together with george nepia and manahi nitama paewai, bevan was a member of a fifty person deputation that met with prime minister walter nash and the leader of the opposition, jack marshall, calling for the cancellation of the tour. this protest, which took place on 26 february 1960, had been led by the association's chairman, dr rolland o'regan, but it did not succeed; the 1960 tour went ahead as planned.