[blml] Sykes and Mist Beads [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[richard.hills at immi.gov.au]

Richard Hills:

>>>That is, I prefer the Kojak rule-of-the-thumb, "a specific
>>>Law takes priority over a more general Law" to another more
>>>arbitrary policy, "if you do not like what a Law says, find
>>>another Law".

Wayne Burrows:

>>This would be a major philosophical change we have just had
>>20 or more years in which the laws are interpreted to mean
>>whatever the director or Sponsoring Organization or National
>>Authority want them to mean even if plainly contrary to the
>>written laws.

Richard Hills:

In my opinion Wayne is a little bit too cynical, since I think
that the Drafting Committee of the 2007 Lawbook has made a very
significant number of improvements in aligning the letter of
the Laws with the spirit of the Laws.  I expect the 2018
Lawbook to be even better.

Alain Gottcheiner:

>I think it's more general than that.
>
>Authorities, including TDs, are responsible for ensuring
>smoothness of bridge play, and convention disruption is, er,
>disruptive.
>
>Disallowing some behaviour that spoils pleasure without
>helping in any aspect is within the scope of their authority.

Richard Hills:

When I execute a double squeeze, that spoils the pleasure of
my opponents without helping them in any aspect.

It is bad to follow the policy of "find another Law", but
even worse to choose a policy of disallowing actions with no
Lawful basis whatsoever.

WBF Code of Practice:

A procedural penalty may only be applied where there is a
violation of the laws or of a regulation made under the laws.
If an appeal committee awards a procedural penalty it should
specify what law or regulation has been violated.

In particular the WBF wishes to stress that a player who
forgets his convention, misbids or misuses it, is not subject
to automatic penalty. It is envisaged that a procedural
penalty will only be applied in aggravated circumstances, as
for example misuse several times repeated. Score adjustment
is the way to redress damage.


Best wishes

Richard James Hills
Governance & Graduates Section
National Training Branch
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Telephone: 02 6223 8439
Email: richard.hills at immi.gov.au

Important Notice: If you have received this email by mistake, please advise
the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately.  This email,
including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally
privileged and/or copyright information.  Any review, retransmission,
dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. DIAC respects your privacy and
has obligations under the Privacy Act 1988. The official departmental
privacy policy can be viewed on the department's website at www.immi.gov.au
See: http://www.immi.gov.au/functional/privacy.htm