SPORTS' DINNER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 166, 16 July 1934, Page 14

SPORTS' DINNER.

LARGE ASSEMBLY.

SOCCER MEN HONOURED. KINDRED BODIES REPRESENTED. Repeating an occasion seven or eight years ago, a dinner was tendered at the Hotel Auckland on Saturday night at which all branches of field sports in Auckiand were represented. As on the former occasion, when a Canadian Soccer team toured New Zealand, Mr. Ernest Davis, president of the New Zealand Association and the Auckland Association, was host, and the function was given in honour of the Wellington representative Association football team, who drew with Auckland at Blandford Park on Saturday for the Dominion premiership. Over 120 guests sat down to dinner.

It was a pleasant function throughout, and the rivalries between the various codes were forgotten in the spirit of the occasion. At the official table were:—Mr. Erne' Davis, who presided; the Mayor, ?•■.., l-I, W. Hutchison; the Hon. Eliot R. Davis, M.L.C.; Dr. Neil McDougall, chairman of the control board of the Auckland Football Association; Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P.; Captain H. Sergeant; Mr. H. Frost, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union; Mr. G. Grey Campbell, chairman of the Auckland Rugby League; Messrs. W. J. Holdsworth, G. Uren, J. R. Coleman, manager of the Wellington team; Messrs* J. A. '" Allum, M. J. Sheehan. A. J. Parker, A. S. W. King, A. Donald and J. B. Paterson.

The toast to "The Wellington Team" was proposed by the Mayor. He welcomed the visitors heartily and congratulated them on their fine display on the field. "It is said that there is a certain amount of parochial jealousy -between the two cities," he said, "but I assure you the people of Auckland are not guilty of half the things you might hear about them in Wellington." After outlining the history of the English Trophy, the Mayor, said that Auckland did not want to monopolise it. "So, when you have a team which can take it away from us—in the words of Shakespeare—'come up and see us sometime.' " (Laughter.)

"Will Come Again." Mr. J. M. Coleman, manager of the Wellington team, assured the Mayor, in his reply, that his men always looked forward to visits to Auckland. Although they had not succeeded in taking the trophy away with them, they would come again. He congratulated the Auckland team, which he considered should have won on the day. Mr. Coleman appealed for toleration in sport; no matter what the sport was, It was manly as long as it was played well.

On behalf of both teams, Dr. Neil McDougall replied, expressing regret that the ground conditions were difficult, and congratulating the referee for his good control/ of the match. Wellington would be returning South disappointed, but not defeated.

Kindred Sports. "The Soccer code differs from the other codes in that you have to use your head," said Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, in the course of a racy speech, proposing the toast of "Kindred Sports." "It is fine to know that we have here to-night representatives of kindred sports, which really include everything from ping-pong to that brutal game of cricket.' Mr. H. Frost (Rugby football), Mr. Grey Campbell (Rugby League) and the Hon Eliot R. Davis (hockey) responded to the toast. Mr. Campbell considered that the function was unique in bringing together kindred sports. There was room for all kinds of sport in the. Dominion, as long as they were played in the best sporting spirit. "All games tend to improve our young men," said the Hon. Eliot Davis. "They teach us all to give and take, and they teach us to try to win and learn to lose." "The Highest Necessity." "I believe that sport is of the first and highest necessity, making as it does for the best development of our young people," said Mr. Ernest Davis, proposing the toast of "Our Patron," the Mayor. He thanked Mr. Hutchison for the interest he took in all sports, and- congratulated him on the credit and distinction with which he had filled the post of Mayor. He had been particularly sympathetic to the unemployment problem," and Mrs. Hutchison had endeared herself to the Auckland womenfolk. The health of Mrs. Hutchison was drunk with musical honours, at the request of Mr. Davis. A tribute to Mr. Davis was paid by the Mayor, who thanked him for arranging such a gathering, which would be looked back upon with' pleasure for years to come.