RUGBY REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1922, Page 8

RUGBY REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. REORGANISATION SCHEME. The Taranaki Rugby Refereee' Asoociation met at Stratford on Thursday evening, about '25 members being present. The secretary was absent owing to illness in his family, and no balance sheet or annual report were forthcoming. It was pointed out that the executive should have met before the annual Association meeting to prepare for the annual meeting, but this wae not done. The general meeting then adjourned to allow the executive to meet and prepare for the annual meeting. On resuming a balance sheet was submitted, showing a credit balance of £5 4s 2d. . e , Mr. Malone said the meeting of the executive had not cleared the position, and he thought it would be necessary to wipe out the happenings of the oast ‘ and begin again. He had been led to believe that there was a properly constituted association, but he could find no proper rules. Mr. D. J. Malone was at this atage appointed chairman of the meeting. Mr. Malone referred to the balance sheet as the only satisfactory thing about the Association. He suggested that they should that night reorganise the Association and put it on a better footing. They now required double the number of referees than was necessary seven or eight years ago. He thought they should have a properly constituted association, with north, south and central divisions. Mr. E. Jackson, in seconding the adoption of the balance sheet, endorsed the remarks of the chairman. They should drop the friction between the different divisions and put the Association on a proper footing. At this stage Mr. R. Tyrer was appointed to take the minutes of the meeting. The rules, as read, showed that a balance sheet should have been drawn up by each division and comprised in a sheet to be submitted to the annual meeting. Mr. P. Skoglund said if it was the intention of the meeting to form a new association it was? little use to elect officers. It was finally decided, on a motion by Mr. G. Hopkins, to reorganise the Association. Mr. H. Thomson moved that the province be split up into three divisions, to be known as north, south and central divisions, in the .interests of efficiency. The motion was carried. Mr. A. F. Guy moved that the Association accept Mr. Malone as chairman of the executive for the ensuing year.— Carried. It was decided that the executive should consist of a nominee of the union and two members from each division. Mr. R. Tyrer was appointed secretary and Mr. J. H. Thompson auditor. It was decided that the headquarters of the Association should be in the same place as the headquarters of the Rugby Union (Stratford). Mr. Skoglond moved that each division elect its own members of the executive. —Carried. On the motion of Mr. Skogjund, it was decided that the executive proceed to form rules to he submitted to a general meeting of the Association. The central division was fixed to consist of the Inglewood, Stratford and Eltham football districts, the north and south divisions being defined thereby. It was decided that the appointment board for senior and representative matches consist of one non-active referee from each division, this board to appoint referees for all play-offs. Mr. Papps’ appointment as delegate to the management committee was confirmed. Mr. Malone said he thought it would be in the interests of football to adopt the amended rules. Citing the case of the Ahckland Union, ho said he saw no reason why the other unions should not be granted permission to play the

amended rules. He believed that an attempt would be made to strengthen the League game in New Zealand. When vhe French team decided not to come to New Zealand the League people saw a chance to get it. and delegates had been sent to New Zealand to inquire into the position, it would be in the best interests of Rugby to open the game up by adopting the amended rules. A greaf. section of the public was opposed to the latitude allowed to the wing forward. Mr. Malone moved that it be a suggestion to the Taranaki Rugby Union to apply to the New Zealand Union for permission to play the amended rules. Since permission had been granted to the Auckland I T nion it was possible that the New Zealand Union could grant permission to other unions. Mr. Hopkins said he would like it to go forth that the Referees’ Association intended to enforce club members playing in their own colors, and a resolution to this effect was carried. It was resolved that the referees adopt a white uniform with the option of wearing long trousers or shorts. Mr. Webb moved that it be a recommendation to the Union to define the duties of the referee in tKe control of players.—Carried.