NEXT ALL BLACKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22909, 11 December 1937, Page 14

NEXT ALL BLACKS

VISIT TO AUSTRALIA ' . ' SENDING TEAM IN 1938 EtJGBY UNION'S DECISION PIEA FOR POSTPONEMENT [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Friday A decision to rescind the resolution adopted at the last meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Football Council against sending a team to Australia next season was made at the council s meeting to-day < Notice of his intention to move'in that direction had been given by Mr. S. S. Dean . and the motion was carried, Dr. G. J. Adams having his vote recorded against the motion.

At the same time it was decided to ask the New South Wales Union to consider the question of postponing the trip until 1939. Giving his reason for opposing the motion, Dr. Adams said that, there being an agreement in force, he regarded the previous action as unconstitutional and he thought, that the right and proper rfiing to do was to expunge the previous resolution and apologise to Australia. , The chairman, Mr. Dean, said he admitted quite candidly that he did not remember an agreement was in force and apparently other members of the committee did not remember it either. Apology Suggested The agreement produced at to-day's meeting was signed in June, 1936, and it set out that a team of 25 players | would be sent to Australia in 1938 to play not more than 10 matches. I With regard to Mr. motion rescinding the previous resolution, Dr. Adams questioned whether the procedure was right. "Here is an agreement," he said, "and it was absolutely forgotten. There was some excuse for oversight and forgetfulness, but not for breaking an agreements We should admit our oversight, apologise to Australia and wipe out what was irregular at our last meeting." Mr. Dean explained that he had given notice, so that the matter was again at large. After all, it really did not matter whether it was a question of expunging or rescinding. Mr. G. A. Maddison (Hawke's Bay) considered the contract with .Australia! should be honoured. Lapses of memory were quite accountable, especially at a time when there had been so much to worry about. He moved that the conditions of the contract be carried out.

Seconding the motion, Mr. R. T. Meredith, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said that the fact of there being an agreement should have been known to all members. Rest Every Five Years

"If we go to Australia next year," said Mr. Prenderville, "we will have visited Australia once more than they have visited us. It seems to me it was a lop-sided agreement. I feel we have to honour the agreement; but at the same time I feel we should have ai rest from international football.? The policy of the Old Country and South Africa is against either receiving or making a tour every year. It was only under stress of circumstances, I believe, that South Africa agreed to receive next year a visit from Great Britain so soon after the visit to New Zealand. I think we should endeavour to have a rest at least orice in every five years, if not in every four years. Continual tours are upsetting to club football and, I venture to say, to players in preparing for those tours." Following Year Preferred

In the subsequent discussion the possibility of seeking a postponement of the visit to Australia was considered. Mr. Maddison agreed to amend his motion as follows: —"That the New Zealand Rugby Union honours its agreement to send a team t/\ Australia in 1938 and that the New South Wales Rugby Union be advised accordingly, but at the same time suggests for the consideration of Australiaft unions the question of postponing the visit until 1939." The motion was carried. THE SPRINGBOK TOUR CHECKING OF ACCOUNTS ■ ' FINAL STATEMENT NOT READY [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION]! WELLINGTON, Friday It was announced by the chairman, Mr. S. S. Dean, at the New Zealand Rugby Union council meeting to-day, when the financial statement was presented, that the complete position regarding the financial result of the Springboks' tour was not yet known. It was only to-day that the last of the accounts had come to hand—these from Hawke's Bay and Auckland. There were certain accounts that had to be sent back to some other unions, and that also accounted for the delay. It# was only right, Mr. Dean said, that members of the council should see how accounts were panning out. At his suggestion, a study of the position, so far as it is known, was made in committee. A financial statement, not dealing with the tour, showed the New Zealand Union's credit balance as £10,326 16s 9d, with securities amounting to £10,027 and some commitments.

DELIGHT IN AUSTRALIA

MUTUAL. BENEFIT LIKELY (Received December 10, .11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 10 The secretary of the New South Wales Rugby Union, Mr. J. Noseda, was delighted to hear the news that tM All Blacks are coming to, Australia next year. He said: "I am sure New Zealand will not regret the decision and that both unions will benefit from the visit." '