"THE MAN WHO RUNS THE SHOW."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 201, 19 May 1908, Page 9

"THE MAN WHO RUNS THE SHOW."

INTERVIEW. ..WITH THE MANAGER LOCATING THE PLAYERS. Mr. Geo. Harnett;' tho manager of the team, .is- a, typical Englishman, typical, that is to\sayij' .of. 1 tho:.best class., of.- Englishman; < Perhaps, al man'of Xfifty-', winters. (footballers TcckbnJby.'vWijiters)./ he-has ..j,he joyous spirits of permit' of,.dull moments, when. ho. as, around. , , i)e3pit6 ; his' vanishing . : "a'i'^iandMme^'..upriglrt^ .orie:can-'-not rofrain'.'flTim.picking "a good.fpllow,". and 'the'^'tcf'.is'. sure .mat'' it >iU riot bo his fault if tho ~tour is not .as jolly .a ono.as is possible with hard-working footballers on tour; ;v Albeit Mr?, Harnett has- - a military grey moustache and.'a well-defined chin that would, restrain . any.. indue ■ liberties;.being taken.'bj; anyone,..lcast of',all those clean-cut,■ bright Vc'p'mplexipned . tourists ' whom, ho calls "tho.. boys'.,'/. -i.:-;- , ..- *' A'cpo'd Should "say' wo did havo a goof voyage.' A.,real jolly ..old time,- and what-. a .steady old. boat 'alio ,is," said Mr. Harnett ns;ho.glanced;,np ;.at-'.tho-perpendi-cular- wall'; of painted -steel -that represented tho Athenio's hull. ■. Is the team'.in"good nick? "V "Yes, I think so.''-''-'They 'wero-at if nearly overy day. They - aro -.not,too line, you •'know.'" That wouldn't.do; must keep a bit in reserve." : ■■~ V ■... Is it a representative team ? was asked with somo trepidation; ' ;■ "Well-,- 1 , s<iid, Mr., Harnett, ."it-.is -a fair sido; not, of course, tho. bost representative team thai, could bo got. . It would liover.bo possible,! to geV tho,. besf team' to travel so far. :> V Therd. woro some'Univorsity men that coillil liot' be. got, -and 'at -tho end wo had to. fill threo or four placed at .short' notice, but oil, tho Whole 1; fancy it-will prove a veryfair'Mtlo ihdcod,'part-ieularly\whon tliey havo boon playing together for a timo. So far they have nover pluved as a team, cxcept at' practice, on board." - Formation? -.. . "Ah, that is a .matter, I- know nothing about'.- - After'the- 'All Blacks'- left England wo tried all sorts of combinations in endeiiyourino' to- arnve at some method, 6f

breaking up thoir style of formation. I believe .Mr, ;■ Harding'.*has,,s6mo ideas, but I couldn't say what they aro." And it has boon decided , to return via America? ' •

"Yes, your Union is fixing- nil that up. I have had a number of letters from Vancouver, and .wo are: all looking' forward to seeing the country.. Wo will play in Canada of course. I have also had a letter from Now York from somebody , who wants to arrango a game, but so far nothing has been done in tho matter definitely." Toll inc something' about tho team? "All right—got a list .- there, ' right! Archer is the, crack forward;from Guy's.; Chapman (three-quarter) plays for Dtlrhairt; Davoy (half) plays for England;' so does Dibble (forward)'; Down (forward) is a Somerset'man; Dyke (full-back) is-another Welsh, international; Griffiths (thrco-cjuartor) - Newport; Gibbs (three-quarter), and Harding captain (forward) play for Wales;,. Green (forward) for Neatfl; Hind , (forward) for Guy's] Jackett (full-back) is tho international full-back; Jackson (forward) plays for Cornwall ; J. P. Jones—thero are. tiro J: P. Jones's, brothers —one wo call 1 Guy's ' Jones (tl)reg-quarter), and the other 1 Pontj (three-quarter). bcfcause lie romc.i from Pontypool.. -Tho first pliiys for ' Guy's ' and ' Ponty ' for Wales; KirkV(forwird) is' aii Oxford -player, and 'Laxon (half) is'from Cambridge. Dr. M' Evedy (three-quarter) you kliow about him—-lie's a New Zealandor and plays for ' Giiy's. ' /W. L. Morgan (half), who plays for Wales; is, a'brother of Teddy Morgan who Was out here with .tho last/'teani. .' E. Morgan" (fdtward) 1 plays for ' Swansea, arid Oldham for England; Ritsbn (forward) plays 'for the North ,of England;-. Smith (forward), for Leicester;; Vassall (three-quartor) for Engla"£; Thomas (foi-tfard) foi; Ponarth; 6.',L1 WUlihrits (half) for.'.Liverpool' J'. E. Williams (forward) and J. L. , Williams.' (three-qtiarteri for Wales'. '"Now"go throilgh actiui 'and I'll, givo yoti their counties —

