MONDAY IS PAY DAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1021, 11 July 1930, Page 1

MONDAY IS PAY DAY

British Players Get Their “Chits”— No Hoarding—Where the Scheme Defeats Itself

SIDELIGHTS ON THE TOUR

(From THE SEX'S Reporter icitlt the British Teav:.)

WELLINGTON, Thursdav■. EVERY Monday morning members of the British Rugby team receive from their manager what they euphemistically term their “pay.” But their salary is not paid in coin of the realm. It comes to them in the form of little coloured booklets—blue, green, pink or just plain white. Every booklet is composed of small coupons, or “chits”; and every chit, if spent within a certain time, is worth 6d or 3d.

Thus is distributed the 3s a day allowance which represents the maximum allowed to amateur footballers. On the steamer coming out, Id chits were included in the booklets. But it is perhaps recognised that ashore nothing worth while, except perhaps postage stamps, is purchasable for such a lowly sum. Every chit bears on it in replica the signature of the secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. A. E. Nielson. It also bears the dates between which it is available. Chits for the current week, for instance, expire if not used by Saturday evening. Any man who has not used his book by the end of the week usually makes a big effort on Saturday evenings. As the only articles on which the chits may be spent are drinks and cigarettes, this is a pleasant process. The fact is, however, that the system defeats its own ends. The rules of amateur sport do not allow a touring athlete, more than his out-of-pocket expenses, which in this case are assumed to be those he is obliged to incur in the hotels. The chits may only be realised in the hotels—nowhere else, and the result is thrj drinks and cigarettes, the very things a touring athlete Should keep away from, are precisely the commodities that he is encouraged to buy. Soft drinks, of course, may be bought, and except on carnival occasions are pur chased by the present British team a good deal more consistently than the other variety. But the weaknesses of the system are nevertheless apparent. NO HOARDING In several respects the conditions governing the British team's tour are stricter than those usually applied to New Zealanders. The All Blacks were issued with chits, but there was no time limit on them. They could be hoarded up, used as the stakes iu mild card games, and spent in one grand orgy when a ceremonial occasion presented ’itself. In the matter of their personal outfits the British team had to face conditions which would provoke the average New Zealand footballer to a pained outcry. . When the All Blacks went to South Africa each man was given a handbag containing a complete set of football togs, including two pairs of boots. The members of tHe British team had to provide their own boots and their own football trousers. By a singular stroke of generosity, on the part of the English Rugby Union, stockings, jerseys, blazers and two ties for each man were provided.

the tour took no risks with having someone board the ship, as a famed member of one All Black team is reputed to have done, with his simple belongings, a comb, a clean collar and maybe a handkerchief or two, stowed with his football gear in a sugar bag.

When the invitations were sent out the recipients were informed that a personal outfit worth £6O or so would . be required, and that in addition members should have a certain amount of their own money to spend as they went along. In spite of the latter provision, the intimation, “This is on the Union,’’ is the phrase the tourists most like to hear.

Taking into consideration the personnel of the party, there was probably little need for the injunctions about wardrobe. The tourists would probably have brought ample clothing, in any case. As a matter of fact, some of them realise now that they brought far too much. When the packing process has to be repeated over and over again with a large amount of raiment, it becomes tedious and the expedient of bundling things in blindly and then sitting hard on the lid is frequently resorted to. Not only did each man bring his dinner suit, but several brought full evening dress as well. One exquisite, who as it happens is one of the most red-blooded forwards, brought one of those delightful rarities, a crush opera hat. When he expected to wear it is a mystery. Certainly not to the talkies, which have provided most of the theatrical entertainment yet enjoyed. So far it has made only ona appearance, and that was ai a fancy dress party on the Rangitata. coming out. The owner is rather frightened to produce it again, as its next appearance is liable to be its last. SIMPLE TOASTS One thing that has rather surprised members of the touring side and which tends to indicate the differences between British Rugby and New Zealand Rugby, is that champagne does not make its appearance at the complimentary dinners, particularly after test matches. At football dinners in England, it appears, champagne is the regular thing. Although it is making a handsome profit on the tour, the expenses having been cleared before the £6,600 gate at the second test in Christchurch was added to the banking account, the New Zealand Union so far shows no sign of realising its tremendous responsibilities in this direction. But it was not ever thus. Champagne flowed freely at some of the dinners that were tendered to the *921 Springboks. In fact, it flowed so freely that some of it flowed over the dinner of an important dignitary. That picture of an hilarious Springbok solemnly pouring champagne over the dinner < l an astouuded pillar of the New Ze; - land Union Is one of the treasured memories retained by those presen'.

The English Rugby Union also provides the little gilt lions which are in such demand as souvenirs, principally among members of the gentler sex, which the acquisition of these mementoes, however, has shown that it is not so gentle as is sometimes thought. More than one man has had his lion almost forcibly wrenched from his coat lapel by an ardent lion-huntress. There also exists that other type of huntress, made up of ladies who pursue social lions, as well as gilt ones. They, too, have had their ephemeral successes. THE MATTER OF RAIMENT To uphold the good name of Rugby off as well as on the field, members of the team had to be suitably accoutred personally. The promoters of

Meanwhile beer and lemonade continue to occupy pride of place at the dinners, and the same old speeches continue to be made, with “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows’’ and its many variants repeated endlessly, and “Auld Lang Syne'' bringing a jolly evening to the usual convivial close.

If champagne would introduce a note of novelty into New Zealand football dinners and make somebody say something new, for a change, by ail means let us have it.