CRICKET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19993, 9 November 1927, Page 4

CRICKET

□VIC RECEPTION DOMINION TEAM’S RETURN. GOVERNMENT MAKES GRANT. (Par Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. A civic reception was tendered to the returned New Zealand cricketers to-day. Apologies for absence were received from the Prime Minister, the Hon. J. G. Coates, and also from Mr FEarle, president of the New Zealand Cricket Association. The Mayor of Wellington, Mr G. Troup, said he wished in the first place to say “Welcome home!” and then, on behalf of New Zealand, “Welt The team had, he said, far and away exceeded expectations, and on and off the field had faithfully upheld the traditions of New Zealand. “Apart from the game itself,” con tinned the Mayor, “we were very pleased with the modesty of the team throughout. We sent Home a team of gentlemen. I am sure that your visit to the Old Country has enhanced the already good opinion in which New Zealanders are generally held abroad. You have earned your laurels and wo heartily congratulate you. We congratulate you, Captain Lowry, on the manner in which you led the team, and we congratulate every individual member on the manner in which he upheld New Zealand.”

Sir Francis Bell, who represented the Government, said that cricket had two meanings in the English langauge. One was the definition of the game, and the other was expressed in the proverb “Not cricket.” The latter could not be applied to the doings of the New Zealand cricketers, who had come up to expectations and more. It made him hope that some day the “all whites” would make as great an impression as the All Blacks. England Has Professionals. Sir Francis mentioned the different conditions existing in New Zealand and England so far as cricket was concerned, and then referred to the remarks made by Lowry concerning the New Zealanders’ bowling. In his opinion the New Zealand bowling was quite as good as the amateur bowling in England, but England had her professionals to call upon. It had been shown, however, that New Zealanders could compete with the Old Country in batting, and there was no reason why that proof should not be continued to be demonstrated.

Cr. M. F. Luckie, Mr E. Heathcote Williams, and Mr Peter Fraser, MJP. (on behalf of the Labour Party) also spoke praising the team’s record as cricketers and gentlemen. Lowry Expresses Appreciation. Lowry, replying, expressed appreciation of the farewell and the welcome home. The team had, he said, in the early matches in England, visions perhaps of meeting supermen and dragons, but after the first win thought they would take the whole lot on and England as well. (Laughter). Usually they got their runs quickly and thet, he thought, pleased the English people. Commenting on the financial loss of the tour, Lowry attributed that to the bad weather. Concerning bowling, Merritt had been outstanding and Blunt excellent. Friends in England and cricket critics had told him they were disappointed with the fielding. It certainly was not good and he believed that something in this direction could be done in the schools. Prime Minister's £lOOO.

The Government entertained the team at luncheon at Parliament Buildings. Speaking at the Government luncheon to the team, the Prime Minister, Hon. J. G. Coates, said it looked as though the team had placed cricket in New Zealand on the map in the Dominion and overseas.

“But we must rot forget,” added Mr Coates, “in our expressions of appreciation and admiration of the fine performance, individual and collective, of our team work, the financial responsibility that wa« accepted by the M.C.C. in England. References by the Prime Minister to the record of the team and to the expressions of opinion given by Lord Harris, the Lord Mayor of London, Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., Lord Jellicoe, and the London Times met with rounds of applause. Those comments and utterances, said Mr Coates, were such as to make everyone feel proud. In addition Mr Coates stated that the Government had gone carefully into the financial side of the tour, and decided, in view of the action of the sportsmen who had made the tour possible, and also because the team had dune so well on and off the field, that the country should make a contribution of £lOOO towards the cost (Applause).

UNDER MEDICAL ADVICE DACBE WILL NOT PLAY ON FRIDAY [Ter Preu A>»&e!adofl.J WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. Dacre, acting on medical advice, returns to Auckland to-night. He will not play in Fridty’s match.