“WELL DONE!”

Evening Star, Issue 19709, 9 November 1927, Page 3

“WELL DONE!”

WELCOME TO 0110 CRICKETERS CIVIC RECEPTION AND GOVERNMENT LUNCHEON [Psr United Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, November 8. At the civic reception to- the cricketers Mr Troup (mayor) said he wished in the first place to say “ Welcome home,” and then, on behalf of New Zealand, “Well done.” The team had far and away exceeded expectations, and on and off the field had faithfully upheld the traditions of New Zealand. “Apart from the game itself,” continued the mayor, “wo were very pleased with the modesty of the team throughout. We sent Homo a team of gentlemen. lam sure that your visit to the Old Country has enhanced tho already good opinion in which New Zealanders are generally held abroad. You have earned your laurels, and we heartily congratulate you. We congrtulato you, Captain Lowry, on the manner in which you led the team, and we congratulate every individual member on the manner in which he upheld New Zealand.”

Sir Francis Bell, who represented the Government, said cricket had two meanings in the English language. One was the definition of the game, and tho other was expressed in the proverb “not cricket.” The latter could not he applied to the doings of the New Zealand cricketers, who had come up to expectations, and more. It made him hope that some day the “All Whites” would make as great as impression as the All Blacks. Sir Francis mentioned

the different conditions existing in New Zealand and England so far as cricket was concerned, and then referred to the remarks made by Mr Lowry concerning the New Zealanders’ howling. In his opinion, New Zealand bowling was quite as good as the amateur bowling in England, but England had her professionals to call upon. New Zealanders could compete with the Old Country in hatting, and there was no reason why that proof should not continue to bo demonstrated.

Cr W. E. Luckio, Mr Heathcote Williams, and Mr Peter Fraser, M.P. (on behalf of the Labor Party), also spoke, praising the team’s record ns cricketers and gentlemen. Mr Lowry, ' replying, expressed appreciation of the farewell and welcome home. The team had,_ in the early matches in England, visions, perhaps, of meeting super-men and dragons, hut after the first win they thought they “ would take the whole lot on, and England ns well.”_ (Laughter.) Usually they got their runs quickly, ami that, he thought, pleased tho English people. Commenting on the financial loss of the tour, Mr Lowry attributed that to the had weather. Concerning the bowling, Merritt had been outstanding, and Blunt excellent. Friends in England and cricket critics bad told him they were disappointed with tbc fielding. It certainly was not good, and be believed that something in this direction could be done in the schools.

Speaking at the Government luncheon to the team, Mr Coates said it looked as though the team bad placed cricket in Now Zealand on the map in the dominion and overseas, adding; “But we must not forgot, in our expressions of appreciation and admiration of tho line performance, individual and collective, of our team, the work and financial responsibility that were accepted by the M.C.C. in England.” Deferences by the Prime Minister to tho record of the team, and to the expressions of opinion given by Lord Harris, tho Lord Mayor of London, Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., Lord Jellicoe, and the London ‘ Times ’ met with rounds of applause. Those •comments and utterances, said Mr Coates, were such as to make everyone feel proud.