“Behind Their Backs”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 1 September 1928, Page 1

“Behind Their Backs”

CRITICISM OF ALL BLACKS

Hawke’s Bay Takes Up Cudgels

Press Association. NAPIER, To-day. AN inquiry into certain unfair Press criticism of some members of the All Black team at present in South Africa is to be urged upon the New Zealand Rugby Union by the Hawke’s Bay Union.

Mr. N. A. McKenzie introduced the subject at a meeting last evening, when he expressed the

opinion that the New Zealand Union should take some notice of reports which, he said, were biased and were a reflection on certain members of the team. The manager of the team should have supervised the reports before they came to New Zea-

land, and any spiteful reference should have been deleted. Mr. T. Fletcher, a member of the New Zealand Union, who was present at the meeting, agreed with Mr. McKenzie, regretting that players should be criticised behind their backs. He

did not think the criticism came from the reporter who went away with the team. The worst criticism came from an Auckland source and was telegraphed round the country. He thought the union should siib-edit reports. The

trouble arose from personal criticism from private sources. Mr. Fletcher thought the Hawke’s Bay Union’s motion would strengthen the New Zealand Union in any effort to stop this unjust criticism of players not here to protect themselves.