TEAM MANAGER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 159, 8 July 1935, Page 8

TEAM MANAGER.

ALL BLACK TOUR.

SELECTION QUESTION.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT WANTED

Strong criticism lias been made in ■Southern cities of a suggestion that the manager of-the 1935 AIL Blacks on their tour to Great Britain, Mr. V. R. Meredith, of Auckland, is to be the sole selector of the sides to be fielded in the 28 matches of the tour. It has- been usual for teams on tour to have a selection committee. The last big tour undertaken by a New Zealand 'side was that of South Africa in 1928, when a selection committee of five chose the teams, the selectors being the manager, Mr. W. F. Hornig, the captain, M. J. Brovvnlie, the vice-captain, M. F. Nicholls, a forward, R. T. Stewart, and a back, N. P. McGregor. No official announcement has been made, as to whether the usual practice is to be varied on this occasion, states the Wellington "Post." It so happens that the manager is one of the New Zealand selectors, and having had an important part in the selection of the New Zealand team for the big: tour, he should be well qualified to do the selecting of the teams to meet each engagement on tour. However, it is natural for the playing members of the party to expect to have representatives from among them acting with the manager in the selecting of teams. The captain and the vice-captain invariably act on their behalf, and it is to be expected that on the coming tour they will be consulted before the selections arc made. So far the captain and vice-captain have not been appointed, and it may be that when those posts are filled an announcement will be made as to the position regarding the selecting of teams for the matches on tour. It has happened, of course, that the setting-up of a committee for the tour has been left to the touring party itself.