FOOTBALL IN NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 270, 7 August 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL IN NEW ZEALAND.

I VIEWS THE BRITISHERS; 7 : (prom our special correspondent.) i. ' . ■- Sydnoy, August 1. ~ ,i "Two members of the;-British -team, Messrs'." p. H. .Harnett (tiio rßanagor).;ja'ny;'.H!lrdirig •(the captain), have beda'expressing'.Bofiib' interesting opinions, liorb aboift football ,iu Now Zealand. , ; r" '■The New, Zealanders' play a very, very keen gamo,'-'- said Jlr. Harnott, interviewed on arrival _ here by a "Herald" representative .on Friday. "Fobtball is almost the religion of the.j people over.' there.' j "I think'-the wing forward ' ought to bo abolished. He is always off-side; is'an obstructionist, I .'and. spoils the game. Still, we managed to-get , the ball, despite^'tho „oxist-, once of this wing person. , .... I ■"'Wo had ; magnificent weather, a;d tho trip was .enjoyed immensely. In tho Kotorua 'district we think we'found the home''of the cleyil. _ The river-trips we Had, 1 and"-the hospitality and generosity.wo met with, were beyond our'anticipations." Mr. Harding,-;havingv:been a off Bcdcll-SivriglitV team which played- several games in ..New*Zealand in 1905, mado a comparison* between tho play ho saw then and that against his own team during the ,pour jqst"'completed. \ i ■ "Of course, wo played more games against them thistime;" lib l replied; "I'dbn'tthink' tlioro is very much difference." ; : "Were; the combinations representing' Now Zealand 'better . all-round- teams than ' tho ■All Blacks' who toured- Great Britain' in 1805?" i

. "No, I-, would not say so. I think they wore hardly as - I played against the 'M . Blacks,'and. in ,myS'iow thoy rank with tho bestrteams -thilt ever went'on to a football field.'"

Some., of tlie English critics accused tho 'All Blacks' pointing. ..What have you got to. say now that your tour is over?" "That;has not been olir-experience. I say that they play a willing game, but wo have nothing to complain: of.' I" think'that they might vpry well abolish tho wing-forward. Wo,hold,/tho view strongly that the wingforward is allowed too much latitude over thero, and that ho is responsible' for a lot. of oft-side..: play. . Mind, I don't • say that ho wins their-games. '••; I ,think they would win just- as faany games without him. Bilt often'lie,would 1 be out to our three-quarters .before the ball; was past our. half... He gets 'in the way of, a tdckle." ■' ■>. ■■ ■ : Mr. Harditlg said further tliat' ho was astonished at "the interest shown: in football by the.public of New> Zealand. "It'is romarkable," .he - said, : "to see tho keohness 'shown'by man, ■ wonian ; and :child of overy class.' They." talco, their football .very seriously. . -We look on-it rather as,a'pastime, but it. is''inbEO,thah.:.that..;in Nowi; Zealand. ;I heard thdt;'pepple;;B.tood' outside tho nowspapor; offices ;-all, night' waiting .for the result iof tho; 'All.-.Black'/T.m'atches.; "•;I?don > t thiiik I could bo-'induced .-to stay; oi)t; of. my bed -'to: do thilt";-;/Bu'fr"raM...i's;. J hd.youl)t'- as to tho football."; • ' ■