SPRINGBOK TOUR REFEREEING

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 20

SPRINGBOK TOUR REFEREEING

No Complaints From Ordinary Players STATEMENT BY MR N. R. MCKENZIE (New Zeaiana Press Association) WELMNGTON, December 18. Springbok complaints about New Zealand referees were limited to the team’s management, said Mr N. ft McKenzie, who travelled with the tourists as liaison officer, in a report to last night s meeting of the New Zea. land Rugby Football Union executive He said he heard no complaints from rank-and-file players. Referring to official complaints bv Dr. D. H. Craven and his assistant manager (Mr D. de Villiers), after the Canterbury match. Mr McKenzie said he did his utmost to dissuade them from taking action. Dr. Craven assured him that the pro. test would be confidential. On learning that the news of the protest had been cabled to South Africa, he asked Dr Craven for an explanation, and was told a correspondent had committed a breach of confidence.

One recommendation bv Mr McKenzie for future tours was that the team should not be quartered too long at one place. While waiting for a week to play a test, as occurred at Dunedin Mr McKenzie thought it would be better for a team to leave the city for a few days and then return. Mr McKenzie also recommended a ban on autographs. He paid a tribute to the uncomplaining manner in which the Springboks spent an hour each morning signing hundreds of books left at their hotels.