•Archer, Somersetshire. Chapman', Durliafh.' 1 ■ •' Davey, Cornwall. Dibble, Somersetshire. •, Down, Somersetshire. \ - ' Dyko, Glamorganshire. '! . .Green/' Glamorganshire. ■■ I■■ ■ :. Gibbs, Glamorganshire.' ;; . •Griffiths, Monmouthshire. :?Harding, Glamorganshire and' Middlesex. j Hind, Kent.' ': - Jackett, Cornwall. ' Jackson;' Cornwall. " ,' ' ."Guy's" Jones, Kent. ' '■'•"•■ "Polity" Jones, Monmouthshire. • • - .Kyrko," Somersetshire. Laxon, Midland Counties. . . ' 1 .M'Evedy, Kent. W. L. : Morgan, Kent. .' ■••■. '■ -Ji; Morgan,. Glamorganshire. • i -Qldham, Midland Counties. • Ritson,. Northumberland. • ' Smith, Midland' Counties." ■Thomas, Gloucestershire. j 1 '.Vassal!, Somersetshire:' • .'G. L. i Williams,, Lancashire. J. F. Williams, Glamorganshire. J. L. Williams, Glamorganshire." i And what aro you,. Mr. Harnett? "Sir, I, am a.Man, of Kent. Understand not a Kentish nian, bnt a Man of Kent!".

, THE OFFICIAL RECEPTION,

J LARCE GATHCRiNC IN THE TOWN * HALL. 1 SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. ' "' ; The official and popular welcome '.'to. the British footballers last evening' was an "impressive -testimony to the hold which .the natioiial game ' has -'.taken'• upon 'tho- affections' : of'.'-Ndw, ZbalanderS. 'From' fivo -.o'clock' -young, .of 'tyfth Viiiito •' 'the.' 'Town '.'-flail, iihtil not .les3' than 3300. wqro' packed .within 'i'ts Vwalls, ...The 'enthusiasm ■' was intense 'and oj^pre^sive,'-.yet-'perfect- ordof, prevailed; Tho' .applause':was- long and 'loud when the' Mayor' (Hon; .''l. ' \W'. HiStep): 'stepped:' . 011 'to the illatfoimil-with'f'Lady'. l Ward j : ''followed' by J Hhb Prime Miiiisteri(Sir-, Joseph AVard) -and Mrs.; raislbp'r-i* ,®' jtffitfbSn l®ea l f-£ , ' l faffltlfy ''fil'tetl' : alp,', 'itn'os^who 'took 'pl&ceS; '"tltero ' hicluding' sUiv i-G.. E;'-C.; Campbell". (prissiilent.- v ofthe''NcvrrZealand MrW. .Caniji-. hell',. Mr.-,Qi'-. H*.' Hartiott.-'Xin'alia^erji'MH,jA', ; 'E. Harding '"(captain)'/ arid :: th'o irieinßers "of, .•the' Visiting'-- team, 1 itt. ' J'. Mutriiy ' (chair-; ,ihiin''-;.(rf :; thb.: Wellington' Rugby. Union),' all 1 fie''members 'of, the/fcomiiiittfie of' tho: New Zealand : Rug'by,''Unioiii (Mr.' J. D.' Avery), arid' .several"\Rugby officials -from different parts of tho. P'omiriibiv.,- Tho ' famous-:" All ' Blacks !, ".w<Sre. represented'by their manager' (Mr'. G. DiXbii),-' and .by Thomson,' Roberts, and' Wallhce..: ' A .•'number'-of pleading ..citizens, ■ in- 1 eluding'Mn T. 'M. -Wilford, M,P., also had seat's"oll .tlio -platform.'.Every' speaker was' greeted'"on-rising' with., a tempest, of .'ap\ ijlaiise. ■. " THE MAYOR'S SPEECH.

