WELCOME TO ALL BLACKS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12093, 21 March 1925, Page 4

WELCOME TO ALL BLACKS

ATHLETT CCLUB’S GATHERING. C. G. PORTER AND K. S. SVENSON The Athletic Football Club supplied to the victorious All Blacks team two members, C. G. Porter the captain, and K. S. Svenson, who has been described as the most consistent back in the teeam. Last night the members and supporters of the club gathered to do honour to their distinguished comrades, and Dustin’s proved too small to accommodate all those who wishe dto be present, and dozens were turned away. Colonel C. F. G. Campbell, seated between Porter and Svenson, presided ao the gathering, and among those also present were Mr S. S. Dean, manager of the All Blacks; Mr W. J. Wallace, of the It .5 team; Mr “Rangi” Wilson, many times a New Zealand representative ; and Mr E. Da'y, a member of the New Zealand team of 1884. To a speech of welcome and congratulation by the chairman both the All Blacks replied. Mr Porter, in a commentary or. the tour, remarked on tho unbounded hospitality offered the team during their tour, and on the standard of English play (declaring that the next New Zealand team to visit England would find the Englishmen well up to their own standard), and recalled an interesting meeting with Messrs Seeling and Smith, members of the 1905 All Blacks, and now in England, who were the first to congratulate the 1924 team on its unbeaten record. Mr Svenson, after expressing the wonder and gratitude felt by all the players at the heartiness of their welcome home, paid tribute to the fine generalship of Porter, an’d his sportsmanship, and to the excellent management of the team by Mr Dean. Many interesting anecdotes of the tour were related by Mr Dean, who said although the hotels in England r.t first were chary of accommodating a \ football team the behaviour of the All Blacks was such that New Zealand teams would always bo welcomed in future. Messrs Porter and Svenson were presented with gold medals, the gilt of Mr J. Frobisher, to commemorate their tour, and the club’s gratitude for the part they played in it. In addition to the toast of “Our Guests,” other toasts honoured were: “The All Blacks” (Mr J. W. Heenan — Mr S. S. Dean), “The New Zealand and Wellington Rugby Unions” (Mr F.. Davy—Mr A. C. Kitto), “Hie Athletic Club” (Mr J. Moffit—Mr Norman Aitken), and “Kindred Clubs” (Mr H. Austad—Mr Thomson, Wellington Club, and others). Medals were presented to R. Kcooan (third grade) and C. Ranson (junior) as the most improved players in the club last season. Porter mentioned that both he ar<? Svenson would play for tho A !hl< ti. Club in the coming season. lAN HARVEY'S WELCOME SOME INCORRECT RUMOURS. “A HAPPY FAMILY.” (“N.Z. Times” Correspondent.) MASTER-TON. March 20. Ivan Harvey, the All Black, wa* welcomed home by members <-f rhe Masterton Club last night at a serial, ‘•Firstly, I want everyone to know tbsi these rumours of arguments nod illfeeling on the tour are entirely unfounded,” said Mr Harvev in I s reply to the remarks of the chairman who welcomed him o noeualf cf the club. “Throughout the »hole eight months there was not an argununt cr a harsh word, the management wif all that it could be. and we were happy family.” Continuing, he sa’-l that after thoy were three days out from New Zealand a management cf-mmit-teo was formed for the purpose of placing anyone guilty of misbehaviour on th© ‘ mat.” He was pica sxl to say that not one case had “to be tried.” For Porter’s sake he wanted this known, for Porter had he n a man’s Rian, a wonderful man. who d'd great work and had the confidence of the players. Though he had hern bn th© selection committee lie realised that, he was not up to his New Zealand form, and frequently stood dewf in favour of Parker.