template class with a reference parameter

Hello,

I am having a template classes like this :

template< typename R, typename A1 >
class FuncTypeGeneral
{
   typedef R return_type;
   typedef A1 arg1_type;
};

template < typename FuncType >
class PublisherAdapterHelper
{
     public:

         typedef typename FuncType::arg1_type arg1_type;

         void ExecuteTheSlot( void **arguments )
         {
             const arg1_type &arg1 = GetArg1< arg1_type >( arguments[1]
         }

     private :

         template< typename T >
         arg1_type & GetArg1( void * arg ) const
         {
             return * reinterpret_cast< arg1_type* > ( arg );
         }
         arg1_type GetArg1( void * arg ) const
         {
             return * reinterpret_cast< arg1_type* > ( arg );
         }

};

Now if I instantiate this template with a non-reference parameter, it
compiles fine. For example like this :
template class PublisherAdapterHelper< FuncTypeGeneral< void, int > >;

But as soon as I instantiate it with a reference, it breaks the
compilation, because it tries to convert the cast to arg1_type&* :
template class PublisherAdapterHelper< FuncTypeGeneral< void, int & > >;

So, why the templated method is better fit in this case? It shouldn't be
called, right? The normal function looks like a better fit.