NO REFEREE FOR SHANNON.

Shannon News, 13 June 1922, Page 3

NO REFEREE FOR SHANNON.

ASSOCIATION GETS ITS BACK UP

MUCH LOCAL DISSATISFACTION

The Shannon Football Club, and the local football public as well, received a rude shock .on Saturday when it was made known ihat the Horowhenua Referees’ Association refused to appoint a referee to officiate in the senior match' Shannon v. Otaki Old Boys, to be played at Shannon that day. This is inexplicable seeing that-the Rugby Union had lifted the suspension from the-Shannon ground, and everyone, including the Union, expected that matters would go on as before, and that fixtures arranged* for the local ground would be played. Then came the Referees’ Association with its pronouncement that it would appoint no referees for matches on the Shannon ground. Whether the Union and Association do not. see eye to eye on football matters is of no interest to the clubs or the public, but that such an absurd position as the present one be allowed to interfere with the carrying on of the fixtures is one that calls for some remedy ,and that without loss of time. In the present circumstances, the Union, as the parent body, would have been justified in taking matters into its own hands and appointed a referee, and had it done so would have been supported by all in the district with the inteersts of the game at heart. As it is, a ridiculous position has been created, -not to mention the disgust and annoyance of the local players and public. Lt is to be hoped that the Ufiion and Association, which meet to-night to thresh out the matter, will do so in a manner that will prevent anything of the kind occurring in the future.' Incidents of this sort can only injure the welfare of the game,. and breed dissatisfaction among the ranks of its supporters.

REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION MEETS. The weekly meeting of the Hciuwhenua Rugby Referees’ Association w;u, held on Saturday evening. Mr J. \\ . Procter presided, and other memberpresent were Messrs. O’Connor, Iva rauti, Seymour, Casey, Sciascia, Bevan, Wehipeihana, Smith, Nash and Slcran. 6

The resignations of Messrs. W. Thomson and R. W. Percy were received and accepted.

Mr Sciascia moved, and Mr O’Connor seconded pro forma, that the motion re- the Association's refusal to appoint referees lor the Shannon ground be rescinded. Considerable discussion took place, and it was decided that a deputation consisting ol Messrs. Sciascia, £asey and Procter wait on the Management Committee oi the Union at its next meeting, the deputation to be given a free hand.

Mr O’Connor was elected to the position of president, vice Mr Percy, resigned.

Mr Higgins’ report of the annual meeting and conference of the New Zealand Referees’ Association was received, and a letter of thanks is to be sent Mr Higgins for attending the meeting.

REFEREES FOR SATURDAY. Senior. —Hui Mai v. Old Boys, at Otaki, Mr T. Parata; Foxton v. Shannon, at Foxton, Mr J. Sciascia; Wanderers vfl Weraroa, at Levin, Mr F. Seymour. Junior. —Weraroa v. Foxton, at Foxton, Mr S. Reeve; Rovers v. Tokoniaru, at Levin, Mr J. Smith; Lvuku v 7 Te Horo, at Te Horo, Mr I\. Davis; Old Boys v. Otaki, tt Otaki, Mr T. Wehipeihana; Paraparaumu v. Hui Mai, at Manakau, Mr H. Karauti.

Thirds.—Rovers v. Shannon, at Shannon; Weraroa v. Foxton, at Levin, Mr E. Be van; Old Boys v. Boys’ Farm, at Otaki, Mr H. Tah \vi; Hux Mai v. Te Horo, at Te Horo, Mr R. Thompson. Fourths.—Weraroa v. Foxton, at Weraroa, Mr J. Casey; High School v. Training Farm, at Farm, Mr J. J. O’Connor.