ALL BLACKS’ TOUR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 September 1924, Page 9

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR.

.iKEEN INTEREST AROUSED

DISPLAY OF NEW ZEALAND FILMS.

According to the latest mail advices frojn England much was being done in the way of providing entertainment for the All Blacks, and interest in the tour was being stimulated by the imbrication of special football articles in most of the London and provincial papers. In the arrangements for entertaining. the team Newton Abbot was to have its station and principal streets decorated for the arrival of the All! Blacks. During their visit the New Zealanders would he honorary members of -clubs in and around Newton’ Abbot, and they would be taken on j various trips after their training operations had been finished each day. Among places of interest to which the visitors would he taken were Dartmoor, the Devonnort Dockyard, Torquay Electricity Works, factories, and potteries at Newton Abbot, Watcombe, Bovey Tracey, Heathfield, and the Seale Hayne Agricultural College, and also the Totnes races.

: In. pointing out that English Rugger enthusiasts were eagerly looking forward to the torn) the Westei’n Sunday Independent (Plymouth) stated: “New Zealanders seem to think that the side will be quite up to the strength; of Dave Gallaher’s men of. 1905. The forwards are a hefty lot, the average height being sft ll'Jiri, and 13st 6lb in weight, although the side, as a whole, are; a trifle lighter than their predecessors. , At any rate, it will not be surprising if they beat most of our town or country clubs, although we do not know what to expect when they meet the] All England aide j.n the Test match.” Personal notes'on the players are? also being published. For instance, the'i football writer for the Evening News says that he hears that British Rugby crowds will find plenty to enthujse over in the play of- F. W. Luqas. “He is looked upon as the star three-quarter hack of the New Zealand team. He is, a distinctly versatile player, and can take his place in any position in the three-quarter line. Lubas is only 22 years of age, but he. is well endowed, physically and mentally, for the modei'n Rugby game. He; stands sft lOin high and weighs list 21b.” -

The publicty which is being given to thejtour at Home includes the screen-, ing-of pictures of New Zealand interest.; When the last mail left London ,it vfras reported that the High Commis.sipiier for New Zealand, through the Publicity Officer of the . Government (Mii H. T. B. Drew), had communicated- with the leading authorities in all 'the towns where matches were to be played', and the gratifying result was that already in 25 of the important centres arrangements had: been made for ;the display of New Zealand films in the picture palaces. Newton Abbot (the headquarters and training centre) was' included in this connection. One enthusiastic picture theatre proprietor (formerly of Christchurch) replied: “Will be delighted to. entertain team on ;November 8. Will show film.' Please arrange for. visit second house, 8 pirn. Give my regards to the team. They all know me. Am the late manager, Opera House, Christchurch Hai;ry Chadwick, manager Olympia, Neweastle-on-Tvne. ”

The London correspondent of the Post writes: “There*can he a New Zealand night of pictures or a New Zealand week of them, if desired. A fresh supply of 12.000 ft of film has ooihe in, and when the 8000 ft which is non- on the water gets here, there will be about 36,000 ft of pictures which have been taken in New Zealand. Then it will be possible to have three or four sets of pictures on show simultaneously in some of the larger towns and; their environs. Someone qualified to, sneak, probably. an officer from -the High Commissioner’s Department, will travel from place to place with the film, and in this wav a useful little campaign will be launched, which should be very helpful in advertising the Dominion.”