CHINESE TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1923, Page 11

CHINESE TOUR

''I'- » MS BWtOR. ! Sir,—With your permission -1 -would luike to have the opportunity of replying' to "8.H." in a letter which appeared^.in your Soccer notes last week. I am one who is a great believer in fair criticism, for it prevents stagnation, encourages progress; and thus helpß our game along. I do, however, object to unfair criticism which is, and every true sport will agree, a menace to our game. He states that the main argument used in favour of my going to Australia was that I would be able to arrange a visit of the Chinese team to New Zealand.' This was not so for I was sent over in connection with the Canadian and English tours, arid believe that in all probability New Zealand will be saved close oh £1000 by the arrangements I made with the' Australian : officials, , However, while in Australia, I did go into that matter because I was particularly anxious that the Chinese team should come over here, and if the promoters of the Chinese teamhad carried out their part of the arrangement there is no doubt that we would be shortly having the Chinese team touring New Zealand. . ■ '^1 would like to point out to your' correspondent, however, that when I left Australia definite arrangements had not. been made by the Australian authorities with the promoters in Hong Kong, so that it -was impossible;, seeing that arrangements had notV- been , made over there for nle to make arrangements ion behalf o^. New Zealand. Therefore, on my arrival back negotiations were purely a matter for" the New Zealand Football Association,. „ -I'lt might also be mentioned that an ttffer was made to the promoters in "Auckland some months ago, and we.have not yet received a reply, so no fault lies at my hands. ■:■.-■ ,; ;My advice to "8.H." would^ be to know his! subject before he writes* on it. >--I am, etc., A ' -'. '■■*. H. IVATT GRAVES. ' 23rd August.