Later Departure

Grey River Argus, 2 October 1948, Page 3

Later Departure

It is possible that the New Zealand Rugby team will leave for South Africa later than March, 1949, as previously announced. In the course of a review of the) arrangements for the tour at to-day’s’ meeting of the Council, it was stated that there was likelihood of a ship, possibly the Ulysses or the Themistocles, leaving Australia for South Africa five weeks after the Dominion Monarch was due to leave New Zealand. The Arawa would be leaving about five weeks after the Dominion Monarch.

Members of the . Council thought the Dominion Monarch date was too early in the season. No decision, however, was reached, as final transport arrangements have yet to be made. SHOULD THERE.BE A MASSEUR?

Despite recent advice from South Africa that arrangements could not be made for a masseur to accompany the All Black throughout its tour in 1949, the Council a_greed that every effort should be made to have a masseur included in the party. A letter was received from Mr “Massa” Johnston advising that he was going to South Africa for the duration of the tour and had a berth on the Dominion Monarch and that he was prepared to act as masseur in an honorary capacity. Members expressed the view that South Africa should pay Mr Johnston’s expenses in that country and that the New Zealand Union should make a contribution towards his transport. ' It was decided to refer the matter to the executive with .a recommendation that it should draw the attention of the South African board to the agreement between Australia and the home union (stipulating that a masseur be attached to the touring team and travel with it at the expense of the home union) and stress the advisability of a masseur being included in the team.

Air Belcher said that arrangements for outfitting the team were well in hand and the total cost would probably be about £lOOO. He added that the ties would be different from the Olympic team ones. MAORI TOUR OF AUSTRALIA The opinion that the itinerary submitted by the New South Wales Union for the proposed Maori Rugbytour of Australia next year was too severe was expressed by the council. The matter was referred to' the executive with power to act and with the suggestion that, if matches are to be played at Brisbane on a Saturday and Monday the fixture scheduled for the following Wednesday at Toowoomba should be eliminated. PROFESSIONALISM

When the proposed new constitution was being considered, the council passed unanimously a motion by Mr S. S. Dean that the reference to New Zealand’s acceptance of the English laws in professionalism be deleted and that New Zealand should collaborate with Australia with a view to' drawing up alternative laws more applicable to the two countries. BAN ON LEAGUE CODE

Though it was agreed that the existing laws would have to be enforced the council passed a resolution which may have the effect of allowing Rugby players to play unofficial matches in the same teams as Rugby League players without jeopardising the Rugby Status. The question was raised/ by a letter from Taranaki, which the executive had referred to the council and which dealt with the question of unofficial “house” matches played outside the jurisdiction of the union and on non-union grounds. The meeting unanimously decided to advise Taranaki that the council could not do otherwise than enforce the existing laws as far as Rugby players are concerned.