ALL BLACKS RETURN.

Wairarapa Age, 20 March 1925, Page 5

ALL BLACKS RETURN.

MR. HARVEY WELCOMED. Mr lan Harvey, Masterton’s representative in the touring All Black team, was welcomed home by his clubmates of the Football Club at a social reunion in Perry’s Buildings last evening. Mr G. H. Perry presided over an attendance of about 50, including Mr G. R. Sykes, M.P., and officers of the club. In expressing pleasure at the return of their clubmate, the chairman said they all sympathised with him in the ill-health which dogged his way, and felt sure that had he been fit he would have enjoyed participation in the blue ribbon of Rugby, by playing in a test team. Mr Perry mentioned that he had seen a letter sent by Quentin Donald to his father, in which he stated that he was trying to get Harvey right for he was sure that the Masterton man would be picked for the test team. Mastertonians felt his ill-luck as much as he did himself. The speaker hoped that the experience gained would be of benefit to Masterton and the Wairarapa. With Donald in the south and Harvey in the north it was confidently expected that between them they would assist Wairarapa to win the Ranfurly Shield on June 3. (Applause.) The speaker eulogised the conduct of the New Zealanders while on tour. They had manfully upheld the reputation established by the Anzacs during the war. At the chairman’s request the guest’s health was honoured enthusiastically. HARVEY’S STORY. “Firstly, I want everyone te know that these rumours ef arguments and ill-feeling on the tour are entirely unfounded,” said Mr Harvey in his reply. “Throughout the whole eight months there was not an argument or a harsh word, the management was all that it could be, and we were a happy family.” Continuing, he said that after they were three days out from New Zealand a management committee was formed for the purpose of placing anyone guilty of misbehaviour on the “mat.” He was pleased to say that not one case had “to be tried.” For Porter’s sake he wanted this known, for Porter had been a man’s man, a wonderful man, who did great work and had the confidence of the players. Though he had been on the selection committee he realised that he was not up to his New Zealand form and frequently stood down in favour of Parker. English Forwards Underrated. It did not take them long to find that they had underrated the English forward's, who on many occasions were better than the Blacks, but the English backs were much below standard. They had the one idea that the half had to get the ball to the wing threequarter back, who had to do the scoring. Invariably the movement ended behind the starting point. Of inside back play they had no idea, while drawing a man was entirely foreign to them. This was most Apparent in their club games, many of which the speaker had seen while convalescing. Commenting on the wing forward, Mr Harvey said the All Black winger had been closely watched and unduly penalised, bnt actually England had three (the loose heads), who put no weight into the scrums and Waited their opportunity of springing on to' the New Zealand half. It was cruel at times to see the way they got off with it. Interrogated concerning the Brownlie incident, the speaker said that all English sportsmen admitted that Brownlie was innocent. Many had come to the hotel that evening with apologies. Everyone was upset and it spoilt a wonderful finish. Brownlie himself was sore at heart, and never left the hotel till the team departed for Fnmee, despite the- entreaties of his comrades. The Hardest Game. Oxford gave them the hardest game of the tour. The score (33 to 15) was no indication of the play. The ’Varsity backs, five of whom were Scotchmen, were wonderful, and every bit as good as their opposition. Mr Harvey did not hold a very high opinion of the standard of refereeing at Home. They allowed too much talking on the part of players, and frequently lost control of the game. He had no hesitation in saying that in Wales some of the referees were afraid of the crowd. In the Cardiff match (won by All Blacks by 16 to 8) two tries were not given. It had to be absolutely decisive, or the try was lost. Canadians Realistic. The greatest event of the tour was the trip through Canada, where the Canadians gave them a royal welcome and they felt really at home. A wild west dance was held in their honour, a cowboy riding in on a horse to announce the first dance. At their hotel they learned a little of the native life of the Indian, and Mr Dean was made a chief. Getting nearer the Rockies they could still see signs of the old saloons and huts which had been the scenes of wild times in the early days. Thousands of people greeted them on arrival at Vancouver, and they were taken round the lumber and milling industries. Further pleasures were in store at Raratonga, where the natives gave them a wonderful reception. The All Blacks’ haka nearly sent the ’Tongans crazy, but they replied with their own war cry, and everyone entered into the spiritof the gathering. The natives, however, worried themselves to death to see : that the visitors had enough to eat. It was a continual meal for 12 hours. Owing to bad weather they had to remain ashore without a change of clothing, and for a while a number of the party were forced to adopt the dress of the natives. A number of other toasts were honoured.