SOCCER TEAM SAILS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 278, 20 August 1938, Page 18

SOCCER TEAM SAILS

Tour Of New South Wales And Queensland

SECONDARY SCHOOL BOYS

The New Zealand representative secondary schools’ Association football team, the first boys’ team from any code to leave New Zealand, were passengers from Wellington yesterday by the Maunganui for Sydney. The boys, who are in charge of two managers, Messrs. J. Y. Walls, Wellington, and W. E. Martin, Auckland, are to play probably six matches in Queensland and New South Wales, and are to leave Sydney on their return voyage on September 12. One of the 16 boys chosen to travel, Irvine, of Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland, did not accompany the team because of indisposition, but if lie has recovered in time, he is to Join the team.in Sydney and will leave Auckland by the Aorangi on Monday. If Irvine is not fit to travel, he will be replaced by A. Blackie, Takapuna Grammar School, Auckland. Members of the team were the guests of the New Zealand Football Association at luncheon and later, when the Maunganui sailed, there was a large gathering of Soccer officials and friends of the boys on the wharf to speed them on their wav.

FAREWELL TO TEAM Government’s Good Wishes The Mlinister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, and other members of the Cabinet met the team and officials of the New Zealand and Wellington Football Associations at morning tea at Parliament House yesterday. The Minister welcomed the team and expressed the good wishes of the Government'for the success of the tour, which he d’escribed as a unique and historic event because this was the first New Zealand boys’ team to leave the Dominion. The Minister said that, from conversations with members of the team, he had with pleasure that the Mt. Albert Grammar School, Auckland, had won the schools’ championships in Rugby, Association football and hockey. That was rather signifi; cant, and he was very pleased to see the school, achieve the front rank in all three sports, because it proved without the shadow of a doubt, that there was no need to keep a school confined to one game. (Hear, hear.) “We want to create a spirit of tolerance,” added the Minister. “Because we embark on and enjoy one form of sport, there is no re_ason to be intoerant of others. It is unhealthy and not good sportsmanship in my opinion. ! Value of Tour.

'Che Minister of Education, .Hon. P. Fraser, referred to the tour as a triumph for the ' New Zealand Football Association, the school clubs, the boys and the parents, and wished it every success as a worthy co-operative effort. The greatest thing sport could give was the ability to play the game through life, and the tour would be invaluable from the educational as well as from the sporting standpoint. The Minister of Defence, Hon. F. Jones, and the Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, added their good wishes for the success of the tour.

Thanking Mr. Barry for the reception to the team, Mr. J. A. Milburn, chairman of the council of the New Zealand Football Association, said he felt sure the team would do well in Australia. The calibre of the nominees had been so high that the selectors had been faced with an arduous task and, from the material available, could have made up three or four teams of equal strength. Mr. Milburn paid a tribute to Mr. W. R. Martin and Mr. J. Y. Walls, the managers of the team, and said that they had for many years devoted much of their time to Association football in the schools. The part played in school football and boys’ cricket in .Wellington by Mr. B. A. Mabin, director of the Boys’ Institute, was referred to by Mr. Milburn, who said the New Zealand Football Association was indebted to Mr. Mabin for his work, not only in Wellington, but also in other parts of the Dominion. His wise counsel and organising ability had proved invaluable. “A Pioneering Effort.” “We have begun a pioneering effort wjiich, I hope, will be followed up in subsequent years by all types of sport,” said Mr. Martin, replying on behalf of the team. The boys hoped to emulate the All Blacks, althdugh they realisied they were llyiiig high, said Mr. Walls, but they would do their best to keep their colours flying.

Mr. C. R. Bach, the uewly-appoinited physical welfare officer, spoke briefly to the boys and advised them to enter into permanent correspondence with worthwhile Australians of their own age and also when they came back not to drop Soccer because they had bad enough, of It, but to remember that they were the leading boys in the code and in later years would take their places on the governing bodies which would have charge of the sending away of such teams as the present one.

After Mr. Parry had called for three cheers for the team, the boys expressed their appreciation of the Government’s hospitality by returning the compliment.

(Picture on page 9.)