! His /Worship tho Mayor (tho- Hon.'.Ti' W. Hislop) said:—" Sir. Joseph Ward, ladies and' gentlemen,---We aro met hero for the' purpose' of meeting our'visitors from tho other - sido of. tlks world—from the Old Land, to' Which .Vjo look for guidance and for They are;.here ■ for tho purpose of 'finding out Whether -, tho people of New. Zealand; aro deteriorating '.or not. ' They have.poind here to ijifcasure tho musclo and brains of tho Old Country people against our own, .and they havo dono one; act. of prudonco inasmuch, as .they havo incorporated'ono of our own'men!"; (A'Voice: " Thcyi can't do-without them I" Laughter.).-.." iWeare hero for. the purpose of welconiing -" them and encouraging them, cause'Wo . feel that it is only. by. measuring, ourselves against tho standards "of the world' that .'wo <ian toll whether wo are advancing, or deteriorating; v For. the purpose :of' encouraging .tho.'visitors wd havo' hung -flags with'the; old motto' of a hundred years. '-England, expects, every man this day to do. his : duty ' while 'wo. hope our own . fellows-.'will .- give 'a good account of 'themselves, ; wo desire tho visiters' to strain' overy nervo .in order- to' pat;thorn to the highest test possible. If wo unfortunately find that the visitors .-conquer, wo.can go on with encouragement as. to tho. future, but if otherwise then wo shall show them Wo havo ,'somo of.tho old Viking spirit in'us. ...We shall 'not he discouraged if, in.trying to cpmo.ifli •to tho standard, wo'aro beaten, and it will .lie necessary' to meet them on another' occasion, However, what wo liavo now to do is to .say to ,thom ; that our feelings of pleasure afro great at. .their,..having been considerate onotigh to coino from such a distanco to'help us along.to .emulate our, ancestors, in tho Old Country. ' We desire to, assure them that, •whatever tho rosult of tho contest, there is. a feeling of friendship and, admiration for -the ;01d Country a,mongst,us all. .We.aro all free citizens of ono Empire, and wo movo as free men," and as men who. havo tho; highest consideration for. tho highest motives, of mankind.- •'! Wo are ready either, to meet our ' friends-in friendly emulation or to. help them in the; Sudan or Sciuth Africa, or m any placo. else that humanity beckons, us. to.. I havo to ask. you to extend the very heartiest welcome to our visitors, and assuro them of our kindly feeling and thankfulness for com•ing here, and liiavo to aslc, Sir Joseph Ward to supplement those fow words of mino." ■ (Prolonged applauso.) ' ADDRESS BY THE PREMIER. , Sir Joseph AVard said: "Tho Mayor, members of tho British football team, ladies and gentlemen,-rl also deßiro',to extend to the members of the • team • a very ■ cordial nnd warm welcome, and to say that, .though thoy aro all off-side, no question will bo raised about that, because they comb from, that far-oIF country, with which wo aro so proud to claim, friendship. (Applause.), We all remember, tho warm,' lioarty, and cordial welcome which tho "All Black" team of Nov/ Zealand footballors' received throughout the Old Country not so very long ago. (Applause.) I rejoiced to know that some of the sturdy men who play football so well in the Old Land have realised that Now Zealand is-important enough to justify them in sending out a very fino team. (Applauso.) I' havo, just' had tho. pleasure of mooting Mr. -Earnett, tho. manager, Mr; Harding, the captain, and all the members of tho team,'and I want to tell ,'our football players that, if I ; am >. judge of character, these young rneii—for _ they all look young siiid manly', and 'straight of eye—aro going to i-give them soriio, very hard-fought games. I [.'want:to toll our men to be on' thoir mettle to -do their lovel best—otherwise they are | going to get beaten', (Applause,) -Wherever

