TOO MANY TOURS?

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 111, 23 April 1936, Page 6

TOO MANY TOURS?

Upsetting to N.Z. Rugby, Says Delegate UNION’S ARRANGEMENTS By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, April 22. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union appointed the Hon. J. McLeod as chairman, the presidential chair being vacant owing to the death of Air D. M. Stuart. Mr AlcLeod spoke of the recent tour of Great Britain and the University visit to Japan, and said that, all told, the past year had widened the scope of Rugby and they could look forward to the days ahead as likely to bring even greater interest in the game. Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the management committee, in response to a question, assured Mr G. A. Maddison, of Hawke’s Bay, that a visit from Japan was a distinct possibility and there was also under consideration a visit from Canada.

Air W. J. Prendeville. of Wellington, said that while not wishing to strike a discordant note, he urged that the New Zealand authorities should pause and consider before extending its programme of tours. At present New Zealand had Great Britain, South Africa and Australia as its foes, and there was great difficulty in fitting in the tours. Care should be taken not to upset club and provincial football by having any extra tours, as there was no doubt that local football was upset by these tours. South Africa, he continued, had been most emphatic in having a clear season between tours and visits.

The arrangements for future tours, as .planned at the Imperial Rugby Conference in London, were mentioned by Mr Dean, who said that it had taken a considerable amount of thought and time to work out a scheme suitable to all parties. The programme as set out in the annual report, he said, would enable all countries *o know where they stood with regard to tours for the next 12 years, and he strongly recommended its adoption. With regard to the North Island versus South Island match, it was decided to endorse the suggestion that it be played at Christchurch on August 15. Several delegates expressed the decided view that the North v. South match should be regarded as a trial, and should be played a week before New Zealand’s test match, so that the team will be able to be kept together for a full week. Air Dean announced that the Australian team’s tour will take place a week later than planned in order to fit in with the steamer sailings, the team arriving at Auckland on August 17. The amended fixtures are as follow:— Auckland, August 22. Wanganui, August 25. Hawke’s Bay, August 29. Wairarapa, September 2. New Zealand (first test), at Wellington, September 5. North Otago, September 9. New Zealand (second test), at Dunedin, September 12. Southland, September 16. Canterbury, September 19. New Zealand Alaoris, at Palmerston North, September 23. The team will be leaving for Australia on September 24, and Mr Dean expressed the view that the unions missed out on this occasion, would look ahead as there was a visit from South Africa next year.