VEIL LIFTED

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 142, 18 July 1929, Page 9

VEIL LIFTED

. ALL BLACKS IN AFR1CA.' SIDELIGLLTS ON .THE TOUR. l'AGES OF 1NSIDE HISTORY. "The tour of tlie All BJack tcam 111 Soutli Africa was very popular, but not to the extent that it would have been had initial mistakes not been made — tlie aloofness of the Kew Zealantl captain, tlie unnecessary oiiiciousness oi the manager, and tlie taetless mistake of keeping the Priine M'ini&tcr and members of Parliament, also the Administrator of C.kipe Province, waiting i'or tlie country's olficial wclcoming luncheon." Tlie ahovc is an extract from a letter sent by a meniber of tho South Aiiicau Rugby Board to a well-known Rugby man in New Zealand, and incidentally ihe writcr pulls thc veil geiilly asided to give some inside history of the All Blacks' tour in tlie land of tlie Bok, likewise some pithy and interesting remarks on Ihe gaino over there, says tho Auckland Star. "When 1 re-exainiiie the All Blacks' tour," says tlie writer, "I cannot but express my regrets that the carlier attitudes adopted by Hornig aud Browniie were so uiifortunate. Had the manager been an ordinary 'joker,' and had Browniie come off his percli from the commencement, vliat a tour it would have been! Witliout doubt its popularity would have been secoud to none. A CHARM1XG FELLOW. "Browniie could have been the most popuiar fellow ever. I personally tliink 111m a eharrning fellow, and longed to pierco that reserve or barrier he secmed to posscss. However, rcst assurecl tlie liext team from New Zcalaud will have a splendid time liere." Passing 011, the writer refers to some o. tho triais and tribulations which are besetting thc Soutli African Board at the nioiiient. lie says the South African Universities are clamouring and manoeuvring to have a conibiucd side sent over to England to play tlie various universities there. Tho olficial says the board is against tho proposition, mainly 011 tlie groiind that with the South African system of registering extranmral students as college students, thc team sent over will be ordinary evcryday players who merely register as students and attend classes for oue subject only. "Of course the board will insist 011 a very rigid defiiiition of a student before it countenances a tour. The hoard also feels that the tour is of a 'jov ride' nature, and feels that it is merely an attempt to liiakc a convenience of Rugby to pay the expenses of a 'joy ride' to Europe. ' PR0F1TS OF THE TOUR. "As you learnt while liere, the South African Board's system for tours is to (ix definite guarantees from each province and to work 011 the .guarantees. I11 other words, it estimatcs its requircments only, and does not budget for profits. if it were not i'or tho last matcli which you fellows so kindly playod against the universities, the bcard would have lost. Tlie ultimate rc-sult was £237 proiit. The TransvaaJ made a proiit on- the tour of £18,51 9. Gate reccipts were £23,7(10, and expenditure, inclucling guarantee of £3000, £5219. This will just about pay for the new ground at EUis Park, 011 which youV games were played," says tho writer TJ10 letter states that Bennie Osler, l)r. J. \'an Di'iiten and Tom Kruger, who played in the test mntchcs, ha'yc " retirod from tho gaiue, althougli it is thought that Osler and Van Urutcn will turn out before very long. Tliore have been rumours that Stanley Osler's injuries will prevent liis playing for nll time.. It is sincerely hoped not, for he is a very likablo little fellow. and very popular, especially in the Transvaal. "AS YOU WERE." "Ncxt year you fellows will be entertaining the British team," continues the writer. "On the limited experience gained cluring tlie 1921 tour of tlie British team in South Africa, your tour to Great Britain tho saine year and last year's tour in South Africa, it would appear that you will have a cake walk. But I hope not, for that would take all the interest out of tlie tour. As you know, I liko international contests to encl up just as tliey did in South" Africa. Both sides shouid tasto a little of the bitters of defeat and a little of ihe sweetness of victory. Therebv inutua! rcsjject and esteem is attained. and also a bi" scnse of proportion or rnoderai ion — in other wonR. toleration. A little toleration in this game of ours will do inimenso good in tliese days of intolcrance."