THE ALL BLACKS

Evening Star, Issue 19840, 13 April 1928, Page 10

THE ALL BLACKS

CIVIC FAREWELL AND BANQUET [Peb United Press Association-! WELLINGTON, April _ 12. The All Blacks will leave Wellington to-morrow afternoon for South Africa. The members of the team were accorded a civic farewell to-day, and were entertained at a banquet to-night. The Prime Minister was present on both occasions. Mr Hornig (manager of the team) and Mr M. Brownlie (captain) stated that, although they did not expect to return with an unbeaten record, they would be well satisfied to win the majority _of the tests. Both realised the magnitude of the task set the team. At the banquet there were among those present Mr J. G. Coates (Prime Minister), Mr K. S. Williams (Minister of Public Works), Mr H. Manoy, of \ Motueka (president of the New Zealand Rugby Union). Honored guests were Messrs W. T. -Wynyard (a member of the New Zealand Native team which toured Great Britain in 1888), F. F. Roberts, F. Glasgow, W. Wallace, 11. D. Thomson, and G. H. Dixon (members of the 1905 All Blacks), and several members of the 1924 New Zealand team which toured Great Britain and France without sutfering a single defeat. Mr Coates wished the team every success on the tour. The people of New Zealand, he said, would be behind the team to a man in the stern tussles ahead. Mr Coates proposed the toast of the New Zealand team, lie said the people had every confidence in the members of it. The players had to remember they were representing New Zealand amongst strange people in a strange land. Nothing could bring the two peoples together more quickly than the bond of sport, and the team could do the dominion a great service by leaving a good impression. No one could underestimate the stamina of the Springboks. “The best of good luck,” concluded Mr Coates, “and if it should be your misfortune to bo beaten, remember that the same welcome will await you in New Zealand as if you had been victorious.” All the speakers were of the opinion that the tour would be the hardest that a New Zealand team had ever been called on to undertake. Each member of the team was presented with a New Zealand Olympic badge.

GOOD WISHES IP»b United Pbhss Association.l WELLINGTON, April 12. The conference of the New Zealand Labor Party conveyed by resolution to tho All Blacks the heartiest good wishes, expressed appreciation of the sportsmanship of past teams which had made such an excellent contribution to international goodwill and understanding, and wished them bon voyage, every success, and a sate return. The New Zealand Council of the Football Association at its meeting to-night sent best wishes for the success of the team. SALE OF SEASON TICKETS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CAPE TOWN, April 13. Season tickets, giving the right to rebook the same seats for the All Black matches, are being sold.—Australian Press Asociatiou.