The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 5th, 1925. A MEMORABLE TOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JANUARY sth, 1925. A MEMORABLE TOUR.

The Rugby tour of tile New Zealand football team to Great Britain concluded on Saturday, and marked the close of a- memorable happening. , The All Blacks have won all their matches, a mast remarkable performance—proving a record which may he equalled hut never excelled in the future. Great interest centred in D-" progress of the tour here in New Zealaiv 1 hut what i.s more important, greater interest still

has heen excited at Home, where the -AH Hlacks have heen the lions of the day. Mr .). 11. Thomas, the llritish Colonial .Secretary in the balmr Government, has hit the {osiiiou off very nicely with I lie comment that the ■AH 11 lacks are worthy representatives '’f tlm Dominion and tla.* Kmoiic.

Their mil, lie added, will increase Ihe aIl eal mu „f (|„. Mol herla ml for Imr otlspring. Ihe stieressor ol Mr Thomas in charge of the Colonial tlflice. Mr L. (!. M. s. Amery. was no less complimentary bn his comment. He remarked that the man in the street realised that there was something in New Zealand's energy and verility from the successes of the All lihuk.s who would return with a hotter idea of the Motherland and the sportsmanship and good fellowship ol the people. The All lllaeks it is evident did well on the field and lliey comported themselves with credit nil the field. They have made a .name for themselves doubly creditable. It was rather remarkable that the snorting critics at Home in the

main were slow to appreciate the play of the touring team. But the results spoke for themselves and quite discounted the adverse criticism which was being made. Through it all the New Zealanders made no comment, and now has come the final compliment Irom a great London daily, that the New Zealand team is ■ greatest Rugby side <m earth. The team might not have improved as time went on. Subject to tlic variety of hospitality and pleasures at their disposal, it would not have been a difiieiilt matter for the players to have off days. But the e.spirit dc corps was so good that nothing of the kind has been hinted at, with the result that we can assume that the lads did themselves the fullest credit oil and off the field, and with

the wonderful record they have put up, deserve the heartiest congratulations. The team is still to visit Frame where a couple of matches are to lie played, and from thence will return via Canada. The playing portion of the. tour, so far a.s it. effects their Rugby record, is now finished, and the greatest credit is due to the members individually and collectively tor each and all upholding the name of New Zealand so well. A remarkable record lias been put up by the All Back full hack who has played in every Ncpia had a most responsible post, and in his unique experience he lias faced hundreds of thousands of spectators of the plav. That was no light ordeal in itself. which fact makes the triumph the greater. The memorable tour has been a great advertisement for New Zealand from even- point of view. According to the London “Daily News.”

the players are regarded as super-men— Greater Britons. The Dominion looms up very important as a result of the tour, and the welcome home which awaits the victorious team will he well deserved from every point of view. The New Zealanders have done gloriously well and deserve all the honour of the tour so well carried out.