LEAGUE REFEREES UNDER FIRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 96, 14 July 1927, Page 8

LEAGUE REFEREES UNDER FIRE

A.R.L. DISCUSSES POSITION TT is seldom that the referees of a code are queried, but last night at a meeting of the Auckland Rugby League they were told in a pleasant manner by Mr. Stallworthy and others that the game was not always controlled satisfactorily on No. 1 area at Carlaw Park. "I would like to know how the referees are chosen for the various senior games. Are they drawn out of a hat one by one, because that is what it looks like,” said Mr. Stallworthy. “We want only the best of referees controlling the games at Carlaw Park as the competition has now reached a critical stage and to place an inexperienced man there would be neither fair to the team nor the spectator,” he continued. Mr. Mincham said that the referees had a selector and he had the full cofidence of the association. The selector (Mr. McCowatt); If I thought any man was not suitable to take a, game on on Carlaw Park then you can rest assured he would not be there. Mr. Davidson; Yes, it is about time something was done. Mr. Ray had a match the other Saturday and some of his decisions were queried. We are not getting the best members of the association at the park. I think we have referees whom they are experimenting with, for most of the time we are only getting mere fiascos, and the public are disagreeing.” Mr. Stallworthy said that when people sat in the stand, and saw a referee controlling a game who was only fit for a junior match, many qf them walked out in disgust. When the teams were battling neck and neck in a competition they wanted the best. Mr. Fox: You can go to any ground in Auckland, but you will not find a crowd who knows so much about the rules of the game as those who go to Carlaw Park. They seem to be able to see on both sides of the scrum. It was the general feeling of the meeting that the committee should be much stricter in their tests for A grade referees. Tlie discussion then dropped.