ALL BLACKS RETURN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25935, 15 October 1949, Page 8

ALL BLACKS RETURN

STATE RECEPTION TO PLAYERS TRIBUTES PAID TO TEAM From Our Own Reporter ‘ WELLINGTON. October 14. The All Blacks arrived at Wellington oh the Dominion Monarch this morning. The team was given an official welcome by the president of the New Zealand Rugby Union (Mr D. Max). If the reception to the All Blacks at the wharfside was perhaps a little lifeless, then the Parliamentary reception this afternoon was quite the opposite. Several times cheers rang out for the returning men and the function was typical of how New Zealanders appreciate their 1949 All Blacks. Welcoming the team, the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) said the people of the Dominion were proud of the team’s play, conduct, and the impression they had made. “We are just as proud of you—and indeed prouder—than if you came back winning all the tests, because it . takes real sportsmen to accept defeat : as you did,” he said. He could not, help noting that the All Blacks scored more tries than their opponents, ano he had very definite opinions on the ; value of tries as against penalties.

Mr Fraser referred to the difficulties of climate and altitudes, but eliminating all difficulties, the All Blacks had fought like true sportsmen and New Zealanders. «The tour had been followed in this country with extraordinary interest

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) said the team had proven in victory and defeat that they were worthy representatives of New Zealand.

Replying. Mr J. H. Parker, manager of the team, said he had had the privilege of managing the finest crowd of boys it would be possible to get together. The All Blacks were beaten, and they congratulated the South Africans on their victories. As far as he was concerned, that was all there was to it. The All Blacks had a pack of forwards which had never been excelled in New’ Zealand, and the Springboks admitted that the New Zealand backs were their superiors. In 18 of the 24 games the New Zealand line had not been crossed.

Mr Parker emphasised that relations betw’een the team members had always been happy. “It is not what we have brought back that matters, but what we have left behind in South Africa.’’ The team. Mr Parker said, had built for itself a reputation for sportsmanship which would be hard to equal. “It is easy to be a good winner, but difficult to be a good loser.’’ he said, and the side had proved by its behaviour that sportsmanship could and did mean more than the winning or losing of a game. The captain of the team. Fred Allen. and the vice-captain, Ray Dalton, both emphasised that the tour though strenuous, had been enjoyable, with • an embarrassment of hospitality. Dalton paid a wry tribute to the New Zealand cricket team which toured England while the All Blacks were in South Africa. “We have to thank them for giving us the opportunity of switching the conversation to cricket now and then.” he said.

The Parliamentary reception and one given by the New Zealand Rugby Union marked the official end of the tour, but the real ending so far as the team was concerned came with the departure of the Limited express from Wellington this evening, when the North Islanders said good-bye to the friends with whom they had travelled and roomed during the last six months, and the break-up of the “finest crowd of fellows I have ever known,” as Allen described them.