tho t-eam goes, I may tell 'thorn that they will find a British public here, just as Bri* tisli as in tho Old World; whether they aro playing a- winning: or a losing game our peoplo will give them fair piny. (Applause.)I do not want in this early stage in tho history of tho team's visit to say anything that would put them to tho blush,- but I do want to say that wo liavo hoard the very best possible accounts of tlie'in in every way. lam persuaded in my own mind—and lam voicing also tho sentiments of those' before mo and. on tho platform—that when this team leaves our shores, whether tho erowti of victory goes with them or remains hehind—and 1, for one, want to see it remain —(laughtor and applause)—l am persuaded, I say, that tho team will' go away with a reputation as high as thev havo on their arrival, and will leave behind them many warm admirers and well-wishers from end to end of this • Dominion. (Applause.) In (indorsing the hearty wtilcoine given by tho Mayor, I wish to add that, wlion tho team has' contested tlioEo seventeen matchcs, if they have any time to spare, atid. ilro desirous of seeing other poftiona of Now Zoaland, anything tho Government can do to liolp. them to havo a pleasant-andJiappy timo will bo gladly doiic. Wo will do ail we, can to make their visit pleasant-rand moinorablo." (Applause.) • V NEW ZEALAND UNION'S .WELCOME.

Mr. G. F. C.: Campbell, president of tho Now Zealand Rugby Union, said that ho had been desired by the Utiion to extend a most cordial and hearty-welcome-to tho visitors. This t-eam was tho .third to Visit this country from the Old Land. When tho two previous teams visited oiir shores, tlio New Zealand public showed unmistakable enthusiasm and interest in tho games which wore played, and he could confidently say that tho public would not exhibit any loss enthusiasm now than in thoso days. . Tile team-was composed of ■ representatives of the English and Welsh Rugby Unions,'and in its ranks were players of world-wido reputation on the football, field,, mid tho Now Zpalauders must expect and did oxpect them to give a-,good account of . themselves, while ' hero. - Sir Joseph Ward referred to the kindness, and, tho many attentions which, the."All Black" tcam received, in the Old Country during tho lDos'tour, and lie (the speaker)-was stiro that tho impression tfliieh that team brought back was :tnis :■ that, they ' had never met a finer Set of gentlemanly sportsmen .than the' footballers in tho Old Country. ' . That was tho opinion of tho manager, Mr. Dixon, and ho ought t6 know. . Tho New Zealand Union welcomed the team as exponents of fcotball.. . (Hoar,, hear.) -The. New Zealand Rtlgby. Union wishod him to say that nothing that they could do'to, mako the visit of tho team to Now Zealand enjoyable would be loft'; Undone.;. (Applause.) All itinerary, perhaps a long one, h&d beeli provided, arid oliß reason for its length was that it was desired that tho inhabitants of tho .remoter districts should havo tho -.opportunity....of . witnessing a gamo of good 'football and so that tho visitors would bo enabled to. seo 'as much of the. country, as ipossible. It was hoped that the impression tho Englishmen, gained of .the! Dominion would be favourable and that their impression would bo a lasting ono. Also, it, hoped that t-h'd New Zealanders. should .havo the same favoiirnblo impression to retain in cbnncetiori .with the visit of . tho team. .' ".

