CORDIAL ADDRESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 208, 3 August 1937, Page 2

CORDIAL ADDRESS

SPRINGBOK VICE-CAPTAIN. HOSPITALITY OF NEAV ZEALAND. An address by Mr D. Craven, the vice-captain of tiie South African Rugby team and famous half-back, was lilt; principal ieature at to-day’s meeting of tlie Palmerston North Optimists’ Club, over which Mr AY. Cameron presided. in opening his remarks, Air Craven said that the .Springboks' team had been overwhelmed with hospitality wherever they had travelled, and Palmerston North had not been behind iu that respect. “When 1 saw tlie All Blacks play in South Africa in 1928 J little realised that it would be my privilege to participate in a tour of New Zealand,” : he added; “when I was selected it seemed like a dream coming true.” _ In South Africa, as in New Zealand, Rugby had become the national game, and the people in his country were very enthusiastic, although not nearly so much so as in New Zealand, the visitor said. “I had heard it said tiiat here Rugby was a religion—l a.m now satisfied that it is more than that; it is a super-religion,’’ he declared, amid laughter. Stating that New Zealand was a particularly favoured country, Air Craven said that it did not seem to ba troubled with droughts or snakes, nor di<l it have the big native problem which South Africa had. “I am .proud to be in your country and meet your people,” lie added, “and 1 am more proud still to think that we both belong to the same Empire. (Applause.) I think the fact that we are in the Empire has been our salvation. AVe liavo our national feeling, and rightly so, hut it is absorbed in a true Empire spirit.” . Tne state of affairs in the world to-day, continued the speaker, was, as ho saw it—and he tried to he an optimist—really critical and the only hope he saw for it was a standing together of the white races. . “And now let me make myself clear,” he added. “When I say white races I don’t exclude your wonderful Alaoris. There are people in .South Africa who have a wrong conception of your native race, but 1 am not one of those, and the more 1 come in contact with the Alaori the more proud am I to call myself .a fellow Britisher with them.” (Applause.) Mr Craven said that civilisation was at the cross-roads. It would fall as other civilisations had in years past if duo regard was not paid to the building un of a sound family life based on religion. A nation was built on the morality of the family life of its people. Rugby football was ploying its part; it was producing good sportsmen and a good sportsman was not only’ a good citizen but a good Britisher. “The matches we have played so far in New Zealand have been harder than nnv Australian Test, and ' how we will fare against your All Blacks I cannot say, but what does it matter who wins after all?” concluded Air Craven.

“If something has been done to bring South Africa and New Zealand closer together the tour will have been a great success for all of us, win, lose or draw.” (Applause.)