ALL BLACKS LEAVE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 157, 14 April 1928, Page 8

ALL BLACKS LEAVE

enthusiastic farewell. "‘WILL PLAY THE GAME.” 'Per Press Association.) _ WELLINGTON, April 13. Four thousand people assembled on the wharf to-day to say farenelbto the permitted to say a word of faiewell over the wireless. Good wishes for the team s success were expressed by the Mayor of Wellington and the Prime Minister, and the Governor-General sent the folio _ ing message from Auckland. I send you all my good wishes for a happy tir riie selectors, said the Prime Minister, had' made a declaration that the players had been picked as much for character as for playing ability. We know,” continued Mr Coates. that the team will take any victories they may secure with modesty, and that they will make no excuses if defeat should come their way. The tour will have the effect of bringing the people of South Africa and New Zealand closer together. All I can say to you is, ‘ Haeraera, kia kaha. The best of luck, the best of good wishes, and may you return to your own people with honours surrounding you.” “I would like to assure the people of New Zealand.” * said Mr W. F. Kornig, the team manager,- ‘ that ir w© are defeated the members or the team will feel the defeat more keenly than the people of New Zealand. We trust we will not let you down, and can assure you that we will do our best to go down in history as < a team who always played the game.” The Prime Minister, as president ot the New Zealand Olympic Association, delivered the following message to the New Zealand. Rugby team before its departure: — .... “ The Olympic Council joins with other sports bodies and the sportsmen of New Zealand in sincerely wishing the All Blacks of 1928 bon voyage and every success in their great mission to uphold New Zealand’s Rugby honour on the fields of South Africa. “ Our Rugby teams in international contests bear ~a responsibility that is borne by" no other of our sports. The very fact of their outstanding successes over a long period of years has placed them on a peak _ which is not only the standard to which our other sports are striving to attain, but the .point on which outside criticism of New Zealand sport generally is focussed: The All Blacks, year in and year out, are in the truest sense custodians of our national sporting honour. Their earnest endeavours to win have at times drawn on _us _ unfavourable but wholly unjust criticism, for that earnestness is hut a due tribute of respect to the great game of ■Rugby football. “ The Olympic Council feels that in the hands of the All Blacks of 1928 two great traditions of New Zealand Rugby football, never to excuse defeat and to take victory modestly, are safe. The Olympic team at Amsterdam will be heartened by the efforts of their compatriots in South Africa, and they, like us, acknowledge a debt of gratitude to the All Blacks and' the New Zealand and Wellington Rugby Unions for that fine expression of true Olympic spirit of friendship between sports, the exhibition match of Wednesday, which will SO' materially help the Olympic team along the trail to Amsterdam.”