"KIA ORA!"

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 174, 25 July 1932, Page 5

"KIA ORA!"

CIVIC RECEPTION TO TEAM. MAYOR'S HEAETY WELCOME. "Kia Ora, welcome, and the best of luck." These were the words of the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. 0. W. Hutchison, at the civic reception given to the members of the English Rugby League team in. the council chamber of the Town Hall at noon to-day. "Our people are very pleased that it has been found possible to extend the English League team's tour to New Zealand, not only because of the pleasure of seeing your side in action, but also because of the personal contact your visit enables us to make," said Mr. Hutchison. "The exposition of the game by a team with the reputation and record of success in Australia such as you have, must raise the standard of our local play. It is not improbable that even in this country, where every child's firet toy is a football, you may learn something from us." Mr. Hutchison said that to his mind tho results of the matches were unimportant. Development of team spirit was the thing. Even in the big things of Empire it was recognised that only by team work could the individual units get the best result from their efforts. Not the least benefit to be derived from the team's visit was the first-hand knowledge they would gain and the authentic information they would be able to pass on when they returned Home. Members of the team would be. able to vouch that New Zealand was not constantly rocked by earthquakes, and they would be able to assure their friends that football had not given way to riots as New Zealand's national hobby.

"It gives me unbounded pleasure to endorse, on behalf of the Rugby Leaguo patrons of New Zealand, the welcome which has been so spontaneously given by the Chief Magistrate of this city," said Mr.'C. A. Snedden, president of the New Zealand Rugby League. English eportsmen were always welcome in New Zealand, because they helped to bring together ties of kinship. Since the English team was last in the Dominion in 1928 the League game had made continuous progress, in spite of difficulties. The English team had come with an exceptional record from Australia, but the time had arrived when the Lion's tail was to be tweeked, and New Zealand hoped to do that ever so gently. "I, too, would like to see New Zealand win the Ashes," said Mr, John Carlaw, who was described as "the father of the League in New Zealand." "But whoever wins, there will be no regrets." Mr. G. F. Hutchens, manager of the team, said they were hoping to repeat their Australian performances in New Zealand. When the tour was over they hoped to be able to say that they had done nothing wrong, shake hands and leave good friends behind them. In the course of his reply Mr.- R. Anderton, the financial manager of the team, congratulated the All Blacke on their win in the third Test against Australia on Saturday. After the National Anthem had been sung, tho English team sang "Our England." Teams at Practice. Sullivan's team went out to have a run at Victoria Park at 2.30 this afternoon. They will leave to-morrow morning for Whangarei, where they will be accorded a civic reception in the afternoon. Tho opening match in New Zealand, against Northland, will take place on Wednesday, which has been declared a half-holiday in the northern centre. Seven members of the South Island team left Auckland on the return journey last evening, two players, Barbara, of Dunedin, and O'Brien, of West Coast, prolonging their stay. The five South Islanders retained for the New Zealand team are at the Commercial Hotel. Mr. W. M. Kelly, the coach, took the Test team in hand this afternoon, a practice being held at Carlaw Park.