NEW ZEALANDERS IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 101, 23 January 1936, Page 6

NEW ZEALANDERS IN LONDON

Notable Gathering SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS HONOURED •■Dominion” Special Service.—By Air Mail. Lomlon, December 24. One of the most notable gatherings ever held by the New Zealand Society in London took place at the Hotel Metropole yesterday, ft had been arranged to honour Miss .Jean Batten, after her record South Atlantic Hight, Mr. J. E. Ixivelock, for his achievements on the running track, ami the AU Blacks, for their line record on and off the Held during their tour of Britain. Sir James Barr, president of the society, was in the chair, aud on behalf of the sports bodies of New Zealand presented Mr. Lovelock with a desk made of New Zealand woods, with the ink fount in greenstone. He read a letter signed by officials of the Pioneer Sports Club of Christchurch, which had organised the presentation. The letter staled that athletes in New Zealand had followed with close interest Mr. Lovelock’s career. His achievements on the track, coupled with the fact that he had always run under the fern leaf, had been an inspiration to young runners in the Dominion. Sir James Parr added his own congratulations, saying that Mr. Lovelock’s career reflected glory not only on himself but on New Zealanders generally. Mr; S. S. Dean, as a member of the New Zealand Olympic Council, thanked the New Zealand Society and Sir James Parr for their help in organising the gathering. He wished Mr. Lovelock continued success. Mr. J. Manchester, captain of flic AH Blacks, said that as a former pupil of the same school, Timaru, it gave him particular pleasure to congratulate Mr. Lovelock on his achievements. He was still the same unassuming sportsman as he had been in his school days. It was very -pleasing to the All Blacks to sec what a fine name he had made for himself aud his country in the athletic world.

Mr. Lovelock, who received an ovation 011 rising to reply, thanked the people of New Zealand for their kindness and thoughtfulness. Till New Zealanders came to England they did not realise how faraway and how isolated their own country was. ‘‘Those of us who make our homes here experience to the full English kindness and hospitality,” he said. ‘‘But New Zealanders in a far country must remain more or less an isolated community. We must keep our individuality. In this way we can do a great deal for New Zealand. People like Miss Batten and the All Blacks, line representatives of New Zealand, do a great deal to maintain and extend her reputation abroad.” Sir James Parr then presented to each member of the -til Blacks a sliver cigarette-box from New Zealanders in England ami a, silver ash-tray from Lord Bledisloe. The High Commissioner congratulated the team on its excellent record on aud off the field. Ar' occasional loss was no subject for lamentation, but was good for the game and all concerned with it. Mr. V. R. Meredith, manager of the team, in response, said that the great welcome of that day had done much to dissipate the atmosphere of cold and fog which enveloped the country. It was a great delight to meet so many representatives of the land of the silver fern who still retained pride and affection for their native country, and such a gathering was specially heartening at this final stage of a long tour. Mr. Doan presented a greenstone paper-weight to Mr. C. J. Wray, on behalf of the New Zealand Rugby Union, in recognition of his long services to the Dominion as its representative in Loudon. Mr. ’Wray, in reply, said it had been a great pleasure to do what he could as New Zealand’s representative and to lessen the gap between New Zealand’s visits to Britain. It had been a great joy to welcome the team of 1935. They had right -well and truly upheld the reputation of New Zealand. Miss Batten was held up by fog at Southampton, where she was given a civic reception. The presentation to her of a dressing-ease for air travel, subscribed for by members of the New Zealand Society, will be made separately.