NEW ZEALAND RUGBY TOUR OF AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20612, 30 July 1932, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY TOUR OF AUSTRALIA.

TO UJIE EDITOa OP THE PRESS. Sir, —I have read with great interest the reports 011 the New Zealand Rugby Union team's Australian tour, which your Sydney correspondent has forwarded to The Pkess. I have hoped that his reports may have become a little more accurate as the tour progressed, but I am sorry to sa,y that some of his statements are far from being correct. I refer mainly to Ms figures about attendances and gate money. I do not doubt his accuracy as regards the team's displays of football. One has only to hear of the very poor quality of Australian Rugby Union football to realise that almost any team could go over and give the Australians a severe drubbing. However, to return to my complaint, when the first Test was played in Sydney we were told that 30,000 people were present. The Rugby Union officials gave the figures as 28,000, but refused to disclose the gate takings. The cash figures would be mbst interesting. I iim sure they would show a big discrepancy in the way of free passes and Sydney Cricket Ground members' passes. "Rambler," the Rugby Union writer in the "Sporting Globe," a most reliable Australian sporting paper, said that the crowd did not look nearly as big as the figures given out, and ho severely took to task the officials for their lack of candour in not giving out the true figures. This Test was played not long after the Test between England and Australia at Rugby League, which drew 70,204, and a gate of £.6502; yet your correspondent went so far as to say that "Death hovers over the League game in Sydney." I am afraid your correspondent's wish is father to the thought. In Brisbane we find an attendance of 10,000 at the opening game and a gate of £4OO, and ask how can those figures possibly tally? Your correspondent this morning Bays that an attend- j ance of 15,000 must have been gratify-

ing the Queensland Bugby Union officials. But what of the gate? 1 have to hand the latest copy of Australian most reliable sporting paper, the Sydney "Referee." {The following paragraph will be of interest: Of the crowd of 13.000, fully onethird (more than 4000) muse have been ground members or tree passes. The gate, ■which did not reach £<oo. was most disappointing to the Queensland Bugby Union officials, who will probably report a loss on the All Blacks' visit. 3 think your correspondent deserves it rap over the knuckles,, He says tbut many more games like the All Blacks played and the Union game will soon eclipse the League game. Let him got that idea right out of his head. Let me tell him that the English Rugby League Test in Brisbane drew £316(3. At Toowoomba. the All Blacks drew £2OO for a mid-week game. A week before, the Englishmen drew over £IOOO. Of course I will admit, it was most unlucky that the All Blacks had to follow in the footsteps of what is acknowledged to bo one of the finest of English Bugger teams ejrer seen in Australia. After the dazzling football turned on by the Englishmen, it is little wonder that the. Sydney fans counted the All Blacks out in two matches running for stodgy play, with kicking into touch predominating. i if ay I ask why your correspondent suggests to the Now Zealand public that tho Australian Rugby public is forsaking tliq Bugby League game? Such is far from being the truth. The League game will always bo the game for Australians. who love action and speed and cleverness in their football, liven in our own country we can soo dissatisfaction amongst both players and public in the result of the New Zealand Rugby Union's weak-minded attitude about the rules of the game. One does not like to criticiso a correspondent who is 1300 mile--! away; . but I felt that his figures were too far from being correct to he allowed to go unchecked. Let your correspondent persuade the Rugby Union officials in Australia to be . straightforward about their returns from their games, and then one will soon see. the vast difference between the popularity of the two codes of Rugby football in Australia. I have no doubt your correspondent in Sydney saw the final Bugby League Test played before over 50,000 people. They paid &4*202 to see what is described as a most dazzling game between Rugby giants, who made the game glitter with superb and amazing football. That is why Bugby League is Australia's favourite brand of Bugby. —Yours, otc.. PACTS AND FIGURES. •Jiilv 28th. 1932.