THE SOLE SCOT

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 196, 16 May 1930, Page 8

THE SOLE SCOT

BRITISH RUGBY PLAYERS humour in speeches High good humour marked the speeches given at the civic reception to the British Rugby team Yesterday afternoon. Several speakers brightened the proceedings with humorous asides from the main trend of their remarks and evoked roars of laughter from members of the team and citizens alike. “One Scot—and He’s Welsh.” “We are told the team is a wellbalanced one,” Mr. M. F. Luckie (the Deputy Mayor) said in the course of his address to the visitors. “It doesn t seem so when one considers the representation from the various countries—why, there’s only one Scotsman, and he’s Welsh!” There was a joke that he had been told was only 24 hours’ old, though, probably, like most of these stories, it had been told years ago. A visitor to Wellington had asked what the posts were on Mount Victoria, and had been told that they were the goal posts used by the Mount Victoria Football Club. “Well, no wonder they can play football in this country,” had been the visitor’s comment. “But that is not an account of our excellence at football,” Mr. Luckie added, “only an enthusiastic estimate of our abilities. It rests on yourselves to give us a true idea of our ability, and if you win none will be more ready than Wellington to applaud you.” Councillor W. H. Bennett also had some comment to make on there being only one Scot in the team. “All I can say is this—God help him when he gets to Dunedin,” he said. “A Man Called Luckie.” “I hope your team will be a success,” Dr. P. F. McEvedy said. “No fever, no favour, and the best of luck. Your first civic reception is in the hands of a man called Luckie —well, I hope you will be lucky.” New Zealanders played football because they loved it, said Sir. Kingi Tawhiwi in an enthusiastic eulogy of the game. They had it in the back of their minds that it taught the lesson of tolerance, that it obstructed antagonistic natures, that it soothed the spirit of passion, aud enhanced efforts at fraternising. Both Mr. J. Baxter (manager) aud Mr. F. D. Prentice (captain) expressed themselves as overwhelmed by the cordial welcomes they had received Mr. Prentice observed that he had first played Rugby with New Zealanders. It had happened at the war, when some New Zealanders had been kicking a ball about behind the lines, as they usually were when they had nothing else to do. They had invited him to join them. “And that was my introduction to the greatest game in the world,” Mr. Prentice said. “It is a game that has afforded me many happy times, culminating with the present tour.”