RETURN OF THE "ALL BLACKS."

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 16 August 1907, Page 2

RETURN OF THE "ALL BLACKS."

[United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, .Thurs. Sneaking of ,the toiir of the. New Zealaiid football . team, Mr tlalbraith, who accompaiued . them, says:, "It was form that beat- our men, with accidents and epidemic influenza. It. was a disastrous .trip.. Tlio whole time men were -suffering more or less, and I consider that not in one single match did the team show their true New Zealand form. No form was shown as gocd as that witnessed in the game against. Wellington or in the inter-Is-land match. The Australian forwards beat ours in the last- match ; in my op'nion, howiever, the New South Wales men have not improved in comparison with the team that drew wilh us in 1905, but there is quite an improvement among their backs, who have learned "cutting-in" tactics in their passing attacks, and this is quite a new thing over there.'' Mi* Galbraith principally went to Australia Jo attend the conference of delegates to discuss the .irr.incjen-icnts for future inter-colonial campaigns. The old agreement, of 1901 has expired, and New Zealand desires better terms in any future programme. 11l the past New Zealand has taken the gate money for matches played here, and has paid its own teams' travelling expenses abroad. New South Wales _ has followed a similar practice, bnt it is considered this policy gives Australia much greater advantage. . New Zealand's enterprise has helped to put the New South Wales Unipn ih a strong financial position, and it is maintained that the Island colony should be ablo to get better recompense. Delegates were generally inclined to the opinion that New Zealand should receive better treatment, but they did not reach .definite agreement-, and the matter will be the subject of fuither correspondence. Mr Galbraith bas no doubt that this country will get something considerably better than it has had in the past. Probably trie next team to invade New Zealand from Australia will be a Commonwealth combination. Speaking of the referees, Mr Galbraith said there was a .certain difficulty about the refereeing, because it was found on the field that the Austra Hans were playing under some decisions that were two years behind tlie times. It was discovered that, either by the neglect of the secretary of the English Rugby Union, or the Commonwealth's representatives in London, that case law rulings received in New Zealand a couple of years back had not yet' reached Australia. However, as a result of the recent Australasian conference of referees, at which New Zealand was represented by Wylie and Robb, this undesirable stale of affairs is not likely to be repeat-eel.