SPIRIT OF CRICKET

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 7, 30 March 1927, Page 6

SPIRIT OF CRICKET

NEW ZEALAND XI ENTHUSIASTIC FAREWELL ' LOWRY AND HIS MEN / (From Our Resident Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. “Be it wet or fine, you can guarantee that we will play cricket,” was the farewell message to New Zealand of T. C. Lowry, captain of the New Zealand cricketers, who will leave for England to-day. A big gathering in the Town Hall gave the team an enthusiastic farewell at noon. A telegram was received from the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, who said that ‘ New Zealand, and all that New Zealand stands for, can ■well be left in the hands of the boys who are going overseas.” The Mayor, Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, extended to the cricketers the city’s

farewell, and said that the spirit inspired by the Australian cricketers was appreciated throughout I the country. This tour, although it f meant a great deal for cricket, meant more than cricket to New Zealand, ar.d whatever might: be the result of matches at Home, our boys would smile and

shake hands with opponents In a good spirit. The Hon. W. Nosworthy, on behalf of the Government, wished the team success, and thanked the Australians for brushing up the New Zealanders before our men “had a go at John Bull” on the other side of the world. The symbol oTThe kangaroo was good, because it took a bit of catching, and we, as the kiwi did, had to knock along quietly. He hoped the New Zealanders would grow to become a cricket moa eventually. “You go with the best wishes of the Government,” he said. “We know you will uphold the honour ’’of the country* and we hope to see you back again with all the laurels which hard fighting can give you.” iSir Francis Bell, president of the Wellington Cricket Association. received a rousing reception on rising. He advised the boys to “play the game.” Mr. I). Reese, chairman of the Cricket Council, said the cricketers went first as New Zealanders. “Our position in cricket,” he said, “is something like Mr. Coates’s attitude towards England politically What is good enough for the Motherland is good enough for us. (Applause.) We look to England as the one place where cricket can be controlled on an

These boys are better than most people think, and better than the English people think they are. When the team returns, I think young and old people here will say that they have raised cricket in the Dominion to a standard which is has never will play cricket as it should be played if

T. C. Lowry

they retell the lesson they learn on the field. We will measure the success of the tour not bv losses and wins, but by the value to cricket in this country. Warwick Armstrong was cheered as he rose to speak. He added his felicitations, and gave the boys advice for their edification on®the tour. Australia would follow closely the results of the tour. This was a red-letter day for the Dominion, marking such an improvement in cricket that the English tour was justified. Mr. D. Hay. manager, said that Mr. Dan Reese should have managed the New Zealanders. He would stand down now in his favour. He hoped that the record in England would be such that the people would not be ashamed when they returned. T. C. Lowry, the captain, also replied, expressing gratification at being with the pioneer cricketers to England from the Dominion.