A WARM WELCOME

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 45, 17 November 1926, Page 6

A WARM WELCOME

NEW ZEALAND TEAM FOR ENGLAND DOMINION IN HIGH REGARD AT HOME “The New Zealand cricket team win receive a most hearty welcome m England,” remained a New Zeaiauoer who Has been residing in Louuon ior the past three years. This gentleman, who is a cricneter himself, deciares that New Zealand is held in high regard at Home. This partiality for the people of the Dominion has been created not only by die part die New Zealand Division played in the Great War, but also by the loyalty and good will New Zealand has unswervingly shown for the Motherland. British manufacturers are grateful for die tangible proof of friendliness shown by the substantial tariff preference which New Zealand has allowed British goods. “All things considered,” lie said, “New Zealanders are most popular in England to-day, and English doors will be flung wide open to your cricketers when they arrive. H you send a team of batsmen who will force the pace die financial success of the team will be assured. The New Zealand team will be much more popular in England than the Australian team which has just toured Britain. The Australians were unpopular because they played such slow cricket. I attended the second Test match at Lord’s, and never saw such an example of slow plav as Collins, the Australian captain, gave in the first innings. Hobbs had played very stubbornly in the Englishmen’s first innings, and when Collins went in he declared that he was going to give Hobbs some of his own back. The Australian captain certainly did, as he would hit at nothing. The English bowlers tossed up all sorts of loose stuff to him, but Collins simply patted the ball back along the carpet to the bowler. You can imagine that prominent business men who had stolen away to see cricket worth while became disgusted at the ultra cautiousness of the Australian captain. He certainly did cricket a lot of harm diat day at Lord’s. The New Zealanders will not want to plav this tvpe of cricket, but if they play a sporting game they will be welcomed with open arms throughout England, whether thev win or lose. The English people, far from being conservative, treat a man for what lie is. This is shown by the fair hearing which is given to the same Labour members in the House of Commons. I consider that the New Zealand team will win more matches than they will lose, and, win or lose, thev can rest assured that a right royal welcome will await them in England.”