, THE MANAGER'S THANKS. . . Mr. G, 11. Harnett, manager of the team, said; he, felt •it - a '.'great Honour : to tako part in such a ■ function As the pi-esent. : '':The visitors felt, that they were the guests of New. Zealand,-' and they Could ' not' express tho. great the.v felt in having- such' ltind hosts.. -It would bo something to talk about for-the rest of their'days. They'had i?ad itnmensc difficulty in getting tlie team' together..- Scotland would • not. help,' 'hut'' Wales had done everything'-thiit fras possible to assist them., The Irish Union said they did: liot objcot to any. of thbir players coming, -but • nono. of theni came. - (Latightcr.) .Thoy, took, great, trouble -to induco the Scottish'. Union to alter;, its -decision; but without avail. , He- did not know: what was the reason ,qf. that decision,., iltihad/beon suggested that it w.as. duo .to tho "All Blacks"-having-taken igway. :to6] v many • of-; tho -nimbjo 'sixpences thn, Sco.tyh ..were said ,'tp, he- : sa jpnd.- of. I'or-l?aps--thby .'had ; hot..forgot-tcii- losing all -ithat money., hsd .losing tho match-'too.-' daughter •:and-!applauso.)..;.. They-;woiildtyfjvto do. their, -best:without-the help of Scotland,' and'if tho team was- victorious,. : their victories -would bo all .thp'.:CTreritcr, arid; thoso.- who had'' refused , to'. ,extend','tlieih -aj kindly, hand- would, perhaps, ( rathei: -regret.; it.-. He would leave rt to tho captain.,to speak -/about-football.-Fot; his own part,: lie had grown -too bid with .Berving,, on .comraittoes, and that sort ■of thing, blit he could see manyiii.tlmtMiall, whose.,locks,' like his own,,wero growing'very thin ; and, aftor all, that made 110 difference to their, lovo of the (Applatiso.), It Was a groat pleasure' to. him to comb away with tho .team ,whpn. ho wa,s pressed by tho English and Welsh Unions to do so. Ho had fixed up ..his business, affairs 'somehow, and he folt now, that ha did not 'care -how that 'dort of thing was going: .on.- (Applause.. A Voice: A good sport.)''Ho was glad'to have £|een already somo of tho team of New Zea : land footballers' th'afc; was so successful ill Great Britain,, and. it was agreat' pleasure ■to meet again Mr v Dixon, the. manager' of that team.: The patriotism of sport) which liad been Bpokeir of, 1 was indeed a' great ■tiling, especially .in amateur sport. ' Wherever .thoy wont, they] would iiiid Rugby people good fellows and good' friends. They did;' liot; forget -one, '.and when thoy mot ;dno after a long. iiUerv'hl.'they did liot look as : -though .theV' had nbver seen one before'. Rugby football was a perfect freemasonry. (Applause.) The patrfttism of the Empire also bound all together 'under that great man, our King. (Applause.)' We could not all agree,.- perhaps, in our political views, blit-we know'ire had tho first man 111 the world as , tho lioa'd of this great Empire of ours. • (Applause.) He (tho speaker) wished this Dominion everything'-that- was'• good.' ' Ho 1 had road, numerous books' about - it,; and lie had come to seo how much of-them was not truo. (Laughter.) He had already seen qnough kindness aiid hospitality' to convince him that, on thoso niattors at all events, tho Books had not exaggerated. . Ih conclusion, Mr. Harnett expressed thanks on- behalf of. tho team and the English and • Wolsh Rugby Unions for tho i*ocoption,-. (Applause.)

' • REMARKS BY THE CAP,TAIN. • -,- . Mr. A. F; Harding,-captain of : tlib' team), wascalled'upon, and ho spoke in h breezy and popular-veiny making himself perfectly at homo with tho audionco. "Wo all have' to thank you very.much," ho said, "for tho Enthusiastic reception you havo giveii us. I know wo would get a good. tiino. I happened to bo hero four .years ngo; and I have never forgotten tho grand time wo had then. This time wo got a lino day-slaugh-ter) —that is sornothing.. Last time," ho added, pathetically, ' "'we ' only got threo fino days out of three weoks. (Laughter.) Wo'vo had a good. Start, and we all feel exceedingly comfortable. ' All our team," he proceeded, moro seriously, "have read oertain adverse criticisms in England, particularly in tho north of England. ' Of courso, those things are bound to occur. All aro aware of that. Had Scotland and Ireland u'een things in the samo light as wo did, wo should probably have been able to bring out a stronger team. As it is, wo have, I think, an exceedingly sound team. . They may not bo brilliant, but thoy arc certainly a sound, lot, and, as Sir Joseph Ynird said, wo havo youth on our sido. I think," ho continued pleasantly, " that we will bo ablo to give you. a protty hard game. (Cheers.) Of coursK, wo don't hope for a minuto to finish , with a record liko Gallahcr's., team, for. the English and Welsh wofo perfectly awuro tiiiit no . fmor team ever weiit on tho Jield than the team that visited England in 1905. In .Wales,', particularly, they know that. I don't mind tolling you," ho said, "that.wo havo a quiet confidenco in ourselves, and we feel that-if wo. win, at any rate, a majority. of the teste, wo shall hav'o done something for tho good of Rugby. Wo had a protty good slating from these ,papers, and if wo win, it won't do you any harm, and it will do us . a lot of good. I havo again to thank very much, ami to. assure you that if wo. cannot win those matchos, which is. extremely doubtful, we will try to take our limiting like sportsmon. (Cheer's.) Of the reception wo shall get, wo have not tho slightest fear. Whether we win or lose, wherever We go, wo shall get absolutely fair play. (Hear, hear.) Ono, of tho things'l'wish always to remomber is that 1 after wo wero whacked hoto' in "1904, wo wero cheorod for. about four miles as wo wore returning to town."

