THE LUNCHEON..

Press, Volume L, Issue 14917, 16 March 1914, Page 10

THE LUNCHEON..

After the players had lunched together Mr F Wilding, speaking on bohalf of the Board of Control of Lancaster Park, expressed the sincer.o thanks of cricketers and footballers for the very generous-action of Mr Sims and his team in giving the whole of the proceeds of this match as a benefit for the ground. He expressed regret at tho absence of Mr C. R. Clark, the chairman of the Board,- ami humorously . mentioned 'that. .that gentleman, like the wizard -of finance that he was, had financed the ground,, with.a capital of"6s, and had spent thousands on i* He doubted whether Mr Jas. Allen or even Mr Lloyd George could have equalled this. However, he said speaking seriously, he desired to emphasise his appreciation of the visitors' generosity; for it was equivalent to their putting their hands in to their pockets for a substantial-sum. This generous sporting action of theirs' would never be forgotten. " • Mr Mason, president of .the Rugby Union/ also expressed the thanks of his Union, and of footballers generally, and paid a tribute to the newspapers of Christchurch for the generous Iway the match had been advertised. Mr Sims briefly acknowledged the thanks. Mr. Layer also" testified to the warm regard Australian cricketers had for New Zealand, and Mr-Noble oxpreseed the opinion that the practice wickets should be improved. •