WHO IS TO BLAME?

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 12 September 1921, Page 5

WHO IS TO BLAME?

SPRINGBOK MANAGER'S COMPLAINTS.

(BY TELKOEAPn-'PnEHS ASSOCIATION.) NELSON, Sep. 10. The Springboks left by the Mapourika at 4.30 p.m. I Mr Bennett, manager of the Springboks, speaking at a civic reception this j morning, after thanking the Nelson public for their enthusiastic welcome, said they came here as amateurs and as the guests of the New Zealand liugby Union. The people had given them wonderful receptions throughout, which they appreciated and they had enjoyed their stay. His grievance was that "we had a lot of travelling, and because of the form in which you welcomed us we have had a long programme of. entertainment. | Continuing, Mr Bennet said: "We found your football to be particularly strenuous; every game has been really hard. There was nothing brutal in any way, but it was real earnest football. Of that wo make no complaint, but this has had one effect—a number of casualties during the last few weeks. \\e have had a Darticularly strenuous time. We left Napier, had a night's rest at Wellington, and then on board the boat. (Laughter.) We have brought only 17 players, and to tell the honest truth they are the only available men we have; the rest are in Wellington, undergoing treatment for injuries. In all due deference to those responsible for it the boat was a most uncomfortable one, and there were no conveniences. Several of the team could not get berths until we left Picton. You are not responsible, but somebody is. Fortunately the journey was not rough, otherwise we probably would have had something very much worse to say. We have had a* night's journey; I will not say a night's rest, because we did not cot any.

»»jicu we arrived tnis morning we i expected to come to a comfortable ' hotel and to pet a room and have a I decent bath. But we were taken to a ! hotel and stood in t*e vestibule like a ' number of uninvited and unwelcome guests. It was due mainly to a few ' gentlemen who wore staying at the hotel that a few rooms" were placed at our disposal. We had breakfast. 1 however, and perhaps feel a little bit ! better. Later the drawing-room was placed at our disposal. When we left ! Wellington we were under the impression that to-day > s match started at one o'clock, in order to give us time to get back and bath before we left. We do not know whether your people ' are so anxious to keep us We that it is arranged otherwise, but I am astonished now to learn that the match will be played at two o'clock. I am now j told there is a possibility that we! might not get accommodation on the ! boat, and to be told that at the last moment is about the last straw. What we do want at this stage of the tour ' is comfort. If you want a fair run in ! the test then we want every possible \ convenience and comfort in order to get^ fit. (Hear, hear.) ... "Why a body of visitors from overseas should be treated in this way I do not know. It i s not a matter of bnanre, and we have not asked much. v\ c have carried out our orogramme in every possible way, and have tried to give as little trouble as possible, but yve do strongly object to being treated in an off-hand manner." (Hear, hear.) Mr Bennett added they were out to wiV T^ y came w*fch "th« first object of beating New Zealand in the test matches, and if they could not they! would be perfectly^ satisfied, but they \ would like to have been given a fair chance to win. They had nothing but the deepest gratitude for the wonderful way New Zealanders had treated them. If New Zealand ever repaid the visit he could assure them they would have the time of their lives in Africa. In conclusion, Mr Bennett said he was sorry he had to make a "grouse " but he thought it was time, and if anything he had said would remedy the complaints he would be very glad : In regard to Mr Bennett's remarks regarding the time the match was set down to start, it should be mentioned , that the Nelson Union informed the Aew Zealand Union that the game ! | was to start at 2.15 p.m., and as no \ , reply was received it was understood I j that the New Zealand Union, had ac- i jcepted the time. Regarding the ac- • commodation, or the lack of it, at the j Masonic Hotel, the Nelson Rugby i . union state thai the accommodation , was cancelled by the New Zealand '. Union. ' _ _Immediately after the civic reception Mr Atmore, M.P., despatched the following telegram to the general man-. ager of the Union Comoany at Wellington: "Manager of the Springbokscomolained that no berthing accom-. modation available for return trip; can you do anything in the matter; please wire me." Mr- Atmore received" the following reply: "No application made ; to this office for berths return trip; Iwe naturally assumed the Rugby Union officials at your end would be 5 arranging accommodation; the passenger clerk when booking fer Nelson * advised Mr Coombs (secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Unien) to wire Nelson for berths for the return trip."