CONFESSIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 96, 14 July 1927, Page 9

CONFESSIONS

FRANK AND UNABASHED WHEN CUP WAS HANDED OVER Looking over some clippings this week I came across that describing they ceremony at which the Kirk—Windeyer Cup was handed over to the New' Zealanders. I had meant to publish it earlier, but it is still worth it, and here it is: Confessions —frank and unabashed —of their golf shortcomings formed the principal theme for most of the speakers at the dinner of welcome at the Australia Hotel on Saturday to the amateur golfers from New Zealand, Victoria, and Queensland on the occasion of the first competition for the Kirk-Windeyer Cup. A large company of distinguished golfers and a number of well-known public men were present. Mr. C. W. Rundle, chairman of the New South Wales Golf Council, in proposing the toast of the Governor-Gen-eral, informed the gathering that while he had been led to believe that his Excellency was a keen and enthusiastic golfer, Lord Stonehaven, judged on his own statement, was still in the class described as “a rising young player.” (Laughter.) He was most assiduously practising, however, with the object, the speaker had been told, of getting himself into form for a match with the Prime Minister. On behalf of the golfers of New South Wales he wished him every success. (Applause.) “ABSOLUTE DUFFER” Lord Stonehaven, who was most enthusiastically greeted, acknowledged immediately that he was “an absolute duffer at golf.” There was nothing in the world, he continued, for which he had less sympathy than a golf ball, and judging by the horrible wounds he had inflicted upon numerous golf balls, he had no doubt that the feeling was cordially reciprocated. (Laughter.). He did not know how Mr. Rundle had discovered the secret of the projected match between the Prime Minister and himself. He had always thought that the reason Mr Bruce favoured his appointment was that he, Mr. Bruce, was bored at being so regularly beaten at golf by his predecessor, and desired a change. (Laughter.) The Prime Minister had chosen well. (Renewed laughter.) However, Aus-

tralia was a land of hope, and if his instructor could fit him, not, perhaps, to beat the Prime Minister, but to go round the coure in 100 strokes or less, it would be a land of hope and glory. (Loud laughter.) IMPERIAL WORK In paying a tribute to the donors of the cup, his Excellency said that Messrs. Kirk and Windeyer had done a real bit of Imperial work. No foreigner could quite understand what the British Empire was or how it hung together. That was the business of Britons; they understood. (Applause.) Nothing had so united the Empire as the Avar; but they did not want another war to keep it united. Competitions such as that for the ICirk-Win-deyer Cup, more than anything that could be devised, could, by fostering as they did, the spirit of comradeship and good-fellowship, help to keep the Empire together. (Prolonged cheers.) GREAT ONES OF EARTH Mr. Hughes, M.P., proposed the toast of “The Visitors.” “Standing here amidst these great ones of the earth,” he said, “what am I to have thus been singled out. I am deeply sensible of the honour, however, and I feel that the people of the Commonwealth join with me in tendering to the New Zealanders a most cordial welcome and hearty congratulations on their splendid victory. (Cheers.) This game of golf—it has become to me perhaps the leading passion of my life. (Laughter and cheers.) I find tha* I am in good company. (Hear, hear.) When I was asked to propose this toast, I thought that I would look up some of the authorities on the game, but, although I went through them with an air resolute, and even enthusiastic, I found little to help me. “I do know, however, and the names that occur in the winning team support it, that golf was invented in Scotland. I have heard also, but, of course, cannot vouch for what may only be an English invention, that it was forced on the Scots, along with whisky, as an antidote to the bagpipes. (Laughter.) “The ball itself is insignificant to a degree. I used to strike for a blacksmith —I have done a number of things in my time—and the idea that I could not hit a golf ball did not enter my head. I have been painfully disillusioned. There is nothing so maddening as missing a golf ball (Laughter.) Mr. Rockefeller, who is a person of some standing in the United States, pays a negro, it is related, something like 10,000 dollars a year to accompany him on the links and repeat at the right moment, ’Eye on the ball; slow back; follow through.’ All these things have I done from my youth upward. but with what results I would not like to tell.” (Laughter.) In conclusion, Mr. Hughes said that it had been a delightful experience to meet the New Zealanders. They had taught Australia something, and he hoped that when the Australians visited New Zealand they would repay them in like kind. (Applause.) SPORTING SPIRIT Supporting the toast, Mr. W. A. Win-

deyer, president of the S. and C. Golf Association, said they owed deep appreciation to the Victorian team, whose members had taken part in the competition, although they did not have the confirmation of their association. He also paid a tribute to the Queenslanders, who, although thev knew that they did not have a chance of winning the cup, were determined (°Appla e us^ rt in the flrSt A DOMINION’S “WALKER CUP" Mr. E. c. Kirk, president of the New Zealand Golf Council, speaking in reply, said that in the competition that had been inaugurated he had realised one of the later ambitions of his life —that something in the nature of a Walker Cup match might be arranger] to bring together the cream of the goifers of the two countries, and some of the skimmed milk as well. (Cheers and laughter.) "We have had a glorious time as your guests. “Hospitality has simply been showered upon us. We are willing to hold the next competition at any time and under any conditions, in order that teams from the Commonwealth may be able to take part, bringing with them as many camp followers as they can.” (Applause.) AHOY, YACHTSMEN! Sir Joseph Ward said that the commingling of sportsmen of the two Donnmons in such a competition could not but create goodwill, and would surely sow the seeds of greater union. If, from the golf links, it could be carried to the worn of yachting, he would be happy and honoured to assist in its promotion. He had offered a cup and it was still on offer—for an interdominion yachting race. (Hear, hear.) Such an event would provide an additional link in the chain binding the two countries together. HONOURING DONORS “We came down under no illusions,” said the captain of the Queensland team (Mr. W. F. R. Boyce). “We know that we are not in the front rank, but we thought that it was the proper and sporting thing to acknowledge what r * Kirk and Mr. Windeyer have done for golf. (Applause.) ... I make bold to prophesy, however, that in the not distant future Queensland will inscribe her name on the cup.” (Loud applause.) The toast of the winning team was proposed by Sir Henry Braddon, ,vho said that both inside and outside of golfing circles there was general and cordial approval that fortune had smiled upon the New Zealand team. (Cheers.) The toast was supportd by Briga-dier-General H. W. Lloyd, and responded to by the New Zealand captain, Mr. A. D. S. Duncan, who, at the conclusion of his speech, received the cup from the Governor-General, who also presented miniatures of the cup to the members of the team.