CRITICISM OF RUGBY HEADQUARTERS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 241, 8 July 1938, Page 5

CRITICISM OF RUGBY HEADQUARTERS

“Panic And Bungling”

HOTEL ARRAN GExMENTS AND OMISSION OF DICK

Dominion Special Service.

Auckland, July 7

"It is just, another instance or panic and bungling at headquarter<s—paiuc regarding Dick and bungling in connection with the accommodation for the All Blacks, ' said a well-known Auckland Rugby authority when discussing the, assemoung and departure or the New Zealand team for Australia. The speaker said that the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union knew months ago that the team wad going to Australia on a certain date, that it would be assembling in Wellington the day prior to departure and that it would be necessary to arrange ior accommodation tor the night before the team embarked. Consequently no excuse could be found for such provision not having been made some time ago. The players all had friends and relations to bid them farewell and any small ceremonies could scarcely be held in the streets. . . . "It is a well-known tact that in D ellington there are two Rugby houses for South Island teams and another for those from the north, but apparently on this occasion Rugby has hud to play second fiddle to racing and you can scarcely blame the publicans. There are four race meetings a year, in January, March, July and October, in Wellington, without taking into consideration trotting meetings at Hutt Park, and every hotel has its regular patrons to eater lor on these occasions. This patronage would be immediately lost if paying guests were asked midway through a week’s racing to vacate their rooms for a single night. However, that does not excuse the Rugby authorities .for leaving members of the All Black team out in the eold.

"Regarding Johuny Dick, 1 think be has been scandalously treated. It would have been a different matter if he had met with a serious accident and broken some limb or other, but at the very worst be is suffering from a slight ailment for which one medical man is prepared to give him a clear certificate practically right away. The New Zealand union, with its usual lack of vision, however, immediately became panicky, got in touch with the sole selector and apparently told him that Dick would have to be replaced immediately with somebody on the spot, henee the inclusion of Wright of Wellington. Surely the All Blacks had sufficient backs to carry them over a match or so until the arrival of Dick by a later boat. “I can find no excuse for these latestactions by the parent body anti all I can say is that it is a good job for those in control that the annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand union is over and is not eventuating in the immediate future.” The chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union . executive, Mr. S. 8. Dean, declined to make any comment when the above message-was referred to him last night. “I wish these people would sign their names to their complaints,” he said. "I will certainly not make any comment upon such rubbish.”