Mr Mackenzie, M.H.R. on Cricket.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 211, 10 March 1897, Page 2

Mr Mackenzie, M.H.R. on Cricket.

At a banquet recently in Dunedin, to welcome the Dunedin cricketers home after their defeat of the Canterbury cricketers, Mr Mackenzie, in proposing the toast of ' The noble game of cricket,' said : — " In rising to propose the toast which has been associated with my name I am conscious that my education has been neglected.— (Laughter.) I never was a cricketer, and I never felt the sense of deficiency on that score until the present moment. I can talk " bike" to any extent — (laughter)— so that I am not entirely destitute of accomplishment—daughter) — but I can't talk cricket. It is a humilating thine at all times to have to own np to ignorance, but it is better to own up than to pretend to a knowledge one does not possess.—(Laughter.) Fortunately, however, on the present occasion it is not knowledge that is required of me, but appreciation — appreciation of the courage of those who have fought and won a battle under circumstances of great discouragement. — (Applause). Well, then, I can appreciate skill and courage and endurance with any man alive. — (Applause.) It requires no special knowledge. When I fought and won another sort of battle myself a little time ago — (laughter) — many a warm hand of congratulation was held out to me from among those who knew more about cricket than they did about politics. — (Laughter.) Why, then, shouldn't I, who know more about politics tban I do about cricket, hold out the same warm hand of congratulation to you "? (Applause,) You'll see the logic of the thing at once.—(Laughter.) Trust a lot of young fellows to see a neat xioint when its put to them. — (Applause.) I'm proud to be your member. I feel as if I had had a hand in winning the match myself — (laughter) — and I'm entitled to feel it, too, for did not the men I represent win it ? — (Laughter.) So that in a sense I may be said to be the head of the whole concern. — (Laughter.) I believe in taking a victory modestly, especially when it is won from splendid fellows like yourselves, as I am sure the Canterbury men are. — (Applause,) But for all that when I go to Parliament, I shall expect the Canterbury members to bo very civil to me.— (Laughter.) I shall feel that I have two strings to my bow. If by any chauce we are licked in debate by the Canterbury men I shall take occasion to remind them that we can at least knock them into a cocked liat at cricket. — (Laughter.) I congratulate you most heartily upon a victory which was all the nobler because it rose out of what seemed at first a crushing and disheartening defeat. The highest courage of all is the courage which over, comes adverse circumstances. — (Ap plause.) — Dunedin Star.