' Tho audioiico rose to their feet, and the iipplause became deafening, nnd the visitors wero given three_ hearty chews, to which they replied by giving the Welsh war cry Tho function concluded just before six o'clock. WELLINGTON REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. ' TWENTY-FOUR MEN SELECTED. Tho Wellington selectors, Messrs. It. Kelly jV. It. Meredith, and ( M. liogan, have, selected 24 men to go into training in view of the final selection of tlio team to represent tho province against tho Visitors. The ir.eh selected aro: —Hacks—George Spencer (Aiclroße), Thompson (Orieiital), Mitcheson (Poneke), J. Rjnii (IVtone), Evenson (Athletic), Wallace (Poneke), Roberts (Oriental), Green (Petone). Forwards —Ready (Petorie), Houlihan (Southern), Hamilton (Melrose), 'J'resizo ■ (Poiiekc), Knight (Petone), A. Wilson (Athlotic), A. M. Wilson (Wellington), ■Rush . (Poneke), Alexander (Old Boys), Caleinai (Poneke), We war (Melrose)j M'Kay. (Wellington), J. Spencer (Melrose), Isaacs (Oriental). Wing forwards—Hardlmm (Petone),- King (Molrose). The final seleotion will be made after liest Saturday's matches. ■ The selectors word not • prepared to pick a team straight out after Saturday's play, a 9 they havo had so little time to watch players this season. Tho back combination is strong enough, and only one man will have, to bo dropped from the combination selected, deorgo Spencer will doubtless.be. full back, and Roberts, Wallace, and Thompson are certainties for a place. Of the others Green, the lit,tle Petone half-back, is .well worth his place,-, and Ryan, Petone, should not havo much difficulty in retaining his ..position. This narrows the, last place down to Evenson and Mitchcsoiu The former has played fairly well throughout tho Season;<and mtiy impi'ovo in the company lie would he iiii Mitcheson, on the other hand, has only played in one championship match this, season, on account of an injury to his laieo, and in that iriatch ho appeared to ho taking care of himself. Unless ho combs to light on Saturday ho may bo left; . The committee could have picked another ltalf-dosion forwards of equal strength and ability ,to the 1G selected. There are really no forwards in the City at present who stand out as being -anything' vastly, bettor than their fellows.- The writer would hazard that, Ready, A. M. Wilson (Wellington), and A. Wilson (Athletic), Rush, J. Spencer, and Hardlmm, will be amongst tho finally selected vanguard. The players selected are expected to attend at;, tho. Athletic -Club's gymnasium at 8.30 to-iiight for training. A PROPOSED CONFERENCE. A'ihatter affecting-tho visitors was brought up at last night's meeting of the Referees' Association. Mr. •L. Siovers, secretary, suggested that it would be a good idea to invito the members of tho visiting team to attend a special meeting of tlio Association to discuss the laws of tho game. Ho thought: it would bo of advantago to the visitors to llavo a talk and be given an idea of tho way thc'-rules are interpreted by' Now Zealand referees, 110 moved:formally that a special meeting be called for the above purposoj and tlmt tho iriombet's'-of-tho British team be invited to attend. The motion'was seconded by Mr. C. Atkinson. . , ■ Mr. F. A. Lav.'s thought the proposal was a gbod one, but would havo to bo carried ■ out; thoroughly to be a success. Tliej- might got . some of the old members of tho Association to attend, and also others interested in tho game. Such a conference would give visitors a chanco of being placed on the same' footing as regards the niles as our own imfen, and ihdirectly, if not directly,would bring the referees'in New Zealand into touch with the rcfetees of tho Old Country! / Tho motion was put'to tho mooting and carried/ A sub-committeo, cohsisting of Messrs'. C. Atkinson, J. H.'Laiiglitoh.'E. A. Lawsj P. Mackie, and Hoive, was'sot up to. r .the necessary iirraiigemerits. It, & uiitlbi'stood that the'idea is, to hold the conference" next' weok, .'after tho Britishers Hava.playcfljtlieir. first match. ;i, MATCH AGAINST THE MAORIS. :

