RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 13 September 1929, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

HOROWHENUA DISTRICT COUNCIL The management committee of the Horowhenua Rugby District Council day, there being present:—Messrs W. met in the Wistaria Rooms on TuesHannan (President), J. W. Procter (Hui Mai), H. J. Jones (Schools), G. Mitchell (Shannon), W. G. Phillips (Referees), F. Meyers (Waikanae), M. G. McLean (Paraparaunru), S. Hooper (Weraroa), and J. Casey (secretary). Mr J. W. Rimmer (treasurer) was absent owing to sickness, and on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Procter, a resolution was passed granting him' leave, of absence and expressing a hope for his speedy recovery. GENERAL SUSPENSIONS.

Advice was received of the following suspensions, which have been confirmed and made general by the NewZealand Union: —

Hawke's Bay—B. Caldwell, suspended until June 30th, 1930, for bad language. North Otago.—W. Clelland, suspended for twelve months from August Ist, 1929; for rough play and refusing to leave the field. UNAUTHORISED REP. MATCH. The N.Z. Union had written to the Manawhenua Union, stating it had learned that a provincial team and a Maori team had played a match without the knowledge of the Maori Advisory Board or the N.Z. Union. In future, before such matches were arranged, 'the approval of that Union should be obtained. Notification to the above effect was received from the Manawhenua Union by this Council, but members of the latter body had no information to show what match was referred to, .and the communication was formally received. A FINE REMITTED.

Regarding the infliction of fines on the Otaki ,Club in respect of two players reported as having worn wrongly coloured jerseys in the junior . final, Otaki v. Foxton, a let'ter .was received from the secretary of the former club stating that the captain reported only one wrongly coloured jersey having been worn, one other jersey being slightly faded. As it had. not been possible to purchase a new jersey either in Otaki or Levin, the club asked that tlie fines be remitted. The Chairman said it seemed that the explanation as to a faded jersey was correct; and on his motion, seconded by Mr Procter, it Avas resolved that, on this ground, one fine of 2s (id be -remitted. *

ABSENCE OF JUNIOR RE'PS. i An explanation was received from the secretary of the Otaki Club as to why three juniors selected for the Manawhenua rep. match at Wanganui on August 24th had failed to make the trip, Ryder and McDonald had been unable to get away from the dairy farms on which they were employed, and the same applied in the case of Fafeita, who had been engaged on urgent work. The Chairman moved that, as the players concerned had given a just explanation, no further action "be taken.

The motion was seconded by Mr Proc ter and carried.

PARK DOMAIN RENT

The secretary reported that, he had written to the Levin Borough Council asking for a rebate of £lO. on the rent of £2O for 1 -. the season for the use of the Park Domain, basing the request on the broad ground that it would bring the rental on a parity with that charged for other grounds in the Rugby Council's district. The gross receipts from matches on the Domain last year were £lsl, while this season they were only £B4. On the motion of Mr McLean, seconded by Mr Mitchell, the secretary's action was endorsed., COMING MATCHES. Arrangements were made for the rep. match, Horowhenua 11. v. Wellington 111., and the curtain-raiser between Otaki and Oriental juniors, to be played at Otaki next Saturday. The Wellington thirds will go to the Telegraph Hotel, and the Horowhenua team to the Railway Hotel. Mr Meyers was appointed manager of the,latter team. The two remaining fixtures of the season"in this district are the Licensed Victuallers' Cup (junior knock-out)

final, between Otaki and Shannon, which has to be played at Otaki; and the Rowlands Cup match between the junior ehampion teams of Manawatu and Horowhenua —Kia Toa and Otaki —a game which is allotted to Levin this year owing to the holders being <i Horowhenua dlubt—namely Hui Mai. It was decided to ask for September 21st as the date for the latter event, or if that date is not suitable, September 28th; the knock-out final to be played on the alternative date. The secretary reported that all the trophies were to hand, and he hoped to have the junior ones inscribed so that the}' could be presented at Otaki next Saturday. ,

REFEREES AND THEIR APPOINT MENTS.

Failures on the part of ref6rees to keep the engagements assigned to'them again formed the subject of a discussion.'

