FEARS OF "INCIDENT"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 176, 12 August 1937, Page 9

FEARS OF "INCIDENT"

Should Springboks Attend Napier Dance? H.R. UNION'S DISCUSSION Fears of an "ineident" such as oc- , curred at a dance in Napier when the Australian football team was present last season led Mr N. A. McKenzie to oppose the aeceptance of an invitation for the Springboks to attend a Napier H.S.O.B. Football Club dance, at the meeting of the Hawke's Bay Rngbv Union last evening. After some diseus- . sion, during which the suggestion of a counter-attraction was made, it was decided to accept the invitation, • . The discussion arose iil the first xnstance from the wording of the lettex of invitation from t!& club, which said: "If Ihe New Zealand union would pay for the South Africans, we should be only too pleased. to have as our gucsis the Hawke's Bay team. If not,/ thcn we shall allow tixe South Africans iu us

our gucsts." Taliing the Jetter to nieau that the club would allow one te'am',onlv to enter tho dance free, Mr McKenzie moved that the invitation should be declined, "Their terms are ridiculous," was his comment. Mr A, Kirkpatrick: second that. They are not reasonablo. M r J. W. Callaghan: They are willing to entertain bot.h teatns as thei»* guests. - "The solution of the probleiu is that thc Rugby Union sliould put on a ball," suggested Mr McKenuzie. "They have done it in other place:?." Mr~F. Cray: It can't be doxxe. Wiiere are you to hold it? Mr, McKenzie: Iri the Drill Ha!l. Mr, D. W. Corbctt: It conld not be arranged in a few days. It would tako wee! . Mr Cray: I thi'nlc the wording of this invitation is iinfortunate. Mr McKenzie asked if tho union had any asSurance that the dance would be conducted in a proper manner. "If it's anything like some that have been held there, then they'd be better away from it. We don't want any tioublo," he cominented. Mr Norrie: As far as the danees that have been run previously are concerxied, it will be perfectiy ail right. Mr McKenzie: When the Australuxns were here there were three fights, Mr Norrie: I take it that these people can ruh a dance decently. it was decided to accept the invitation on behalf of both-teams. When Mr McKenzie asked what had happciieci to his niotion, the chairman stated that he had not heard it, seconded, and tlie union proceeded with the remainder of its business.