£ Having • Toqeiycd"; several '; .telegrams\from; natives' ini' various parts' of, the Dominion requesting-/liita 'to, omlqayour 'to arrange., a. matteli' between tho British team and ,one representative of . the--. Jtlaori. race/ Sir. .Charles' Pnrata waited. oil. Mi\.' A. Vjp.. Harding,' tho captain of thjo team,.at the Grand Hotel yesterday, morning. ' After Mr.'Parata had explained tho 'desire, of. the Maoris to ltieet the Englishmen' in .the, football, field, ; Mr.' Harding said he.-iyas, pioasod. to hear front- the Natives, and .personally he would be delighted'if such a match'could'.be' ar-t ranged." He had humorous'.recollections of the ganlo played by Mis last British team fit Rotorua, but ho 'cbuld not say anything Without consulting tho manager and the, New Zealand Rugby Unioh. Oil' hearing that it had been arranged that tho team should spend three or four days at Eotrtrlia) lje thought it possible that a! game might be arranged while they were there.

, . A CRITICISM. . . 1 , (liv C. B. Fry.) 1 In tho new number of "C. B. fry's Magazine",'tho editor. (Mr.- Fry himself) makes somo interesting comments 011 the coming tour . of. the .Riigbv i team in -Now Zealand. He deals first with tho decision arrived at. by the Scottish and Irish Unions, and says he "cannot compliment oither bodyupon its action." Mr., Fry proceeds: "Olio will think less, of tho amateurs of Scotland , and Ireland if they.stand boing, dictated to in .this manlier. Though neither body, have...given a reason for their. extraordinary refusal to participate.in' the-trip,-it is well known that their ideas upon the whole subject of colonial tours as an encouragement of professionalism Sre-at tho. bottom of,it; In this they arc, : in my opinion, - wrong.- No properlycondiictcd tour of a team of ahiateurs assists professionalism. Rather the reverse. For it shows tho, public interested in tho gamo which, of tho two games—tho amateur or tho professional—is the better sport. And 110110 of the money taken at tho gates of sn amateur game goes toward the. benefit of professionalism. Indirectly it has in the caso of: some of the New Zoalandoi's who toiired under the .Northern llugb.v Union-thip. season. For many of t-liem belonged to clubs which benefited .by some of the. bawbees taken out of Scotland. But this is an excentional. case, not likely ,to bo repeated. In the face of tho recrudescence of professionalism in tho Rugby game it. was" tho duty of both tho retiring unions to join the parent body and the Welsh Union in sending a strongest possible United Kingdom team to Now Zealand, and td sink all personal feelings in. tho matter.- The team leaving England.in April will not now be representative, and is. iii. any caso, a -'poor ..return to tho .Now-Zealand Rugby. Union for the magnificent team they sent-us in 1905, together with the revival in tho Rugby gamo which that -toam brought- about. To make mattera worse, Scotland has refused to give , a date to tho toam duo hero next season from New South Wales. Ireland has, however, so far relented from, their mistaken notion of the right course to pursue as to givo tho New South Walcrs a match. But from the sportsman's viewpoint the tiling, is disastrous, and I have not discovered anyone with a good point in its favour or with a sound argument; wliorcwith to.back up that word.. Tho more colonial tours, properly managed, the better. Sport is the backbono and the life's blood of the entire nation, and is not to bo trilled with."

Mr. F,i',y then goes on to express the opinion that tlio whole bother might. have boon avoided three years ago, when iirranjroinents were; being made for the tour of the Now Zealand team, which' eamo to lie known as tho' * 'All Blacks," in England. New Zealand wanted the Kugby Union to guarantee the tour. '"'J.lie Jlugby Union were illadvised financially. Tlioy held .up their hands in horror At the more thought of risk. 'No, 1 said they; 'come if you like, and we'll give you a jolly good welcome,'but' run t!:r show yourselves. Don't look to 'us for 11 penny-piece if gates are not what thev ought to be.'' Kosult: The team came, saw, and eowiuered. This awakened tho monoy-makiiig instinct in New Zealand, which 'may In 'God's own country,' but does not, therefore, improve tho policy of something for nothing'. TJie w'holo conditions of life in tho colonic!-, .aro in favour of men making mouoy by play, ibg games."