FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 27, 31 January 1920, Page 18

FOOTBALL.

I RTTGBY. Mr R. W. Baumgart. of Wellington, who as a lieutenant in the N.Z.E.F., wae manager of the New Zealand military football team on its Soutfi African tour last year, has received from Messrs. R. M Macdonald and W. Pattriek, of Cape Town, nn interesting souvenir of the team's visit in the form of a nicelybound volume containing descriptions of the various matches played by the New Zealacders. The matches are all described in detail, and glowing tributes are paid by various newspapers to the prowess of the redoubtable All Mack combination. In bidding the New Zealanders farewell at the conclusion of the tour, Mr. J. Heynemann, president of the South African Rugby Board, said that the Sew Zealanders would never realise the great ] service they had rendered to Rugby football in South Africa by their visit, and by their conduct on and off the field. Their play had come as a revelation, particularly in respect; to their handling and tackling. In administering the hiding as they had done, they had done the game a "world of good. It had taught the players a good, sound, honest lesson. South Africa was thankful to them for all they had done. He hoped that the time would come when South Africa would send a team to New Zealand, but he realised that the South African game must improve vastly for the team to have a chance against a representative All Black side. When responding on behalf of the team Sergeant-Major James Ryan, the vice-captain, touched on a topic which ie of burning interest in New Zealand Rugby football circles at the present time," i.e., the constitution of an international board of control. SergeantMajor Ryan said that in Australia and Wales the game was well managed, and in New Zealand and -South Africa it was in very strong hands. Tt was not managed to the same extent in England, yet England was entrusted with the sole control of the game, framed the rules, and would not allow anyone else to have a say in the development of the game. It would be a sorry day for Rugby football if the colonies broke away". Yet if the game were worth playing it was worth sending men to England to legislate for it—men who understood football and could definitely fix up the rules. They should decide what constituted a "knock-on," and other important matters. Why should strong centres like South Africa and Xew Zealand not have a voice in th e game which they played? This was an intolerable state of things. Sergeant-Major Ryan concluded by expressing the opinion that the people in New Zealand would never he satisfied until they had received a visit from South Africa.

Further reference to the suggested visit y{ a South African team to New Zeaand was made by Lieutenant Baum*art, in the course of a letter to the secretary of the South African Rugby Board, in which he expressed appreciation of the treatment the New Zeaanders had received in South Africa. 'In conclusion," said Lieutenatn Baum;art, "I want to say that it is the earnest hope of all the team, and I un sure of all New Zealanders, that circumstances may enable a team of South African players to visit our :ountry, arid when these happy circumstances arrive, I am sure your representatives will experience much of the kind treatment which has been co lavishly bestowed upon us, and the people of our jountry, who are quick to recognise good sportsmen, will certainly lot fail to 1 make pleasant a visit of South Africans, who are 'par excellence' such very excellent sportsmen."