FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 July 1924, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

FAREWELL TO ALL BLACKS.

Upwards of two hundred members and friends of the Hawera Football Club gathered in the' Foresters’ Hall last evening for the purpose of sayinw farewell to Messrs A. H. West and H. Brown, members of the New Zealand football team. Mr. A. Kean was in the chair, and amongst his supporters were Messrs B. Fearon, president of the Taranaki Rugby Union, and Jame s McLeod, chairman of the management committee. A strong committee had made all arrangements, and a very fine programme was presented. , Apologies and felicitations were received from Messrs Youncr (treasurer of the T.R.U.), J. C. White, Len Beamish, Wilkinson, P O’Dea, and J Garcia. Mr. Greenbanks proposed the toast Union and referred to the good work being done to foster the game in the province. Mr. B. Fearon, in responding, congratulated the Hawera Club on the honour of having two of its members selected for the AR Black tour. He had no doubt whatever as to the wav they would uphold the honour of the Dominion, and that they would maintain their own high reputations as footballers. The All Black s no doubt were the. best means of advertising the Dominion, and great responsibili"le® rested on them in consequence. _ Air. Jas. McLeod regretted that t)r. Sinclair, another member of the club, had been forced to retire from the trial matches, or perhaos a third member might have been added He also desired to congratulate Messrs West a ‘ 1( l Brown, and expressed the hope that they would come back sound in wind and limb. The Taranaki Uhion this year was being criticised in certain quarters, but at the end of the season it was honed that the new system will have 'justified itself and clubs be better off financially than ever before. The province was building up a new r team, and in another season or so - the added experience of the All Blacks, would again take the foremost position in 'the Rugby world. Mr. W. A. Guy, in proposing the toast of the HaVera Club, referred to its long and honourable history and its high place in the annals of New Zealand football.

Mr. G. Villers, in responding, made a plea for the better recognition/of junior football, and said that more . coaching wa s required. Dr Sinclair, who also responded, said that the Hawera Club in his mind was associated with the names of ' ? unte , r u “ Toi ’P” Whittington, Alf West, and Dick Fogarty . He would no " T J»avo to add Brown to the list. Other toasts were “The Referees’ Association,” “Kindred Sports,” and Ihe Press,” proposed respectively bv the chairman, Messrs F. Steven s ‘and P. Sheehan. Mr. B. C. Bennett who is ioimiiig one of the official partv was also toasted and wished Godspeed.

Mr Jas. McLeod presented Mr A nest with a suit case and a. pocket w-aUet and in doing -so. wished to state that no more pormlar player ever went on to a field than Alf West. Ho lererred to the great responsibilities that lav on the older members of the team, both on and off the field. There could be no doubt that a judicious b’®). experience was needed, as a stiffening for the younger plnj’ers. He also made reference to the coming conreiencet regarding the game, and trustd that the Old Land would give the suggested alterations- in the game a good hearing, and make the necessary changes. ihere had been a great change since the new rules re kick into touch had come into force and with changing tactics certain other alterations in irules were needed for the benefit of the game. Another thing he wanted to rerer to was the attitude of the English Union to the iiiestion or out-oi-rmeket expenses. He could not see how a' small allowance could do any harm to the game and spoil the amateur spirit which was the pride of the game. He hoped that as a result or the conference a reasonable spirit will prevail, and that future tours will not be hampered because of the matter of out oi pocket expenses. „ Mr H. Brown, who was on his way rrom Sydney, will receive a watch. Mr West, on rising to reply, was received with a great deanonstration of good fellowship, acclamations and cheers showing his great popularity. Mr West made a very fine speech of about fifteen minutes’ duration, and thanked all present for their expressions of good will. He had no idea what other fellows' thought, but he himself had got a great deal of fun out ,of the game, and had always played with his whole heart in it.' He did not know that he played to please the selectors, but it appeared that his efforts had impressed them, and . naturally enough lie was pleased to be of some use to the football of the country. Words could not express liis feelings for the kindnesses heaped upon him, and he would always treasure the memories of tlm happy days in football in Taranaki. Messrs W. A. Guy and J. J. O’Sullivan (one of the 1905 team) also spoke, and gave good advice to the players present. The following gentlemen contributed towards the harmony of the proceedings: Messrs J. Davies, Hughes, Vivian, Hastie, Thomas, Hostlck, Burch, T. Harvey, Simpson and Fearon. A capable orchestra, under the/ direction of Mr R. Davies, was iri attendance, and rendered several items verv acceptably. Mr R. Davies presided at the piano. .