GUESTS IN COMMONS

Chronicle (Levin), 24 June 1949, Page 5

GUESTS IN COMMONS

(N.Z.P.A.-

Reuter ,

, Cojoyriant)

Received Thursday 7 p.m. | ' . LONDON,- ■June 23. i A weleome to .the New Zealand cr-ie- j keters was extended by Mr Att'lee when j 'they were the guests of Sir Stanley ■ Holmes at a dinner in the Harcourt r.oom of the. House of Commons. It was a memorable evening for the team •which was received on the terraee oyer loolcing the Thames, by Sir Stanley aird Mr Attlee, and mingled with sherrysipping -Commoners before dining. The various tables were presided over by Ministers who included Messrs Williams, Henderson, Noel-Baker and Vis- . count Hall. » Mr Attlee, in prop.osing the toast -of the team, said its members were y.ery wel-come, firstly for themselves and . secondly because England had the exI perience of the New Zealanders playing many games which they had learned from. the English and then had taught them how to play — Rugby and cricket for example. • "We know just j how fine they are, ' ' he eontinued, ' ' and we lcnow that when there come more ' serious eonsiderations, there are no better friends. " Mr Attlee, who mentioned tfhat he had once bowled at the Ova! in a Parliamentary mateh, wi-s-hed the: team "every success compatible witti ! J our desires for results." | Messrs Iladlee, Phillipps and Jordan i ] replied, tha.nking Sir Stanley Holmes; I for his generosity and expressin-g the ; team's pleasure at the honour of dining in the Commons. Hadlee also obser- ' ved that he often wished cricket waplayed in Europe. If it were, he addea he felt there would . be much greate* understanding among the nations. il Mr Vishinsky could understand th. term "No play at Manchester," it : would be a very- good thing for all con cerned. As things were at the moment however, the term to the Russians meant another fonn of veto. - Mr Eden and Sir Pelham Warner alsu , spoke and though the latter adinitt.ee , he was "a little apprehensivc, " eoncerning the next Test, he did not indi eat.e for whieh team his emoti-ons wmv aroused. Later the New Zealanders sat in tlu ■ Gallei-y reserved for Peers, distinguish ed strangopH and . ,piplomatic Corps. and heard the closing stag0 Qf a debate . and watched a division.