CIVIC RECEPTION

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 140, 10 December 1929, Page 12

CIVIC RECEPTION

A RETURN OF HOSPITALITY

Though the hour, noon, of the civic reception to the team was not suitable to many who would have liked to attend, the Concert Chamber was nevertheless filled, and the 'visitors were given a great reception as they stepped on to the platform. As the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup, is absent from Wellington, the city'a welcome was expressed by the Deputy-Mayor, Councillor M. F. Luckie. The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, was represented by the Hon. H. Atmore, Minister of Education.

The Deputy-Mayor said that it gave him the very greatest pleasure to bid Mr. Gilligan and the M.C.C. team welcome, not only on behalf of the people of Wellington, but for tho people of 'New Zealand. The Dominion as a whole greatly appreciated the visit of .the team. Though there had been a [good many visits during the last forty years, the present combination, he ponsidered, was the only one which really compared with that great team of 1887, including such players of international reputation and standing as Lahmann, Briggs, Bead, 'Pilling, Shrewsbury, Wyett, Shaw, and others. The present visitors, though generally younger men, were the equal in calibre of such fine cricketers as those of the ISB7 team, and he believed that they would do much to teach New Zealand the real game of cricket—that tho bat was made to hit the ball, not the ball to hit the bat.

i Over and above the anticipation of New Zealand cricket enthusiasts of seeing a really representative English team in action, New Zealand was anxious to return the splendid hospitality which England generally had extended the members of the New Zealand team which visited the Old Country two years ago, but, said Councillor liuckie, the Englishmen had better beware of the New Zealand second elevens; they never appeared on the field, but they were styled the reception committee. (Laughter.) Councillor Luckie again expressed the desire on the part of every New Zealander, and particularly those' interested in the game, to make tha stay of tho team pleasant, and concluded by saying that if their stay should bring them as much pleasure as New Zeaiand would obtain from having them, then New Zealand would be well satisfied. (Applause.)

THE VALUE OF VISITS. The Hon. H. Atmore said that he was pleased to have the honour of representing the Government. Although only one of the team had visited New Zealand previously, the name of all of them were household words in . New Zealand. He agreed with Councillor Luckie's remarks of appreciation of what the English cricketers had done for the New Zealand team a couple of I years ago, and referred also to the I bonds which held New Zealand to the' Old Country, and to the friendly relations which, had been fostered by the I interchange of representative cricket! and football teams. In this connection Mr. Atmore referred to the inclusion in the visiting team of a representative of the great Dominion of India—in the broadest and finest sense participation in sport brought about an understanding between peoples and countries. (Applause.)

Mr. D. Eeese, president of the New Zealand Cricket Council, said that no visit had been so keenly looked forward to as that of Mr. Gilligan and his fellow-team members. When the personnel of the team was announced some disappointment was felt that Mr. Ar•thur Gilligan was unable to make the tour, but very fortunately his brother Mr. Harold Gilligan, was appointed. Mr. Eeese spoke of the great work which had been done in the early days of New Zealand cricket by the visiting English teams, the first as far back as 1864, when the visitors made their own arrangements, came out by sailing ship, and took their chances as to gates and outgoings. He was glad that a percentage of professional players was included in the present team, for there had been in that way built up a more representative team of real English cricketers. New Zealand cneketers, indeed, owed much to English cricket and to tho M.C.C. Not only did English cricketers know how to win: they knew how to lose, and to lose without making excuses Mr Gilligan and his fellow-team members could rest well assured that New Zealand greatly appreciated their visit.

"I AM IN HOPES." Sir Francis Bell, president of the Wellington Cricket Association, joined in expressing a welcome. The arranged seventeen matches in eleven weeks did appear rather strenuous, but was dictated more by the desire to make it possible for the visitors to see as much as possible of New Zealand than to call them upon the field. • New Zealand, they would find, was as much a part of England as England itself. "I have on my mantelpiece at home," concluded Sir Francis, "a ball with which a New Zealand team many years ago defeated an English team, and lam in hopes, in hopes ." (Laughter and applause.)

WELCOME APPRECIATED. Mr. Gilligan briefly thanked the speakers and the audience for the very enthusiastic reception. His brother knew Australia, and could have made a better job than he, but in a sense he found it easy, for lie had with him a magnificent team. He and they wished the people of New Zealand not to think of them as so many amateurs and so many professional cricketers, but as the M.C.C. team. The New .Zealand team which visited England left behind it a very fine reputation as good sports and keen cricketers, which reputation was closely rivalled by that of the South African team, likewise keen plaj'ers and good sports. The members of the'team regretted that they had not been able to meet the Mayor of "Wellington and the Prime Minister, but they hoped to meet them on another occasion. Mr. G. F. Earle, vice-captain, .joined with Mr. Gilligan in voicing the

thanks and appreciation of the team for the warmth of the reception accorded them. The proceedings were closed by the singing of tho National Anthem.