VICTORS’ RETURN

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 264, 3 August 1932, Page 11

VICTORS’ RETURN

Welcome to All Blacks “BEST N.Z. STANDARD” Tributes to Team & Manager YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE Bronzed by the generous sunshine of Australia, the New Zealand Rugby team, proudly bearing the handsome and massive Bledisloe Cup them, returned from their Australian tour by the sjs. Zealandia, yesterday morning, and were given a warm welcome home at the wnari. The team has proved one of the most popular, both here and in Australia, which has ever carried the silver fern, and they had to spend yesterday in attending a series of Junctlons arranged in their honour. Starting with the reception arranged by the management committee <sf the New Zealand Rugby Union in a Harbour Board shed on No. 2 Queen’s Wharf, the team were the guests of their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Bledisloe, at luncheon at Government House, and at 5.15 p.m. were entertained by the Commercial Travellers’ Club. After posing for photographs on the wharf, the team, in response to insistent calls, from the crowd, performed their stirring haka which proved so popular with the Sydney and Brisbane public. Led by F. Solomon, the stalwart Aucklander, the haka was performed with perfect rhythm and realism, and called up thunders of applause. Rugby Union’s Welcome.

A large crowd attended the welcome arranged by the New Zealand Rugby Union at the wharf. The president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. G. H. Pownall, of Wanganui, said it gave the union great pleasure to welcome the team home after such a successful tour. When the team went away, no one was too sanguine of their success, as they were a youthful side. Their success in winning the Bledisloe Cup, however, had proved" that the selectors had done wisely in including young blood, particularly in view of the tour to Great Britain In 1936, but the union did an even wiser thing when they appointed Mr. W. J. Wallace as manager of the team. New Zealanders were proud the manner in which this youthful team had settled down into a powerful playing force, and he felt sure that every member on returning to his home town would hand on the valuable knowledge and experience gained on the Australian tour. Mr. W. J. Wallace, the manager of the team, upon rising to reply, was given an ovation, hearty cheers being given for the manager and team, on the cajl of Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union. . “When we started out,” said Mr. Wallace, “I don’t think anyone in New Zealand had too sanguine a view of our hopes of success. By hard work and conscientious training, however, the lads had welded themselves into a very fine team, the backs improving out of sight. We were given a glorious time in Australia, and the weather was almost too fine, as we only struck three hours of rain on the whole tour. The consequence was that the team found it very much like playing in summer, and the grounds were much harder than those in New Zealand.” The manager paid a high tribute to the way in which the masseur, Mr. S. Murray, had looked after the physical fitness of the team, his services being available at any hour of the day or night. “The Australians,” concluded Mr. Wallace, “declare that every baby born in New Zealand is presented with a football, and this is the reason why none of the All Blacks will ever accept the dummy.” A Real Team.

The captain of the team, Mr. F. D. Kilby, who was warmly received, said the team was proud of its success, which he declared was largely attributable to the wonderful work of their manager, Mr. Wallace, and the harmony of the team. “New Zealand has every reason to be proud of this team,” said Mr. Kilby, “as it has developed .into a real team, up to the very best New Zealand standard. When the time comes to make the next tour of Great Britain, it will be found that the right material will be on hand.” Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said that the success of the team in Australia augured well for the tour to Britain in 1936. When news of the defeat of the New Zealand team in the first test came through a black cloud had rolled up, but an AU Black cloud had rolled this away in the succeeding two test games, and the team had brought back the Bledisloe Cup. The deputy-captain of the team, Mr. E. R. G. Steere, said the teain was a young one, but they had learnt a lot on the tour. There had been perfect harmony throughout the tour, and the team had proved very popular with the Australian public. Mr. Wallace and Mr. Kilby completed a strenuous day with a talk over the air from 2YA studio at nine o’clock last night. Both leaders of the team gave listeners-in an account of the main incidents of the tour. a Mementoes for Kilby & Steere The popularity of the All Blacks’ captain, F. D. Kilby, and the vice-cap-rain, E. R. G. Steere, was evidenced by presentations made to the two leaders before the team disbanded yesterday. Mr. W. J. Wallace, in handing over the mementoes, said that the team recognised that in Kilby they had a firstclass captain, and they had a genuine affection for both him and Steere. Mr. Wallace had sat with both of them on the selection committee, and could truthfully say that their one object had been the best interests of the team. “To-day is the only sad day we have had since we left New Zealand, remarked A. I. Cottrell (Canterbury), who declared that the team was fortunate in having two such men as captain and deputy-captain. They would always be proud to look back, and say, “We were members of Kilby's team.” Mr. B. P. Palmer (Auckland) voiced the appreciation of the North Island members of the team. Kilby, in returning thanks, appreciated the loyal support he had received from every member of the team. Off the field the team had been splendid. His every request had been carried out without hesitation. Steere said that they had had a wonderful time, not so ranch because of the football they had played and the friends they had made, but because of the harmony which had ex- ■ teted amoi® ths members of the team.