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Alex Hutley Saw All Blacks In First Game

ONE oi.' the lirst men to ar watching the All Blacks Rugby t Mr Alex. Hutley, of Manse Street He saw the first game of the University, at Capetown. Mr Hutley spent three months in South Africa and visited the major cities as well as other points of interest, including* Kruger National Park. He stayed with the All Black team during its first fortnight on the continent.

Mr Hutley was impressed by the hospitality of the South Africans.

“They couldn’t do enough for New Zealanders," he said, when interviewed yesterday. “They invited us into their homes as soon as they found we were New Zealanders.

‘‘One man entertained us all—players and non-players alike.” i

He considered that the team was certainly not lit during the first game. '.They were all knocked up in the second half,” he remarked. “After the game they were all disappointed with their performance.” BARRACKING The controlling union could have been more liberal in its distribution of tickets for the opening match, Mr Hutley considered. “All the New Zealanders living in Capetown, as well as the party travelling with the team, tried to get a block of tickets so that they could sit together and barrack for the team. “We were knocked back and told that we would have to queue for tickets, which meant we could not sit together. “However, each All Black was given a ticket to admit a friend, and these were given to us, but this meant that only SO of us could sit together. “Our barracking was accordingly weak.

“The thousands of university supporters barracked vigorously, especially during the second half, and I think the All Blacks became a little disheartened.

“University won most of the scrums, and the ball came out much more cleanly than I have seen in New Zealand.”

MILE AND A HALF UP

t Many of the All Blacks' games in South Africa are played at a height above sea-level of about one and a half miles. Mr Hutley said that it usually took about a week before the rarified atmosphere affected the visitor. After that one has to go upstairs very slowly or one will be gasping for breath,” he explained.

It takes about a month to get used to these conditions.

“This must have affected the All Blacks during their tour of the Transvaal.”

Mr Hutley watched the Springboktrials, and was impressed by the South Africans’ scrummaging. During his tour of the country he visited the world-famous game reserve Kruger Park.

rive back in New Zealand after earn in action in South Africa is t, Whangarei. : tour, against Western Provinces

"We were motoring through and wore forced to slop by five lions which were lying across the road.” he said.

"Eventually they got up, sniffed around our cars, and then moved off. IN KRUGER PARK “We saw a cheetah knock down a springbok, but it let the animal escape and followed us for about a quarter of a mile.

"We saw giraffes and a number of gorillas and hippopotami. •"What impressed me most about the countryside of the Union was the vast areas of waste land—barren stretches of dry tussock grass and ant-hills.

‘‘l could not find a blade of green grass anywhere.

"I visited the race track at Port Elizabeth, where the straight stretches for about five furlongs. “All that could be seen coming down the straight was the first horse—the rest were hidden by dust. There was not a blade of grass on the track.” Speaking of racial relations in the Union, Mr Hutley said the question of the coloured population, which outnumbered the Europeans ivy about seven to one, was disturbing. “I saw the effects of the Durban riots,” he remarked.

"Houses and shops were smashed and set on fire, and women and children were burnt.

"There is also considerable ill-feel-ing between the Dutch and Englishspeaking South Africans. TENSION

"Most of the English-speaking Africans are opposed to the present Government.

"All business seemed to be at a standstill while I was there, and the South Africans blame much of this on (ho Malan Government's policy. "Prices for most commodities are about the same as in New Zealand, but cars are much cheaper than they are here.

“Most South Africans seem comparatively wealthy.

“Every home I was in had two or three coloured servants. “These were paid about £4 a month, but they had to be provided with separate quarters and facilities, which added to the cost.”

Mr Hutley said he had to leave the country as soon as possible because of the difficulty of obtaining a berth on a ship.

“Ahead of me on the waiting list were 2000 people who wanted to come to Australia or New Zealand,” he said. “I was lucky m obtaining a cancellation.”

On the return journey he stopped at Sydney and found the entire population buying candles and cooking on primus stoves as a result of the coalfields strike.

“I was certainly glad to leave and get back to New Zealand,” he concluded.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19490716.2.6

Bibliographic details

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1949, Page 2

Word Count
845

Alex Hutley Saw All Blacks In First Game Northern Advocate, 16 July 1949, Page 2

Alex Hutley Saw All Blacks In First Game Northern Advocate, 16 July 1949, Page 2