THE ALL BLACKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1924, Page 13

THE ALL BLACKS.

INTEREST IN THE TOUR. -PUBIjJCITY with films. SPECIAL PICTURE PROGRAMMES. Loudon, August 16. Interest in the approaching arrival of the New Zealand footballers is being stimulated by writers in mbst of the leading sports columns of the London and provincial press. A good many notes regarding the personnel of the players are finding publicity. For instance, the football writer of the Evening News says he is told that British Rugby crowds will find plenty to enthuse over in the play of F. W. Lucas. “He is looked upon as the star tlireequarter back of the New Zealand team. He is a distinctly versatile player, and can take his place in any position in the threeequarter line. Lucas is only 22 years of age, but he is well endowed, physically and mentally, for the modem Rugby game. He stands sft lOin high and weighs list 21b.”

The Western Sunday Independent (Plymouth) says that English Rugby enthusiasts are eagerly looking forward to their visit. “New Zealanders seem to think that the side will be quite up to the strength of Dave Gallagher’s men of 1905. The forwards are a hefty lot, the average height being sft >ll Jin, and 13st 61b in weight, although the side as a whole are a trifle lighter than their predecessors. At any rate, it will not .be surprising if they beat most of our town or county clubs, although we do not know what to expect when they meet the All England side in the test match.”

While each morning will be devoted to training, the visitors will be taken on various trips during the remainder of the day, and they will visit Dart,moor, the Devonport Dockyard, Torquay electricity works, factories and potteries at Newton Abbot, Watcombe, i Bovey Tracey, and HeatWfleld, the Seale Hayne Agricultural College, and Totnes races. They will be honorary members of local clubs, and will be entertained to luncheon by the Newton Abbot Rotary Club. The High Commissioner for New Zealand, through the publicity officer of the Government, Mr. H. T. B. Drew, has communicated with the leading authorities in all the towns where matches are to be played, and the gratifying result is that already in 05 of these important centres arrangements have been made for the display of ■Ne’w Zealand films in the picture palaces. Netvton Abbot (the headquarters and training centre) included in this connection. One enthusiastic picture theatre proprietor (formerly of Christchurch) repb’ed: “Will be delighted to entertain team on NovemWr 8. Will show film. Please arrange for visit second house, 8 p.m. Give my regards to the team. They all' know me. Am the late manager Opera Hbu/se, Christchurch. Harry Chadwick, manager, Olympia, Newcastle o a Tyne.” There can be a New Zealand night of pictures or a New Zealand week of tbeqi, if desired. A fresh supply of 12,000 ft of film has come in, and when the 8000 ft which Is now on the water gets here, there will be about 35,000 ft of pictures which have been taken in New Zealand. Then, it will be possible to have three or four sets of pictures o i show simultaneously in some of cue larged towns and their environs. Someone qualified to speak, probably an officer from the High Commissioner's department, will travel from place to place with the film, and in this way a useful little campaign will be launched, which should be very helpful in advertising the Dominion.