RUGBY SELECTORS EXPENSES

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 180, 2 August 1938, Page 10

RUGBY SELECTORS EXPENSES

F. W. LUCAS. AUCKLAND N.Z. UNION REFUSES TO PAY THEM JOURNEY TO INTER-ISLAND MATCH. The ways of the New Zealand Rugby Union are difficult to understand. Wealthiest body in New Zealand sport—apart from racing clubs—it informed the Auckland Rugby Union recently that it w-as not prepared to pay the expenses of the North Island selector, F. W. Lucas, incurred on his visit to Wellington for the inter-island game.

Last year precisely the same tiling occurred, when the New Zealand selectors who had chosen the third Test team were informed that their task was completed and that there was no need for their attendance at the union’s expense. Fortunately the selectors protested with sufficient strength to win their case. Both cases seem incredible.

There have been other cases from time to time when the union, with magnificent zeal, has refused to countenance actions involving expense. Eight years ago, if the tales are true

a representative team which met the Britishers was fully prepared to strike if its application for a certain concession -were not granted. The stand w'as determined and the union had tu concede.

Then, a couple of years ago, a Test match with the Wallabies was preceded by a contest between the union and the selectors, wffio demanded a concession which ordinary courtesy would have granted without asking. The union refused the request and the selectors immediately staged a sit-down strike. They won. But the incident was not graceful. Last year, too, there was the beautiful case of R. M. McKenzie, a Manavvatu forward. He received through his union a letter from the New Zealand body demanding the whereabouts of a pair of pants he wore in the first Test with the Springboks. McKenzie was reluctantly compelled to admit that he could not allow himselt ito be stigmatised. His trousers had unfortunately been ripped from him during the game and replaced by another pair later handed in to the proper authorities.

It is difficult to believe that parsimony carried thus far has any value, or that the finances of the union are so straitened that extreme care is necessary. And it is extraordinarily difficult to believe that the recipients of such actions—in the present case, Freddie Lucas—could feel that interest in Rugby football was worth while.

Mr. Lucas would be now perfectly justified in deciding that since his appearance was unnecessary at a match in which the team he had helped to choose was performing, his further participation in national selection is also unnecessary. He has a right, in other words, to feel that he is not wanted. And if he does decide that, then a valuable man will have been lost to the game. At a cost of perhaps £ls. If the union, as seems probable, really believes it is serving Rugby best by such actions, it ought to be prodded into wakefulness. Courtesy in Rugby is not out of place, even in the conduct of official affairs. The union may yet discover that the actions which it views with such masterly unconcern appear to other people as singularly unwise.—(Sports Post.) Kiwis Rest Scorers. A feature of the Kiwis* tour of Australia was that the two full-back* topped the list of point scorers. J. Hemi scored 67 points in seven games with 32 goals and a try. J. Smith in nine games obtained 35 points, made up of five goals and five tries. When it is realised that in the Rugby League game a goal of any nature is only worth two points Hemi’s record is outstanding.