ANGLO-WELSH FOOTBALLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 177, 25 July 1908, Page 5

ANGLO-WELSH FOOTBALLERS.

AH INTERESTING INTERVIEW. ON FOOTBALL AND OTHER THINGS. ME. GEORGE HARNETT SPEAKS. Mr. George Harnett. manager of the British football team, was a busy man this morning, but a "Star" reporter contrived to squeeze a few minutes out of it for publication purposes. "Yqu will, doubtless, not be surprised, Mr. Harnett, to find an interviewer dogging your heels, but we cannot let you return to the Old Country without obtaining a few of your impressions," he invited tentatively, and Mr. Harnett gracefully resigned to the inevitable. "Well, generally speaking, I have been very much impressed with the prosperity of New Zealand; with the beauty of its country, the hospitality of your people, and the enthusiasm displayed for sport, particularly in the direction of Rugby football," the genial manager remarked, and then the interviewer switched on seriously. "Have you had an opportunity of judging the effect of our experimental legislation so far as the labour classes .are concerned?" was the first query. "As far as one can judge, it is a perfect paradise for ' the working man at present; whether the future will justify all your experimental legislation is somewhat doubtful. The theory of compulsory arbitration to avert the dislocation of industrial life is very attractive, but I fear it is dealing with the fundamental principle involving the right to strike, that is somewhat dangerous to labour. But Ido not wish to speak with strong conviction on this most intricate subject." "With repej't to social conditions," he continued, "I nave been very much struck with the healthy appearance of the chil.Hren of the Dominion; and I am very impressed and pleased with the f tendency of the young men to settle in the country instead of rushing the towns. I have also been surprised at the high price ruling for land, which seems, strangely enough, to be dearer here than at Home. J am, of course, referring to rural land." "I suppose that ■ you and your team have experienced a comfortable time during your tour of New Zealand?" "Generally speaking, very comfortable in the hotels, except in one or two instances. There was one thing, however, that struck us very much, and that was the difference between the hotels in the prohibited districts with those where license rules. The comparison is all in favour of the licensed places. Notably was this the case in Invercargill, where we were surprised to find that no licensed houses existed —they were all temperanc\boarding houses." "So your experiences varied, Mr. Harnett?"

"Yes; and some of them were humorously strange. In Invercargill, for instance, we could get no refreshments ourselves, but on the Wednesday morning of our arrival I saw drunken men at nine o'clock in the streets, which astonished mc immensely, and later, in the evening, I saw more drunken people in Invercargill than I have seen in any other city of the Dominion. This seem 3 to show that where there is No-License liquor can be obtained, and as it has to be obtained on the sly, it is doubtless of the worst description. From undoubted sources I learnt that drinking in private houses down there was daily on the increase. This leads to the same evil as the grocers' licenses do in England. Personally, I may say that I have always taken a glass of beer, but in strict moderation. The locker system for controlling liquor seems to mc to be another very undesirable method of dealing with alcoholic refreshment. In fact., the whole thing seems to be too full of deceit and fraud to appeal to those who desire to see a nation built up of strong, clean characters." "From your experience of Invercargill, you would not then recommend any other place in the Dominion to follow its example?" "In the best interests of the community, most assuredly not." "Is there any chance of bringing your team again to New Zealand?" "Probably not, as I am nearing middleage, and shall find the attractions of domesticity too great. There is a possibility I may buy land and settle out here, as I have been very attractet with the climate and surroundings. 1 have also been very much impressed with the loyalty of the New Zealanders to the Sovereign, and this also applies equally to the Maori people."' "And now, how about - our national Mr Harnett? Having seen us in it throughout the length of the land, what impression of us in it have you collected?" "Well, to start "with, it is your religion—or snau i say, one of your chief religions. For so it has struck mc after touring the colony. The whole soul of New Zealand, young and old, seems centred round that bit of inflated leather when it gets going. The enthusiasm for football, both, on the part of the man in the jersey and the man, woman and child who. stand around to see him play, is simply immense." "And your opinion of our play?" "To be frank, there is a tendency to roughness, but that should be dealt with by the strong hand. And, certainly," added Mr Harnett, with a reminiscent laugh, "that wing-forward is nothing but an obstruction in some districts, an-d is always offside." "And how have the big combinations impressed you?" "Well, the strongest teams we have run against have undoubtedly been Wellington, Taranaki and Auckland, and they were giants. But to differentiate very closely between the strength of the separate districts is hard, owing to the varying fortunes of our team, although, from observations, I am inclined to the opinion that honours would be pretty equally divdied among the provinces 1 have mentioned. "Haw about our referees?" "Well, it seems to mc that referees are bound too much by the rule of thumb here. They are much too strictly governed by rules, and do not enter into the spirit of the game, which is an undoubtedly essential for ideal refcreeing." "And now, Mr. Harnett, have you anything to.say or suggest about the recommendations?" "I was askod my advice by the New Zealand Union at a conference yesterday, and agreed with them upon every point save one, with sundry minor alterations. And the English Rugby Union is sure to consider the recommendations ■arrived at yesterday, coming, as they do, from such a stronghold of Rug-by ! football as this is. 'And, 1 of course, I .shall throw nil ray personal influence into tlio balance to further them. But they will ; then have yet to be passed by the rcter-.

national Board, sJutald these recommendations be passed, it -mil, I certainly think, have a tendewy to make the game imich faster, which 'Would . probably t* suitable both to spectators and players. , * "There is no doubt about it," com* merited the British manager conclusively upon Rugby in New Zealand, "that foot ball throughout the colony is of a very high standard. I was the more surprised in the country districts on this head, considering the very moderate facilities for obtaining good playing combinations. But it is a proof of what can be done where you have the proper stuff and boundless enthusiasm. For the enthusiasm generally over football is something marvellous," repeated Mr. Harnett, with conviction. Reverting to the extraneous interests of the tour, the manager of the AngloWelsh team -had nothing but ccomiums for the hospitality of the Dominion ana its people. The team, he said, had to." a man spent the best of,times, while the natural beauties of New Zealand made them all lo & to leave her. Eotorua also impressed tuem immeasurably, not perhaps for its scenic beauty, but for its contrasting weirdness over other charms of scenery. "If the devil had walked out • of one of those Rofcor.ua holes, I should not have been a bit surprised." For they seemed to be a very natural spot for him to locate himself," confided Mr. Harnett. While up in the Wonderland ha was delighted to come across an old acquaintance in the person of Mr. Alf. Warbrick, whom he last saw doing battle in the Old- Country as a member of the Native team 21 years ago. Many reminiscences of that vigorous tour were exchanged between the veteran native player and the British touring team's manager. "On behalf of the members of the ' team," concluded Mr. Harnett, "I would like to express to the ITew Zealand Rugby Union our heartfelt thanks for the arrangements made, and also to the New. Zealand Government for the many courtesies they have extended to mc and my bonnie boys."