"A MUCH-ABUSED UNION."

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 50, 27 August 1921, Page 12

"A MUCH-ABUSED UNION."

The decision of the New Zealand Rugby Union to play the Springbok matches at Eden Park instead of on the Domain was referred to at the dinner givin to the South African and combined Auckland team on Saturday evening (states the Auckland Herald). Mr. H. Frost, chairman of the Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union, who proposed the- toast of the New Zealand Eugby Union, said the latter was the most-abused body in the Dominion, probably because many of the Auckland public thought the game that day should have been played on the Domain. The New Zealand Union had been wrongly .judged on the decision because it wa# arrived at only after a conference - with. members of the Auckland Rugby Union, and he would ask those present whether the decision was not a correct one. .;' (Applause.) Mr. S. S. Dean, representative of the New Zealand Rugby Union with the Springboks, said he. was sure the general public did not know the position. The tour was costing' the union £16,000, and if it got out of it for that it would be lucky. It was^nnancing the team from the time they left their, homes in South Africa until they returned. It was not at all a question of "pot-hunting," for any money over and above the cost of the tour would be used in encouraging footbalLJn New Zealand, and sending players overseas. (Applause.) Ho had been told that Eden Park would never hold \ the crowd for the matchMhat day, and he had been inclined to agree. However, he was now quite convinced that after thei ('experience that day, when it was estimated 25,000 people were present, they could get 40,000 in there, and they would get a better view than they would at the Domain. (Applause.)