All Blacks Dismayed At N.Z. Paper's Comment About Complaints

Chronicle (Levin), 8 September 1949, Page 5

All Blacks Dismayed At N.Z. Paper's Comment About Complaints

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• (From 0. King, N.Z.P.A. CoWespondent) : Received Thursday, 9.30 a.m. DURBAN, Sept. Y. / Pfiblicatioii today in a group of South African newspap'ers of a report from New Zealand -creditbd to the Labour daily, thO Southern Cross, alleging "a serfes of complaints stated. to ha^e been extracted from letters from the All Blacks^'.has aroused more than mild surprise among South Africans. ' It has also caused deep distress ahd also resentment among the All Blacks.

They feel that almost on the eve of their departure a hidden enemy has sought to dash away from them the hand of* friendship that has oeen freely extended ' to them throughout the tour. "We have heard these rumours of alleged statements in letters before. We have talked this over among ourselves and have been satisfied that there is no foundation on which letters of this kind could be based," said the All Blacks' manager, Mr. J. Parker, in a Press statement released here. "As proof of the good feeling we of the New Zealand team have for South Africa, it is only necessary to say that when the suggestion for an additional unofficial match after the final test was put to us I left the decision in the matter to the players and unanimously every one of them agreed to-play as a gesture of appreciation, of the generous manner in which we have been treated, and of the cordial feelings we want to reciprocate." Mr. Parker added that nothing could be wider from the truth than

che assertio'n that our pl&yers had been mdrC Or less ostraCised. "Everywhere We have bden we have eneountered the warmest « friend^ liness from officials, piayers and publiC dlike. At times we have bOeh overwhelmed by ■ the hospi- ■ tafity. . "Out boys have been puzzled and disinayed at some of the referees' decisions, and We thought we wero a little unlucky in the first test. The integrity of a referee has nevef been questioned, howevor, and we Were glad to appoint Mr. Hoffmeyr, who officiated at the first testxto cohtrol the third te8t. i think that everybody who knows rugby appreciates that referees^ like players, make their mistakes, but this has been accepted as part of the game." ' Players have bombarded me with requests to supplement^ Mr. Par-f ker's statement 4 with their own. "I feel like hanging my head in shame to read this after all the wonderful hospitality that bas been slww-1 ered on us," said one' member. This reflects the general view of the team. _