N.S.W. LEAGUE TEAM

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 301, 15 September 1922, Page 8

N.S.W. LEAGUE TEAM

WELCOMED BY PRIME MINISTER. An official welcome was extended to the New South Wales Rugby League touring team by the Prime Minister at Parliament buildings yesterday. . Tho visitors, who were accompanied by Mr. D. W. McLean, president of the New Zealand Rugby League, and Mr. E. Phelan, a member of the New Zealand executive of the league, were introduced by Mr. J. S. Dickson, M.P. Mr. Massey said that he wished to tender to the visitors a very hearty welcome and to express the hope that they would have a particularly good time while in New Zealand. He thought it a very good thing to see Australian teams coming to New Zealand and teams from the Dominion paying, return visits. These interchanges were bringing the two countries closer and closer together, and he could assure them that the. feeling in New Zealand towards Australia and the Australians was better than it had ever been before. The two countries were beginning to realise that they meant much to each other and that their destinies were inseparable. He believed that they, would come still closer together in the future. Mr. H. Flegg, one of the managers of the team,- said that this was the first time the Australian League team had been honoured bv being welcomed by the Prime Minister of tho Dominion and they appreciated it. but not more than it'would be appreciated in Australia. He agreed that an exchange of visits had a very good effect in cementing the friendshin of the. two peoples. The feeling in Australia so far as New Zealand was concerned was one of high regard. They had come to New Zealand to give an exhibition of football and to show the people here that there' was something in the League code. . _ Mr. McLean believed that if the people of Wellington could have an opportunity of seeing the League game played by two good teams they would say it was the better code. Obstacles had been placed in the way here, but they were going to make it possible to stage a game in Wellington, and they wished to extend a hearty invitation to the Prime Minister and his colleagues to see tho match. Mr. Massey expressed his thanks for the invitation and said he hoped to be able to avail himself of it.