UNRULY BEHAVIOUR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 284, 26 July 1932, Page 5

UNRULY BEHAVIOUR

ROTORUA RUGBY SUB-UNtON DEBARS SPECTAT OR* FOR TWO YEARS REFEREE ABUSED Considerahle discussion ensued at last evening's meeting of the Rotorua Rugby Sub-Union as the result of an adverse report, by the ref eree o£ the Whaka-Ngongotaha senior match last Saturday, concerning the hehaviour of certain spectators. The report stated that the gahie had developed into one of a rough nature and tha.t his warnings to players had been received with abuse by certain persons assembled the sideline. :In his report tlie reflree stated that unfortunately a club deiegate had been involved in the trouhle. Mr R. G. Webb said that be had . been asked by the Referees Association to state its attitude on the matter and added that referees had *eonsiderable difficulty in controlling tbe ' people who enroached over the -sideline. He stated that several players had taken the field in a drunken condition and that the referea stoo'd in danger of being struck by one of the line offenders. The Referees' Association had advised him to put forward two suggestions, (a) that from. thc point of view of the protection of rexerees, police protection was necessary and (b) that the two spectatprs be warned off the ground during further matches. The delegate referred to in the report flatly denied using aDUsive language towards the referee, hut admitted that such language had been used by some persons who were not known to iiim. He further admitted that on the spur of the moment he had resented ihe ruling of the referee in one initanee, but again denied using . ^jectionable language. Explaxiation Accepted Dealing with the section of the report referring to the delegate, the president (Mr. T. S. Robertson) said that he had known the delegate for a number of years. He would be very aurprised if the language complained of had been used by him. On the mo- ' tion of Mr. W. G. Harwood the delegate's explanation was accepted In regard to the second offender, a Maori named Karimoa, Mr. Windeler stated that this man had been in a drunken condition and that he had nandled the referee, Mr Windelor ststt ed that he had found it necessary to call the assistance of another member of the union to conduct the offender off the field. After considerahle discussion, Mr. Harwood said that apparently this spectator had been a nuisance and a danger to the referee and he eonsidered that the union had a right to deal with him in the interests of both fche game and the public. He was of fche opinion that any person under ihe influence of liquor should _be deearred from admission to the ground. On his motion, ivarimoa was debarfed from admission to matches under the eontrol of the association for two years. Mr. Harwood further moved that aefinite instructions be issued to the gatekeepers to refuse entry to the ground to anyone deemed to he under Me influence of liquor, the motion be:ng carried with out dissent. Dealing with the accusations of players taking the field while drunk, Mr. A. G. Cottrell eonsidered that suitable warnings should be given to players regarding this offenee It was decided that club delegates were to bring the warning to the notice of their clubs. It was also decided to ask the Ngongotaha Club its reason for permitting one of its members to take his place in the team whilst in a drunken condition.