THE ALL BLACKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 156, 13 April 1928, Page 2

THE ALL BLACKS

FAREWELL AT WELLINGTON. SPEECH BY MR COATES. WELLINGTON, April 12. The All Blades will leave Wellington to-morrow afternoon for South Africa. Merhbers of the team were accorded a civic farewell to-day, and entertained at a banquet to-night. The Prune Minister was present on both occasions. Messrs Hornig and Brownlie stated that, although they did not expect to return with an unbeaten record, they would be well satisfied to win the majority of the tests. Both realised the magnitude of the task set tlm team. At the banquet there were among those present the Right Hon. J. G Coates, the Hon. K. S. Williams, and Mr H. Manoy, of Motueka. (president of the New' Zealand Rugby Union). Honoured guests were Messrs W. T. Wynyard (a member of the New Zealand native team which toured Great Britain in 1888), P. F. Roberts, F. Glasgow, W. Wallace, H. D. Thomson and G. H. Dixon (members of the 1905 All Blacks), and several members of the New Zealand team which toured Great Britain and France without sustaining a single defeat. Mr Coates wished the team every success on the tour. The people of New Zealand, he said, would be behind the team to a man in the stern tussles ahead. Mr Coates proposed the toast of “The New Zealand Team.” The people had every confidence in the members of it, he said. The players had to remember that they were representing New Zealand amongst a strange people in a, strange land. Nothing could bring the two peoples together more auickly than the bond of sport, and the team could do the Dominion great service by leaving a good impression. No one could underestimate the stamina of the Springboks. “The best of good luck,” concluded Mr Coates, “and if it should be your fortune to be beaten, remember the same welcome will await you in New Zealand as if you had been victorious.” All the speakers were of opinion that the tour was the hardest a New Zealand team ever was called on to undertake. All the members of the team were presented with New Zealand Olympic badges.

LABOUR CONFERENCE MESSAGE. WELLINGTON, April 12. The Conference of the New Zealand Labour Party conveys by resolution to the All Blacks its heartiest good wishes, expresses appreciation of the sportsmanship of past teams, which has made such an excellent contribution to international goodwill and understanding, and wishes them bon voyage and every success. SEASON TICKETS ON SALE. CAPE TOWN, April 12. Rugby season tickets, giving the right to re-book the same seats for all All Black matches, are being sold. — Australian Press Association.