ALL BLACK FAREWELLED

Wairarapa Age, 7 April 1928, Page 5

ALL BLACK FAREWELLED

LARGE GATHERING AT GREYTOWN. jfBESENTATIONS TO lAN HARVEY. I STRENUOUS TOUR AHEAD. There was a representative gathering of footballers at Greytown on Thursday night to farewell lan ' Harvey, the Wairarapa member of the All Black team to tour South Africa. Several speakers spoke of the strenuous tour ahead of the team, which would have to win its own laurels. Footballers were present from the South Wairarapa districts, including Carterton, and members of the WairaIrapa Rugby Union were also in attendance, the guest being the recipient of a presentation from the union as well Bs from the clubs of the district. There Were about 100 present. Mr. J. F. Thompson, of Greytown, presided. Among those present were the Hon. A. D. McLeod, member for Wairarapa, Mr. !W. Hornig, manager of the South African team, and Mark Nicholls, vicecaptain of the team. An apology was received from Monsignor McKenna, patron of the Wairarapa Rugby Union, who said he was a great admirer of Harvey, both on and off the field. In proposing the toast of the guest, the chairman referred to lan Harvey’s sterling work as a player on and off the fields His first adventure in South Africa was at the beginning of the century, when he was a member of the Sixth Contingent. Now, said Mr. Thompson, the guest’s visit was a peaceful one. No more worthy representative than Mr. Harvey, said the Hon. A. D. McLeod, who also spoke to the toast, had at any time departed from the WairaTapa. Mr. W. G. Lamb, chairman of the management committee of the Wairarapa Rugby Union, referred to the guest as a gentleman, who had fully •earned his place in the field. lan Harvey, who received an ovation •en rising to reply, was very brief and wery modest, merely stating that he would give of his best on the tour. The chairman then presented him, on behalf of the South Wairarapa, with a travelling bag, and Mr. W. G. Lamb, for the Wairarapa Rugby Union, made a presentation of a gold-mounted fountain pen. Mr. W. Hornig, a member of the New Zealand Rugby Union, in replying to the toast of that union (proposed by Mr E. Halh of Carterton) said the management committee were merely the cabinet of football. Its primary endeavour was to foster young players and help the weaker unions. In proposing the toast of the “New Zealand Team for South Africa,” tho Hon. A. D. McLeod referred to Wairarapa representatives in former All Black teams and to the great benefit to the Dominion, in an Imperial sense, of a tour like the present one. Mr. McLeod went en to mention the assistance the Government had given to the last All Black tour and to the recent cricket team which toured overseas. As a Cabinet Minister he wished the team Jfcvery success. !■ Mention of the trade relations which ■Bght be fostered between South Africa and New Zealand was made by Mr. Hornig in his reply to the toast. At present, he observed, there was practicBlly no trade between these two countries. The team, he went on to state, was a fine, balanced one. Although they might lose a match or two, he confidently hoped they would win all the tests. The team was, in every sense, a credit to the Dominion. Nicholls, who also replied to the toast, said that he aniicipated that the team would meet worthy opponents. He thought that too much might be expected from the team in the light of the past reputation of the All Blacks. This team, the vice-captain stated, would have to make its own reputation. Mr. W. W. Tully, of Greytown, proposed the toast of the “Wairarapa Bugby Union,” stating that the past season had been a strenuous one for the union. The game in this district, he sard, was in the hands of old, keen players and the future was assured. The rapid progress made by the Wad rarapa Rugby Union was referred to by Mr. W. G. Lamb, in replying to the toast. The union, he stated, now owned a freehold area in Masterton, and aimed at acquiring playing fields in other towns in tho district. Mr. H. T. Tilyard, of the management committee of the Wairarapa Rugby Union, proposed the “New Zealand Selectors,” which was replied to by Mr. E. McKenzie, chairman of the New Zealand selectors, who said that the selection for the South African team was practically unanimous. Much young blood was included in the team. They were selected, not only for their play, but for their manly conduct. He anticipated a very successful tour. - r “^® rme . r Blacks,” proposed by Mr. G. Vincent, of Featherston, was replied to in a very happy vein by the ex-AIl Blneks Present at the gathering —R. Gray, J. Donald, Q. Donald, W. Irvine and A. E. Cooke. I Other toasts honoured were: Referees’ Association,” proposed' by AfgMrs. Q Donald (Featherston) and X ■ ®*“ nr ' c, .*(Grcytown) and replied to W. Darvill (Masterton) ; Press.” proposed by the chairman and responded to by Mr. Neville Armstrong (Carterton); “Chairman of the Greytown Football Club,” proposed by Mr. Q. Donald and responded to bv Mr Tully. J . VI . s P eak ers spoke with regret at the inability of A. El Cooke to accompany the team. r J