REFEREE TROUBLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 442, 25 August 1928, Page 13

REFEREE TROUBLE

TRADE UNIONISM ENTERS SPORT FIGHTS AND QUARRELS (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, August 14. Trade unionism has entered Into football, and at present the Newcastle branch of the Rugby League is without referees, all 40 of- them having been suspended. The trouble arose when two referes, down to take charge of games which had to be abandoned through bad weather, demanded full payment for their services. When the council demurred, the rest of the referees went on strike, and were promptly suspended. Last Saturday a Soccer team walked off the Sydney Cricket Ground because it objected to the ruling of the referee. These incidents show that a poor spirit is developing in New South Wales sports. Fights among players and quarrels with referees have marked many games this season, those anticipating evidently failing to remember that the “I won’t play” spirit is only fit for children who have not learned better. Sydney’s Traffic Punts As the harbour bridge grows and the electric train services on the North Shore Line attract more residents to that side, the tasks of the big vehicle ferries grow steadily heavier. At present the services are handicapped by the fact that one of the berths for the punts is being repaired, and three instead of four punts are running. The result is considerable congestion, and *ast week some drivers had to wait over an hour to get across the water. By the time the bridge is ready the torrent of motor traffic which will pour across it will be almost overwhelmlag. but it will keep moving and will dot have to halt with its front wheels ln the tide, and wait for the steam Punts. It is this thought which makes every good motorist look up at the bridge's beginnings as he passes and utter a heartfelt prayer. Limiting Electric Signs An order by the new City Commissioners limits the erection of electric signs in the city, and flicking or moving signs are forbidden. Even an electorch on a theatre 'which lights is extinguished is barred. Whatjver the reason for this, the commissioners are adamant. As a matter of iri in-and-out signs are not bewhi u Sed much now, though those °ich appear to write continuous mesrjcjf 6 ® are growing in popularity, welve years ago in Circular Quay f er ® were a dozen working signs, and for em °uly one remains, the sign , a weli ’known wine. The watcher i . s tb© red wine flow from a bottle a ® a tumbler, where it remains for and then, flash! it is gone. . c " recalls how a small boy, after hj this happen a dozen times, asked thinirVL er where the wine went to. “I thA ? t “ 6 an & els must drink it,” was RTp- lactful re Ply, but it left the youngSler wondering.