THE JERSEY QUESTION

Southland Times, Issue 21090, 23 May 1930, Page 6

THE JERSEY QUESTION

It is wrong to assume that there is any discourtesy to the visiting British team in the protests lodged against the action of the New Zealand Rugby Union in deciding to abandon the All Black colours which have been associated with New Zealand in all sorts of international sport. Mr Baxter’s generous offer by its very spontaneity was a recognition of the rights of this country in this matter, and his proposal that his team should play in the White jersey of England ensures that he and his companions are wholly removed from the scope of the controversy on this point. The priihe issues are that the British authorities, well aware of the traditional colours of New Zealand, one of the most prominent countries in football, adopted in very recent times—the dark blue is only a few years old—a jersey that clashes with the AU Black. If the New Zealand Rugby Union had been sufficiently awake to its responsibilities it would havo known when the tour was first mooted that this jersey difficulty would rise, and the difficulty could have been overcome before the British team left the Old Country. Evidently it did not think of this matter until the visiting team was a few days from the Dominion, and without waiting to go into the question fully with Mr Baxter it threw the All Black colours overboard. Then came the sporting offer from Mr Baxter, sporting because it recognized thb reasonableness of the protest, and to

many people it will appear that the New Zealand Rugby Union in refusing his offer has not been as courteous to Mr Baxter as it should have been. This incident shows how necessary some form of international control is necessary. Rugby authorities m the Old Country showed a poor appreciation of their duties and of the feelings of others when they adopted the dark blue jersey for British teams, knowing that sooner or later this difficulty would arise. We disagree with the view that the wish to adhere to the All Black uniform shows a lack of sportsmanship. It is obvious that the whole matter would have been settled in a friendly conference with Mr Baxter, and it would not have been necessary to change the All Blacks to the Magpies.