a member of the management committee of the Hawke's Bay Rtigby Union while in control of a senior game at Napier on June 1 was made by a referea (Mr. U. Batchelor) to the Hawke's Bay Referees' Association and was forwarded td the management committee. In addition an inquiry into the matter was requested. The chairman, Mr. J. W. Norrie, suggested that the proceedings sh'ould be heard in committee, but Mr. O'Neill, the member concerned, obje?ted and the question of deciding upon holding an inquiry was heard in open meeting "This matter has been broadcast all over Hastings and I have been told that I was going to get a rough time when I came to Napier," said Mr. O'Neill. "The Napier Referees' Association could have made a complaint if th'ey liked, but they should have kept quiet about it until it was dealt with by the union. I am entitled to as much protection as the Referees' Association is. I have done my bit for football in Hawke's Bay and am entitled to a fair hearing." Mr. O'Neill, after explaining the ruling gven by the referee with which he disagreed, stated that he said to Mr. Batchelor: "You referees in Napier seem to have a set of rules to suit yourselves. This is a new thing to me." It was after that that the referee said: "You are a member of the Rugby Union and you ought to be ashamed of yourself." It was deeided to hold a full inquiry into the matter and that any •evidence by the parties be brought forward.