THE ALL-BLACKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1923, Page 5

THE ALL-BLACKS.

THE VISIT 70 BRITAIN WILL IT BE ABANDONED? QUESTION OF AN ALLOWANCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Dec. 22. “It is my opinion that unless the English Rugby Union agrees to allow players reasonable out of pocket expenses no New Zealand team will make the tour Home,” said Mr. S. F. Wilson, president of the Canterbury Rugby Union. The attitude of the Scottish Union, said Mr. Wilson, was a matter on which he had insufficient information to make any comment. Nothing was known of any grievance on the part of the football authorities in Scotland, and no statement had been made by the Scottish Union of any grievance. When the 1905 New Zealand team went Home the Scottish Union did not want to play them. They seemed to be a bit hidebound in Scotland; apparently they considered that arrangements should have been made through the international beard, an attitude with which Mr. Wilson agreed. The invitation for the New Zealand team came through the English Rugby Union, and not through the international board, and there was a strong indication that the invitation was not very spontaneous, but was in response to ihe active working of the New Zealand representatives in England.

So far as the question of an allowance was concerned, however, Mr. Wilson was quite emphati’c in the opinion that unless reasonable out of pocket expenses were allowed there would be no tour.

“Bawbees again,” said a New Zealand player who has taken part in Rugby at Home. “The Scottish Union is the most conservative body in the world, and cannot stand •a. joke. The All Blacks wanted a guarantee of £5OO before they played that famous match in Inverleitli, and the Scottish Union buttoned its pocket and said ‘naw.’ The boys from down under decided to give It a. go anyway, accepting all the gate, whether it was a hatful or nothing, and they smiled when the burghers rolled up in mass formation. The gate was £3OOO, and New Zealand grabbed the lot. Worse than ■ that, George Smith galloped through the flower of Scottish chivalry, and the All Blacks won by 12 points* to 7. trough at half-time they bad been down.” Dunedin, Dec. 22.

Mr. Neil Galbraith, who was treasurer to the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1905, states that all arrangements for the All Blacks’ tour were left in har'ls of rhe English Union, which, .with the Welsh Union, guaranteed a minimum of £5OO for the international matches, anything over that to be equally divided. Scotland was asked for the same, but declined, stating the New Zealanders could have the whole gates of two matches in Scotland, which 'came to about £llOO, not .£3OOO as cabled.

Regarding a travelling allowance, the New Zealand Union was guided by the precedent established by the international board in granting Sievwright's team a daily allowance for the whole tour of 3s per day. When the question was raised during the All Blacks’ visit Sievwright evaded the fact that actual payment was made, but so far as the New Zealand tour was concerned he (Mr. Galbraith) as treasurer paid each member 21s per week.