WELCOME HOME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22808, 18 February 1936, Page 10

WELCOME HOME

RETURN OF THE ALL BLACKS STRENUOUS TOUR ENDED CIVIC RECEPTION IN AUCKLAND (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 17. Greeted by cheering officials and smiling relatives the All Blacks arrived by the Aorangi from Vancouver this morning looking exceptionally fit, and with one voice declaring they were glad to be home. They were officially welcomed by the New Zealand and Auckland Unions. The first welcome to the team came from the Customs launch, which left Auckland at daylight, and was off North Head when the Aorangi came up the channel. The footballers were early astir, lining the rail to exchange greetings with those on board the launch. They were delighted to receive the bag of mail which was awaiting them. As the Aorangi berthed there was a demonstrative welcome from the shore. The officials were promptly on board, including Mr F. Glasgow (acting chairman of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union and an All Black of 1905); Mr T. Fletcher, a member of the Management Committee; as well as Mr H. Frost (president) and Messrs A. Baker and T. W. Maben (Auckland Union). On disembarking, the All Blacks were welcomed in a speech by Mr C. G. Macindoe, chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr Meredith and Oliver replying. Private welcomes were numerous, and in many instances effusive, one member of the team remarking that it looked like being the biggest day of the whole tour. i The collective view of the players was that the team developed into a good combination and met with wonderful hospitality. The tour was hard, in that every team met was good. There had been a marked inclination to criticise individual New Zealand players but they claimed that they were a team, and toured and played as a team. On the other hand there was a readiness to recognise outstanding players on the opposing sides, every credit being given Swansea, Wales, and England for their victories. , Testimony to the popularity enjoyed by the All Blacks was given by the cheering and applause that broke out when the members of the team walked up the aisle of the Auckland Town Hall prior to the civic reception accorded by tne Mayor, Mr Ernest Davis. It had been intended to hold the gathering in the Concert Chamber, but the attendance ot about 2000 was so large that the lown Hall had to be used. On the stage were also Major A. F. Purvis, representing the Governor-General; Mr F. T. Glasgow, representing the New Zealand Rugbj Union; Mr J. A. Lee, M.P., Parliamentary Under-secretary to the Prime Minister; Sir Henry Scott, of Fiji; members of the Consular Corps, members ot i arliament, and city councillors. Mr Davis read a number of apologies for absence, including one from the Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage). Warm greetings to the team and congratulations on its showing in Great Britain were extended by the Mayor. The people, he said, were proud of its success, and were grateful for the honours it had brought to the Dominion. Mr Lee said that Mr Savage had asked him to convey to Mr Meredith and to the members of the team his congratulations on their unblemished record ot sportsmanship. In spite of her fine produce, the men and women New /.ealand sent abroad were her best advertisement. Mr Lee added that the Government would do all possible to conserve the interests of the sporting community, and would give whatever assistance was P °Mr Glasgow said the reception wu reminiscent of that accorded the 1905 All Blacks at Auckland. Loud applause greeted Mr Meredith as he rose to speak. After acknowledging the good wishes extended, he said the team had endeavoured to play good, clean, sporting football. They had met some fine players and had found them great opponents, and they had made many friends. "Every member of this team "■ave absolutely of his best, and I thank them for it," Mr Meredith said. 'When the tide of fortune was against them they were big enough to accept the situation in a sportsmanlike manner, and on and off the field they were always good players, good sportsmen, and gentlemen, a body of men one has every reason to be proud of." Mr Meredith said he was sorry, however, to have to strike a discordant note. When defeat had come the team's way a certain section of the press and the community in New Zealand had taken a narrow and insular view, oblivious of the fact that former New Zealand teams had suffered defeat, oblivious of the unfairness to the players who were doing their best worthily to represent New Zealand, and oblivious of the damage they yrere doing to their country. They had sent the impression abroad that New Zealand did not know how to take a licking. Fortunately, Mr Meredith added, the British people appreciated the fact that this feeling was not representative of New Zealand, and the team was able to leave with that realisation in mind. It was a pity, however, that it had occurred. Mr Meredith expressed appreciation of the services of Manchester and Oliver, the captain and vice-captain respectively, who, he said, had given him a tremendous amount of help. Oliver expressed the teams appreciation of Mr Meredith as manager. " Mr Meredith has been a wonderful manager," he said. " and a father to us all.' At the conclusion cheers were given for Mr Meredith and for the team. The southern players left for the south to-night.