RUGBY CONTROL.

Shannon News, 25 June 1926, Page 4

RUGBY CONTROL.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEET ING. »

Tlie ' usual weekly meeting of the Horowhenua District Rugby Council took place Tuesday. Mr J. J. "O'Connor was in the chair, Messrs M. Winiata, J. Rimmer, B. Brann, F. Robinson, S. Austin, W. Hannan, J. W. Procter, N. Emmett and W. Neville also being present; Messrs H. Lynch, J. McDonald and J. Robson forwarded apologies far non-attendance. THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.

The Hawkes Bay Union stated, in connection with a proposed visit of a team to Levin, that they were committed to so many matches that one with Horowhen.ua could not eventuate till next season.—Received. UNMARKED GROUNDS.

The Horowhenua.' Referees Association forwarded a letter stating that the Otaki ground' was not in any way marked out, and it had not been in a fit condition, insofar as concerned marking out, "for the past month. As the Referees Association had reported thig, matter on two previous occasions, it now considered the ground to he unlit lor play.

Mr Eminett said the referee at Otaki on Saturday reported having to go along the touch lines and mark them with a stick. The referees asked that the regulations applying to this question be enforced, i.e., referees havepower to cause clubs to forfeit matches if their grounds are not correctly marked.

Mr O'Connor said that he was in sympathy with the Referees Association, and he felt that referees should be upheld in their decision not to referee matches played on incorrectly or illegibly marked grounds..

Mr Hannan moved that if the club in question did not perforin the necessary work by Thursday evening, the match to be played there on Saturday (Shannon v. Otaki, at Otaki) sihould be transferred to Shannon. Mr Austin seconded -the motion, which was carried. . CONDOLENCE

A vote of sincere sympathy was extended to Mr J. W. Procter, whose .mother passed away on Friday last. The vote of condolence was carried, ail members standing. ANOTHER PLAYER WARNED.

Mr J. T. Walton, referee of the Southern United—Kuku game, complained of continued rough play on the part of Drake, a Kuku player. The player concerned appeared in person, and stated that a Parapa■rauimu player had' the iball, the speaker took him round, the legs, and the tackled player retaliated by grabbing him roiund the meek. In Drake's opinion the other man should also have been ordered off. Mr Emmett said that Drake had no right to criticise the [action of a referee, but the chairman observed that he would, if necessary, call Drake to order. It was resolved to caution Drake. CLUB WITHDRAWN. Weraroa. Fourths have withdrawn from the competition. GRANT FOR REFEREES' ASSOCIATION. The Horowhenua Referees' Association: appealed for a grant of £lO. Mr Emmett said that although, at the .beginning of the season the Association had owed over £2O this was now reduced to £6. He produced a statement to this effect. Messrs Hannan and Austin spoke in favour of the grant being made, in view of the work they had,done to assist themselves. , Mr Brann moved, as an amendment, that the matter should be held over until the end of the financial year, when the -books had been audited, the request- having been introduced in a most unbusinesslike way. The chairman seconded the amendment, and, imi so doing, remarked that the production of a statement at the last moment had -oome somewhat as a bombshell and he objected;to such statements, unsigned, appearing at short notice before tilie Committee. The figures should have been tabled before.

Mr Emmett said the reason why the statement-, ihad been unsigned was that he had brought the figures with him jiist to show how the money had been disbursed, .and for no other reason.

Mr Casey said that already the re-

erees' expenses amounted to" some-

thing like £6 a month, which, at tilie end of the season, meant a not inoonsiderabie sum and he thought some consideration should be given before making the grant.

Mr Emmett stated that of the £6 odd debit standing in the Association books 1 , approximately £3 was (due him for expenses paid out of his own po-cket at the time when the Union (had practically no money, and the Referees Association were also in debt. For the sake of the Referees' Association; lie would like to have the matter cleared up, so that they would have a little money in hand for current expenses. On being put to the vote'the amendment was lost.

Mr Casey then moved that the letter be referred to the Finance Committee.

Mr Austin pointed out that this meant a direct motion of no-confi-dence in the management committee. The chairman said that was understood. \

Mr Neville said that while he had every confidence in the Finance-Com-mittee, he would hesitate to vote for the amendment, as it might, mean dis, agreement between members of the Committee.

Mr Hiannam agreed with tine opinion expressed by Messrs Austin and Neville, as, if passed, it would probably mean a split in the Finance Com-

, mittee. ' Mr Casey said the original motion was a direct instruction to the Finance Committee, and, therefore, showed a lack of confidence in it. Mr Hannan remarked that the finance committee, in deciding to grant the amount, apparently would show a lack of confidence in the Management Committee's judgment. It was eventually resolved, after many motions and' amendments, that the financial committee shall consider the granting of £lO to the Referees' Association.