RUGBY QUEUE HOAXED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28983, 26 August 1959, Page 12

RUGBY QUEUE HOAXED

Bogus Official Of Union

At 7.10 a.m. on August 22 a man claiming to be a member of the Canterbury Rugby Union told the queue for the enclosure seats for the third test between the British Isles and New Zealand that no more seats would be sold and it would be useless waiting any longer. This information was contained in a letter from Mr J. D. Pansing, which was received at a meeting of the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening. The letter said that the writer and two others, including a solicitor, representing a social community organisation, joined the queue close to the Fire Station in Lichfield street at 3.30 a.m. At 7.10 a.m., a man, aged about 40, in a blue checked lumber jacket, claiming to be an official of the Canterbury Rugby Union, informed the queue that it was useless waiting any longer as all tickets would be sold. The letter said that the man was questioned closely and appeared to be quite genuine. Acting on this advice they had moved off and returned to their homes. Mr Pansing said he was in-i formed that evening by a police | sergeant, who had been on duty! at the entrance to the shop where' the seats were sold, that further, tickets were issued and that the last person to secure tickets joined the queue at 7.30 a.m. The president (Mr H. C. Blazey) said he could give an ab-l solute assurance that the man was not a member of the union and that he would accordingly advise Mr Pansing. Mr J. O. Hattersley said that , the solicitor could advise him

about the correct proceedings to take in the matter.

Mr Blazey agreed and said that it was not the business of the Rugby Union to give advice in such a matter.