Rugby Chairman Replies To Criticisms

Chronicle (Levin), 4 February 1948, Page 2

Rugby Chairman Replies To Criticisms

WELLINGTON, Eob. 3. "My somewliat ter&e reply in respouae lo a request by telephoiie ! received late at niglit, to commeiit on the statement by Mr. M. P. Goddard, ha-3 started a spate o± correapondence which needs some amplilicaton, " said ^.r,. %>. fci. jP§a%. ^jiirpiap^oi' thju^ftw Zealand Kugby Union, toda-y. He was referring to the question of the payment of out of pocket expenses to All Biack Kugby piayers. ' £llt is quite appnrent some writers . are not aware of the trhe position rcgarding tho payment of the out of pocket allowanee to cover incideutal expeuses to members of touring All Black teams, ,;-he said. "The whole of the general expeuses of tiavelling, hotei gratuitics, laundry aud hospitality, are borue by the unions w.ho are receiving a visit and who act as hosts to the visiting team. The matter ,of out of iiocket expeuses has been dis- , cussed betvveen liugby-playing countries for, very many years past. The allowanee was made, , in the iirst instance I understand, to the 1905 New Zealand team on its tour to Gr.eat Britain and evoked ' a tremendous alnount of controversy then and for many years Jater. "During niy assoeiation with the administration of New Zealand Bugby football extending over 28 years, this 1 oken payment has always been the subject of comment, cven suspicion from overseas unions, and it has taken many years of perseverance'to have the New Zealand viewpoint reaiised and appreciated. The principle of a daily out of pocket allowanee to .piayers in touring

liugby teams has now been followed and adopted by all other Kugby unions tliroughout the world. Whereas the allowanee for many years was 3s daily, it was inereased just prior to the Becond World Ward to f-s daily and last year ihe Australian team which is now touring Britain and" France, were made an allowanee of 5s daily, Negotiations on this basis wero in progress for the visit of the Erench team to New s Zealand liad it eventuated this season. ' ''There is a general move tliroughout Ihe world to recognise the payment of the out of pocket allowanee to pajrticipants in amateur games and sports witliout getting away from the principles of amateurism. * The Olympic Assqciation has had the matter under consideration for some time." Mr. Dean said Mr. Gorner obviously was not conversant with the position and indulgence- in peraonalities was poor critieism at any time. ' ' I only hope lie will realise that, far fron being a back number and iiving in the, past, I and my colleagues on the New Zealand Kugby Unou are very alive to tlie., position while adliering strietly to' the amateur status of our game. " Mr. Dean added: "It must he reaiised that the question of allowances to piayers whilst on tour is not the sole prerogative of tlie New Zealand Rugbv Uuion but is subject to the agreemen.t - of all controlling national Kugby authorities. Possibly some further prbgress miglit. be achieved as the result of diseussions ■ at tlre recent Kugby Conference in England and by "the Olympic Assoeiation, Mr. Dean added. Mr. Oorner ehould know that the daily ehits. issued to piayers on the 1935 tour were valued at_3s daily and not ls 6d.