ALL BLACKS’ MANAGER

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1934, Page 11 (Supplement)

ALL BLACKS’ MANAGER

METHOD OF APPOINTMENT. A proposal sponsored by Canterbury that the manager for the 1935 All Black team to tour Great Britain should be selected by a postal ballot of all affiliated unions was heavily defeated at the annual meeting of the New Zealand. Rugby Union on Thursday. I The retiring president, Mr. A. E. McPhail (Canterbury), said that while he personalty did not favour the suggestion his union had decided to make the recommendation. Mr. J. McLeod (Taranaki) said he thought it was an impossible proposition. They should entrust the duty to. the management committee. i Major T. J. King (Wellington) said : that Canterbury’s proposal would mean that a manager would be selected for his popularity and not necessarily because of his efficiency. After all, the management committee was in the best position to judge the merits of the candidates, and the unions could rely Upon the selection of the most suitable man. Mr. G. Pownall (Wanganui) said he would like an expression of opinion as to whether one or two managers should be sent with the team—a team manager as well as a tour manager. He was strongly of Opinion that two men should be sent. Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the management committee, said that if two men were appointed it was very necessary that one should be given absolute control. The manager of an All Black team had a tremendous amount of work to do, and the appointment of a. submanager would relieve the captain of a great deal of responsibility. The idea was well worth consideration even if the New Zealand union had to pay the expenses of the second man. He did not know how the English union would regard the matter, but at all events there was no harm in sending forward a recommendation. Mr. J. Prendeville (Wellington) said he was convinced it was essential that a sub-manager should be appointed. The president, Dr. P. McEvedy, said that as an old member of two British teams which had visited New Zealand, he knew something of the work performed by a manager. It was the duty of a manager to take a personal interest in every member of his team, but that was not possible on account of other more pressing duttes. The appointment of two men would overcome the difficulty. “Is it proposed to send an additional representative to the conference?” asked a' delegate. Mr. Dean: There is no conference fixed yet. On the motion of Mr. Pownall, it was decided to recommend the management committee to consider the advisability of appointing a sub-manager.