RUGBY FINANCE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 144, 16 December 1930, Page 12

RUGBY FINANCE

AUSTRALIAN CRITICISM

NEW ZEALAND'S ATTITUDE

With regard to the criticism from! Australia of the. New Zealand Eugby Union's action in claiming a share of the takings from the matches played by the British Eugby team in Australia, it is pointed out by Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the New Zealand Eugby Union, that a variation has been made from the original agreement in order to give Australia a bigger percentage of j tho takings. In the first place . the terms of the tour, which was arranged by tho New Zealand Union, provided for the British team visiting Australia on condition that 50 per cent, of the takings were given to the. New Zealand Union. It was agreed, however, that the team should bo landed in Australia by the New Zealand ITnion, so that tho only expense to Australia would bo in paying the expenses of the tourists while they were in that country. The return fares from England wore paid by the New Zealand Union, which had recently agreed to allow Australia 60 per cent, of the net takings for matches in Australia. By this arrangement i Australia was being treated more liberally than was the ease with New Zealand in 1904, when the Australian ■ authorities handled the British team's tour. On that occasion New Zealand Viad to bring the tuam front Australia, and duriug- the tour the proceeds wore i-plit on a fifty-fifty basts. 'The New i.»Baland Kugby Union at that time was in a much worse financial position, than the Australian Eugby controllers arc at the present time. Mr. Deau also stated that advice had bnon received from the New South W.Ucs Eugby Union stating that it tlissotfiated itself from certain references in newspaper articles over there to the finiMicial arrangements in connection wit In tho visit of tho British team.