Mr Meyers said he hoped that the secretary of the Referees' Association would not think that any reflection was being cast on him, but the speak-' .er wished to point out that no referee was in evidence when the teams assembled at Weraroa on August 31st for the' Nash Cup final between Wanderers and Otaki, and the same hap-' pened in the case of the junior game between Otaki and Waikanae, at Otaki last Saturday. He considered that the Council had not been treated fairly by the Referees' Association during the latter part of the season, and that it should pass a vote of censure on the Association for having let it down so often. ■■.-..

Mr Phillips stated that the referee appointed for last Saturday's match rang-up on Friday night to say that he could not take the game. The Association got in touch with another man, who said he would officiate; but beyond,that the speaker had no information.

Mr Meyers: Perhaps the censure should be against the individual referees,' who are probably not treating the Association right/. There should be some means of disciplining them within their own Association. Possibly if the New Zealand Referees' Association were approached, something might be done. It .does not show a sporting spirit oil the part of the referees, th'e way they are treating their Association. In answer to a question by the Chairman, Mr Phillips stated that the referee appointed for the WanderersOtaki "match fulfilled his engagement, but wa s late in starting. Mr Hpoper:, He told me he did not receive >a notice. » Mr- Phillips: They were sent out about a week beforehand. Mr Meyers: I heard that he was on the ground and said he was not appointed. ✓ • ■ ! Referring to the other case. Mr Phillips stated that the appointed^referee had explained that he was unable to go to Otaki owing to illness ill the family. The Chairman said that, as it was so late in the season, he did not feel inclined to censure the referees. The explanation in regard to the Otaki ease was quite reasonable. He thought that the greatest trouble at present was that referees were not available in the southern end of the district.

Mr Meyers: They seem to get the impression that they are just used there on emergency occasions.

Mr Phillips: No; the clubs dowr, there don't seem to want them.

Mr McLean suggested that, as football was nearly over for the season, the matter be deferred and the whole question of refereeing be discussed at the annual meeting. . ' ;

The Chairman: Unless a referee who cannot officiate gives sufficient notice to the secretary of the Association, so that another can be appointed, the best course is for the Association to withdraw his ticket. Mr Procter: It is one of the worst years that we * Have (experienced in this respect for a long time. .

Mr Jones remarked that clubs defaulting their matches did not encourage referees to officiate at other games. There had ben too many club forfeits altogether this season. * The Chairman suggested that Mr Meyers allow any motion in the direction he had indicated to stand over, as it might be possible to come to some arrangement. Mr Meyers agreed to this course. ENTHUSIASTIC DELEGATES. The Chairman said that his thanks and those of the Council were due to Mr Meyers, who, although he lived s» far away as Reikorangi, had attended all except one of the meetings held this year by the management committee. Football had gone on very well in the southern end of the district this season, and this was largely due to there being such representatives on the committee as Mr Meyers, Mr McLean, and Mr J. McGill (Otaki). It showed the class of "sports" there were in the Council's area when one of them came from the extreme end of the district to practically all the meetings, and he congratulated Mr Meyers on it and thought it should be placed on record.

It was accordingly decided to record the committee's appreciation of Mr Meyers's services.

In ackuowledging the compliment, Mr Meyers said that, if the result of hi s efforts panned out every season as well as it had done this year, he would feel amply repaid. Although he could no longer take part in the game, he liked to be identified with it, and "it was lor that reason -that he had-con-sented this year to represent southern footballers on the committee. Although he had had a long way to come, ho had thoroughly enjoyed the experience and had been very glad to be associated witli the personnel of this committee.

Mr Hooper moved and Mr McLean seconded that the Committee also record its appreciation of Mr Procter's 25 years' service as a delegate. The Chairman, in supporting the pr«-

posal, said that he hoped to move som«thing on appropriate lines at the annual meeting. Mr Procter had certain-, ly been a worthy servant of this Council and of the Union before'it The motion was carried. SCHOOL FOOTBALL. Mr Jones reported on the recent match between the Hutt Yalley and Horowhenua primary schools' teams, and stated that the Hutt Association was very pleased with the Avay in which thi s Council had helped school football, in its area. - _ .-,,