RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 2 June 1927, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

* ■ 1 ... HOROWHENUA DISTRICT COUNCIL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The weekly meeting of the management committee of the Horowhenua Bugby District Council was held in Williams’s tea-rooms last evening, there being present: Messrs J. J. O’Connor (president), (Wanderers), M. Winiata (senior selector), W. Neville (Foxton), W. N. Anderson (County), F. Robinson (Awahou), S. Austin (Foxton), J. W. Procter (Hui Mai), A. Richards (Shannon), T. Wrigley (Kuku), W. Robson (Miranui), W. Joyce (Weraroa), J. Casey (secretary), and’J. W. Rimmer (treasurer). RULE REGARDING TRANSFERS. The chairman stated that a motion which Mr Ryder' had give notice to move, to enable players from the late Kuku team to join other clubs, was out of order, as the first round was over, there being a resolution in force which forebade transfers after, the first round. Mr Ryder said there was something radically wrong with the rule, and the weaker clubs were not being given any encouragement. Kuku had, on one Saturday, sent away ,a team of eight men. It might be expected that next season, instead of forming their own club, they would join other clubs. Mr Robinson said the rule should be amended in order to keep the services of players even after the first round in the event of their team breaking up. Mr Casey said he thought that notice of motion would be required for a meeting of the combined Union before the rule could be altered. Mr Robson said, that the rule was originally framed with the object of doing away with the possibility of a weak club being deprived of its members by stronger clubs holding out inducements for such players to join their ranks., . . Mr Richards remarked that there nan been instances of this principle already this season, when Hui Mai and Otaki •players had applied for transfers. No action was taken. OTAKI HOCKEY GAMES. .

Mr S. E. Hill, hon. secretary of the Otaki Hockey Association, wrote asking what position that body stood in as to gate takings, and whether the Council was in favour of giving the Association a percentage of the gat takings 'when the Association had matches on the same day as the footballers. All the hockey rep>. matches fell on Saturdays, and the Association asked the Council to meet them in regard to apportioning the gate money. On the motion of Mr Casey, seconded by Mr Anderson, the letter was received. Mr F. A. Mason, headmaster, Foxton District High School, wrote thanking the Council for its donation of two footballs to the school. —Received. A letter was received from the Manawatu District Council statiiig Mr H. Kidson had been chosen as the referee

for the Manawatu-Horowhenua game on June 18th. —The secretary stated that he had advised Mr Kidson of his ap-

pointment. The Foxton Racing Club notified the Council that it was agreeable' to the Bebbington Shield match being played on its grounds on June 29th. —Received. CLASSIFICATION OF REFEREES. Mr Ryder, in referring to the Coun eil’s desire for suitable referees, pointed out that a classification committee should be set up for the grading of referees. Some of those who were acting at present should hot be controlling senior games. He also remarked that some of the referees were rather lax. Mr Austin: In the Nelson district they have had a shuffle-up, and are going to classify them. The trouble seemed to be over junior referees taking first grade games. Mr Joyce said that now that the Council had taken sole control of t}ie referees* he tliqjught they could do something more than merely appoint referees each week. They should make an effort to educate the younger referes with some form of lectures. He would move that the appointment committee do something on these lines, this season. , The chairman said they had already thought, about it —the management committee had always had it in mind. Last year it was the committee that arranged for men to come from Wellington to instruct the referees here. If it was seen that there was a chance of getting the referees together this year, a move would be made to have somebody from Wellington to give a lecture or two. Mr Anderson asked if it would not be a good idea to get a man from Wellington occasionally to referee a match in Levin and also to deliver a lecture. As to the expenses, he believed they would be covered by the extra number of people who would pay to see a good referee controlling a game, THE NEW RULES.

Mr Anderson added that some referees were abiding by the old rules while others were applying the new rules. He thought the new knock-on rule was brought into force' here last Saturday. There should be uniformity in refereeing. The chairman stated that the new rules had not been received yet. Mr Eobson said that a good coach, when new rules came out, would lecture on them to the players. He would like to see every club supplied with a copy of the new rules, even at a nominal charge. The chairman stated that when the referees .were put on a good footing, the Council would get something from Wellington for them. He added that a referee would be brought up from Wellington for the Bebbington Shield match at Foxton, and probably would 1 give a lecture the night before the match. BRINGING THE BALL ON. The chairman mentioned that in the match between County and Hui Mai, at Levin on Saturday, there was only one ball brought to the field, so that, when it was kicked out, there was none to replace it and the public had to be kept waiting while the ball was recovMr Eobson: What is the penalty! ' The Chairman: There is no penalty. Mr Andersoh: That was the County ball on Saturday. ' : ' ‘ „ I Mr Ryder: The Club should be fined. Mr Robinson: There is no one to take the duty of getting the ball.

Mr Procter: The Hui Mai ball was on the field. I don’t know why it was not played. ... Mr Winiata: We should make a hard and fast rule about it and impose a substantial penalty. Mr Bobson moved and Mr Austin seconded, “ That the captain of each team in a match must carry a ball on to the playing area, in default of which • the club will'.be fined, 10s.” . The motion was carried. DEWAR'S IMPERIAL TROPHY. On the motion of Mr Ryder, a committee was set up, consisting of the presidint, the secretary and Mr M. Winiata; to draw up rules for .the competition for Dewar's Imperial Troghy, which has been given fqr the annual Maori-Pakeha match.