FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

REFEREES OF PROVINCE. , METHOD OF APPOINTMENT. AN EXECUTIVE DECIDED ON. Seventeen referees from the north and south divisions of Taranaki met at Stratford on - Friday evening. The meeting had been called at the instance of the Rugby Union for the main purpose of evolving a scheme for the appointment of referees throughout the province in connection with the new scheme of playing senior matches. Mr. A. R. Ryder, chairman of the executive occupied the chair. A arose as to the lack of unity between the two divisions that had been shown by the working in past years, since the southern referees amalgamated. with the Taranaki Referees’ Association, which was founded in the northern division. It was decided to waive the notice required under the rules and to regard the meeting as the annual meeting. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr. A. Lees; vice-presidents, Messrs. JV. Eager (north) and A. Neilson (south); executive, Messrs. F. Julian and'W. Roch (north) and L. G. Beamish and A. F. Neilson (sotith); hon auditor, Mr. J. H. Thompson. Uiider the rules the appointment of a secretary and treasurer was left to the executive. On the motion of Mr. Grant the executive was appointed a sub-committee to revise the rules.

There was considerable discussion on the question of interchange of referees between the two divisions, classification, and an appointment board for the whole province. Members from each division agreed that classification was necessary, but, while the. southern speakers were agreeable to an 'appointment board for the two divisions jointly, northern speakers expressed the opinion that it wpuld not be workable.

It was moved by Mr, Foy that two men from each end be appointed to appoint refesees.

An amendment moved by Mr. Petty that appointments of referees be made by the north and south committees, with an interchange of referees, was carried.

Subsequently the management committee of the Rugby Union met the referees to learn the Yesult of their deliberations. Mr. J. McLeod, chairman of the management committee expressed pleasure at seeing so large a muster. He said that the indications were for a great boom in football this year. The number of teams nominated was larger than ever before, about fiO in all, nine of which were 3 seniors and six B seniors. The junior teams were so numerous that the union had just decided to cut the province into three divisions for the purpose of their matches. The northern division for second, third, and fourth grade teams would, therefore, probably extend down to Egmont Village; the central would run from Inglewood to Eltham, and out to Strathmore in the last; while the south would embrace the remaining area as at present. With all matches on Saturday it would be necessary to find additional referees. Under the arrangements made there woukj, not be so much travelling, except Cor senior referees, and the union was arranging so that they should, far as possible, travel with teams in order to save expense and loss of time. When the resolution passed by the referees was communicated, Mr. McLeod and other members of the union expressed the opinion that what had been done was all right up to a point, but the machinery to carry it out had not.

provided. They feared that without a central authority' there was danger of misunderstanding between the two committees of the referees and a consequent breakdown. Mr. McLeod assured the referees that if they appointed a small committee representing both ends, it could meet without expense on the same nights as the management committee of the union, its members travelling, in the union Northern referees feared that the making of appointments some time ahead would lead to confusion when, as frequently happened, referees found at a late stage that they could not keep appointments. In reply it was pointed out that speh emergencies as these would have to be met in any case, and could be dealt with under the proposed scheme.

After tlie union had withdrawn the referees agreed to g>ve further consideration to the matter, as the meeting had been called for the purpose of hitting on a satisfactory solution of the difficulty. After some discussion it was agreed

on the motion of Mr. A. F. Neilson, seconded by Mr. F. Julian, to substitute for the former motion one to the effect that an executive consisting of two delegates from the northern division and two fijoin the soutitern division be appointed to appoint referees for all senior matches.

A point emphasised during the discussions was that travelling between the two divisions would tend to secure a uniform interpretation of the rules throughout the province, which at present, did not exist. t A vote of thanks jvas passed to Mr. R. R. Tyrer for his* assistance in the position of hon. secretary during the past year. A simi /nr compliment was paid to the cbairmari. At a subsequent n ieeting of the execu#ve committee, M.|. F. Roberts, New Plymouth, was appointed honorary secretary.