RUGBY REFEREES

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1940, Page 3

RUGBY REFEREES

AUSTRALIAN INQUIRY With a view to the introduction of new measures in Australia Mr. S. E. Nielson, Sydney, formerly secretary of the Taranaki Rugby Union, has written to the northern division of the Taranaki Referees' Association for full details of its methods of appointing and controlling referees. Mr. Nielson is a member of the New South Wales appointment board and also a member of the Rugby management committee. "I am endeavouring to get together some information to assist me in putting forward a scheme for the better control of appointments of referees to union matehes here," he writes, "also some method to improve the standard of reEereeing. either by classification, coaching, correctlon of mistakes or any other way at all. I remember that the northern division had a pretty comprehensive scheme and one which was very satisfactory and used to operate smoothly and greatly assist the union." A Difficult Season. Mr. Nielson went on to ask whether it would be possible to have full details of sub-committees, methou of appointment and any information which would assist him to place a scheme before a committee which is to be set up to conslder the matter. "The game here has becn very difficult this ycar," he adds, "and we have had to appoint referees to take two games in an afternoon in many cases. We have been very fortunate in our organisation of junior football, as the juniors were able to fill the vacancies caused by enlistments. Taking this into consideration, it is very pleasing to be able to say that the standard of football has been very high. The competition has been very interesting and although we budgeted for a loss, it looks as if we will run out at a proflt for the season. "Unfortunately we have not been able to fill the ranks of referees who have enlisted, hence we have had to ask others to do double duty. They have greatly assisted and done it wifiingly," he concludes.