Rugby Administration In a Groove

Chronicle (Levin), 3 February 1948, Page 2

Rugby Administration In a Groove

Press Assoctution)

(Per

AUCKLAND, Feb. 2. Wholehearted support of the rccent statemeat bj Mr. M. P. Goddard, a niember of the 1947 touring All Blaeh side, urging that in f'uture adcquate payment should be made to New Zeaiand represehtatives by the New Zealand Rugby- Union, was expressed today by Mr. M. N. Coriier who represented New Zealand in 1930, 1931, 193t:, 1934 and 1935. He said that, with entertainment redueed to a bare minimnin, his- personal expenses on the 1935 tour of Great Britain cost him £100. On that tour the "Nlw Zeaianders received an out of pocket daily allowance of ls Od from the New Zealand Rugby Union. Last year's tourists to Australia received 4s a day. It was completely impossible for the All Blacks to fill the role' of sporting ambassadors if 'members of the teaui were unable to return hospitality. ' "I know players who, towards ihe close of the 1935. tour, did not have 3d in their pockets/' he said. Under ,the policy Jaid dowh by the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. S. H. Dean, it would not be long before New Zealand wpuld be represented bv players available for the tour and not by the best teaui. Players chosen from provincial and minor unions to represent New Zealand overseas, invariably received a handsome eash- grant from their, union, "hlub and friends. Players from cities were in a completely ditferent positi/n. He knew of players -from eountrj unions who had been given u'p to £300 while for the same tour a citv club with three All Blacks was only able to raise £15 or £30 each. The problem could be solved without difficulty by a straight out grant by the Rugby Union. Mr. Corner also eriticised the decision of the Rugby Union not to bring a Prench. team here because of the expense involved. The hnancial risk, he said, was negligible. "While I. appreciate what Mr. Dean has done for New Zealand Rugby, I feel that he is livmg in the past and that t)ie time has come' when Rugby administrative reins should be given someone with a more modern enterprising outlopk. Mr. Dean has controlled Rugby so long that he is now in a well worn groove. Rugby administrators must realise W6 must pay for our entertainment to^lay^ i would be very surprised if the views of Mr. Dean on the French visit and the payment to tourists/is che iiopulav expression of the major unions. It is certain that in neither case frould it have the approval of players."