CHOPS AND EGGS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1922, Page 5

CHOPS AND EGGS.

TRAINING THE ALL BLACKS. APPETITES TOO VIGOROUS. ECHO IN SUPREME COURT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, June 6. To-day in the Supreme Court is being heard a claim for damages and money allegedly due, brought by Agatha Downes, proprietress of the Bay View Boarding House at Day’s Bay against the New Zealand Rugby Union. The claim follows upon incidents of the Springboks’ tour. The All Blacks were accommodated for their final training at plaintiff’s place. She alleges the union refused reasonable remuneration and failed to make good damage done by members of the team. Mr. Wilford, for plaintiff, detailed the preliminary arrangements and inquiries leading up to an assurance by Mr. A. J. Griffiths that the Rugby Union would do the fair thing by plaintiff, for at that time no definite arrangement had been made as to the tariff and the men had settled down. Mrs. Downes told Mr. Griffiths she could not possibly keep the men on the ordinary tariff when two chops and four eggs were an average breakfast, and Mr. Griffiths replied “Give them plenty; the union will pay three times.” Plaintiff referred to the amount the men ate and each time Mr. Griffiths replied that she was to go on, the union would pay. Mr. Wilford said that owing to the damage done by the members of the team plaintiff could not reopen her house for six weeks, during which time she refused accommodation to 36 people. Plaintiff claimed 17s . 6d per man per day, as against Ils, or in the total, £262 against £l6B paid into court. Included in the claim was £3O for loss of business, £-20 in respect of the closing of the dining room and other items re- ' ferring to the damage to premises, breakages, etc. —a total of £340 12s 3d. A CRAYFISH SUPPER. MEN’S PARTY AFTER MATCH. MANY “RETURNS” AT MEALS. Wellington, Last Night. In the claim against the New Zealand Rugby Union, evidence was given that screens, showers, etc., had tp be supplied at Day’s Bay, but there was nothing for the Springboks at Island Bay, who paid Us a day. Extra bathing accommodation cost the union £26. The men were accommodated pretty roughly, some sleeping two in a bed. It was suggested at a meeting of the management committee that Mrs. Downes would take the men at £3 a week. Damages were down at £lO and board at 17s 6d. It was admitted the union was under an obligation to pay a fair thing, and if Mrs. Downes did more than was arranged for an allowance would be made. Speaking to some members of the union at Day’s Bay, Mrs. Downes had admitted that she bad nothing to cavill at regarding the behavior of the men, and also that she had told another person that jher terms were 10s a day or £3 a week. Extras supplied to the team by the union amounted to £3O.

Plaintiff, giving evidence, said no arrangement as to 10s or Ils had been made. She had complained that each man ate enough for three, and Mr. Griffiths had told her to go on and the union would pay. By an arrangement with the union she had closed her tea-room. The men behaved themselves well before the match, but after the match a crayfish supper was held from midnight on. Bedroom jugs had been used as beer jugs and drinkingglasses. The men soiled the carpets and used towels to clean the place up. Mattresses and pillows were torn up, and kapok was pelted about. The men wrestled on the beds, and the mattresses gave way. A polished table was used as a stand for a beer barrel. The union had offered £7 for the damage and Ils a day per man. Every man had returns at meal times; some two and three returns.

The defence was a complete denial of the allegations made by the plaintiff. The manager and trainers said the team was a well-conducted and happy body of men. On the night after the match, when it was stated a crayfish supper was held and a moss was made, only six members of the team attended, the others going to bed as soon as they got to Day’s Bay. Damage to a carpet was also denied. ' Loud laughter was raised in court when one witness said the members of the team ate as much as any four men. They had eggs, chops, sausages and other things, &nd then came back for returns. The hearing was adjourned.