WARM WELCOME

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1937, Page 19

WARM WELCOME

FOUR CRICKETERS

"Bj£ OF-OLD/ ENQU\NDK

Four members of the English cricket, team now in Wellington; werje the"guests of thisiircountrymen in Neyv; Zealand at a fuhctidn at the Hotel St. George last night The reception, which was arraiige4 by the Yorkshire Society of New' Zealand in association.' with the. Men/;' of, Kent, and' Kentish,Men Society,' was. in*; honour, pi'<" 'S. Verity and/. M.' L'eylarid: (Yorkshire), and L. E/'G. Ames,' anil W. R. Hani-mond-(Kerit);::- '-'?■' ■ .. 1

Mr. K.■? Atkinson, president of the Yorkshire .Socjety /of■'■'.N,ew. Zealand, presided over'a large attendance."' \ '."Within these/walls tonight we have a little bit' of/old, England," said ,'■ Mr;. Atkinson in "ejctehding'a'weic'ome tp the. cricketers.1/ The four guests; hp said,: had' brought .distinction■ to''thp counties, represented, ' not, 'only by their efforts ..on. the, flejd. of sp.ort,, but by the : fine manner, in -which, they; had upheld. British',./tradition' both in' vie--tory; ahd'in'; defeat. Although they had "failed 'to win" "a -majority.\-of f Tests in' Australia,, this ;'Enjlistin^en,.- hjidj had their share, ofvyictbries.'ih. the'p'a'sti, fliidf..h.e 4 reminded, those, present, of the. little parody;" "Ash.esj to .ashes;/': dust to dust; i£< : EnglandiCanft. win; theAshes^ Auslralia. mtist,".: ;" . . ... ; ' i /Mr. Atkinson paid special tributes to his:; countrymen,; Verity/anH Leyland;' ■Dr. C. J.'.''-Retakes, president 'of l tHe Men -of - Kent. and Kentish'/Meii.;Sc4 ciety, joined; with' Mr; 'Atkins'oh.-. 'fri welcoming 'the;■ cricketers.;''Kent,Vh,ad turned- but, no finer: cricketers! than Ames. and: Hammond! . .'Ames/was/fei

cognised as the best batsman-wicket-keeper in, the world, and the people of Kent were very proud of him. Hammond, top, was brilliant, and he Had set a standard as a batsman and bowler which few others could attain.

"This speech is going to be about as long as my innings today," said Leyland. "I am very sorry about that, I wanted to1 get a few today, but it wasn't to be. I s forgot to chalk my cue before I went ' m." (Laughter) Leyland said that he and his "colleagues appreciated the warmth, of the welcome. Past experience had taught them to look 'forward to' their stay in the Dominion. '

"Maurice, and I are like bad pennies, we have turned up again," said Verity, who also thanked the 'associations t for the reception. Ames replied on behalf of himself and Hammond, who was unable to remain. "New Zealand," he said, "seems to be much qmeter after Australia, and—l don't want1 tp 'be rude—the cricket is much 'easier/ (Laughter )v Kent is well known for its extensjve productipn of. hops,, and, much, amusement was caused when, the president 'oi th& Association of, Men of, Kent and Kentish, Men presented Ames with a bouquet of'hops. During the evening* songs were given by, Miss, Gladys Webb and Messrs. R. Hill and L Stapp. The aqco'mpanist was, Mr. Clement Howe.