WELCOME VISITORS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1935, Page 6

WELCOME VISITORS

INDIAN TEAM AT HOKITIKA. ENTERTAINED AT LUNCHEON. Members of the All India hockey team and officials were the centre or interest at the luncheon given in their honour by the Tiihua Men’s Hockey Club to-day at Preston’s tea rooms. There was quite a large gathering, including the Mayor and Mayoress (Miami Mrs 0. A. Perry) Messrs Doctor and Gupta (officials of the Indian team*). Mrs Doctor, West Coast Association officials, members of the Tulma Club and others.

The visitors were given the opportunity of meeting the Hokitika members of the Coast team, and general introductions were effected. At the tables the visitors mingled freely with the others who pliod them with many and varied questions coucerning conditions in India, and particulars of their tour. They were instantly popular with everybody, and frequent laughts echoed above tn« general hum of conversation. Mr Perry expressed sincere pleasure at the opportunity of welcoming trie visitors, regretting they were not seeing the district under better weather conditions. Wide public interest was being taken m the tour of the All Indians who had come from a distant country to .this far outpost of the Empire to whihli they all He paid tribute to the prowess ou the field and expressed the hope that to-mor-row’s match might prove their Waterloo. Their visit would undoubtedly give a great fillip to hockey here as well as throughout the Dominion, and if tney were to return to New Zealand in three years’ time, he was sure they would beaten.

It was with sincere feelings he extended the welcome. The visitors brought impressions from a distant land, and their visit helped both peoples to understand one another, which was of the utmost importance. He thought all would find their ideals were much t ( he same, and that they were working with the same object in view—the peace and prosperity or Hie x-.-pire, a.nd of the world. India, he concluded was now playing an important part among the nations or tne worm to-day. Mr T. R. Say well said lie was also pleased to extend a welcome to Hokitika, the capital of "Westland. There were other and larger questions involved in the tour apart from the game itself, in that much was being done to help cement the ties ol friendship. He was looking forward to the match to-morrow, and if the Coast team sprang a surprise win, as Coast teams sometimes did, ho new the Indians would he as pleased as anyone, lie noped their tour would he enjoyable and that they would return with pleasant recollections.

. Mr Be hr am Doctor replied in humourous vein, many of his remarks causing a laugh. Regarding to-mor« roiv’s game, he kneiv that, if tWy should lose, his captain would be the first to congratulate the Coast team, and that his .congratulations "would carry the best wishes of the team. It was rightly said tile Indian needs to he understood, at no time more than the present, and he hoped there would be a better understanding as a result of the tour. Ho spoke of India’s position in the Commonwealth of Nations, and said: “We are proud to be under the Union Jack of the Empire.” He concluded on the note of urging upon his hearers the desirability for breaking down the feeling of superiority complex, " and this would be achieved hy closer friendship and better understanding.

Mr Gupta spoke in similar strain

He opened his remarks with a few light passages which had his audience in smiles. He endorsed Mr Doctoi s reference to superiority complex, and went on to speak of New Zealand’s prospects concerning the future of the game. Referring to the weather and to-morrow’s game he said: “If our mind is clear, the sky i\ ill be clear, and a clean match will result.” He spoke of the visit they had paid to the gold dredge this morning, and said after meeting the Hokitika people he Avas convinced “You are all golden people.” He also thanked the people for their welcome. Mr Ralchin, on behalf of West Coast Association, thanked the Tuhua Club for their hospitality.