Manawatu Daily Times The General Election

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6632, 11 June 1928, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times The General Election

Neither the Reform Party nor the United Party has succeeded up to the present in arousing any pronounced interest m toe ing general election. The Reform organisation is providing entei talnments for potential electors and the United organisation is writing letters to the newspapers; but the hard work of the contest seems likely to fall on the shoulders of the candidates themselves. Sst U for the most part, are taking their turns in the country districts, where electioneering is a less strenuous exercise than i in the cities, and on the whole they seem to be doing fairly well in spite of the occasional heckling of a disgruntled voter here and there. Labour still is pondering over its leader’s policy speech which d not please some of the rank and file of the party and gave actual offence to others. But Mr. Holland is an astute tactician, loyally supported by his lieutenants. The All Blacks ■ The second defeat of the All Blacks on Saturday was received all over New Zealand with dismay. Indeed, judging by the gloomy expressions on the faces of the early morning crowds gathered round the notice boards, an outsider might well have imagined that some dire calamity had overtaken the country. One thing appears to have been proved by somewhat bitter experience—that is that it docs not pay to experiment with methods of play which arc new to the team The “ two-three-two ” scrum formation which has been so tenaciously clung to by the N.Z.R.F.U. when all other countries have abandoned it, was dropped in Wednesday’s game for Africa’s “three-four” method This was used again on Saturday, but only till half-time when the bewildered All Blacks went back to their own style, only to line themselves still beaten for the ball. It may be remembered that the “ three—four ” method was used occasionally by the New South Wales team which toured New Zealand in 1923. At first sight “ three-four seems a very awkward arrangement, and certainly, as far as pushing goes, it could not withstand the normal New Zealand scrum. Bm the point is that with the “ three-four ” formation the ball should come out quickly, if erratically, and the forwards should be able to break up rapidly. Play thus becomes more open and the element of chance is increased, or, to loojc at it from another point of view, the new formation is useful in attack but risky in defence. Apparently the change in tactics was not a shining success, but the excuse of course is that the backs must have the ball. The other experiment-that of playing an extra three-quarter in place of the wing-forward has apparently been persevered with, and may lead to the complete abandonment of the much-abused rover. He has always been the subject of fierce controversy, particularly when a New Zealand team goes on tour, and while he need not use illegal methods, the temptations and opportunities for doing so are generally too strong to withstand. It is doubtful if many of those who have the interests of Now Zealand Rugby at heart would greatly regret the elimination of this player.