Tour Refusal ‘Financial Blow’

Press, Issue 30996, 28 February 1966, Page 1

Tour Refusal ‘Financial Blow’

r.V Z P A Reuter—Copyright) JOHANNESBURG

Feb. 27.

Cancellation of the All Black tour of South Africa had dealt South African Rugby a shattering financial blow, said “Rand Daily Mail” yesterday.

The code would be poorer by about £325.000 as a result of the New Zealand Rugby Union's refusal of South Africa's invitation. The newspaper said that for the last tour, in 1960. gate receipts totalled £400.000. and the approximate cost of the tour was £75,000.

Many of the less-endbwed provincial unions as well as the larger bodies relied heavily on the gate receipts to further Rugby. Although the game had suffered recent setbacks at club and provincial level in some areas, as soccer had made giant inroads, the overseas tour every three or four years had been the safetv valve. Now all that seemed lost, said the newspaper. “The cancellation of the All Black’s tour has led to other financial difficulties,” it added. "Pretoria had proposed to erect a multi-million rand stadium at Groenkloof. “The stadium, designed to hold 100,000, was to be completed in time for next year’s tour. Now it is feared the project will fall through, as it will be virtually impossible to finance it without

revenue from an All Black tour, the major overseas attraction in this country.

“Plans, too, for the renovation of Ellis Park (scene of all Rugby tests in Johannesburg) may have to be shelved again.” Verwoerd Accused

Meanwhile the leader of the Cape Peninsula opposition United Party (Mr Lionel Murray) has accused the South African Prime Minister (Dr. Verwoerd) of “ham-handed” interference in the matter.

“Japanese swimmers were all right but the possibility of one or two Maoris in the New Zealand Rugby team is unacceptable,” Murray told a United Party function. Speaking in Gisborne, the All Black captain, W. Whineray, said: “Personally I am very sorry that the tours appear to be finished, but I

feel the decision was the wish of the people.” Whineray said there was a hope something might occur which would bring about the reinstitution of the series, but in the meantime “we will just have to keep on hoping.” The union’s decision was a serious decision which would have far-reaching consequences for all peoples of the world, said Mr J. M. Bennett a member of the New Zealand Maori Council. Mr Bennett said the Maori people were award that the union had gone on record with its belief in the racial equality of New Zealanders. “I believe this action has made manifest to all people that we are proud to share a common destiny as a nation united and strengthened by the best elements of our differing ' cultures and traditions,” he said.