CHINESE SPORTS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—We would crave your indulgence, Sir, for the purpose of making a few explanations with regard to our conduct over a matter that was dealt with in your paper on Tuesday last, the 11th inst, under the heading of "Chinese' Sports." The article referred to, Sir, contains several statements which, with all.due respect, misrepresent the true position, of. affairs, and we now desire thrdugh your columns to place the true facts on. record. Some time ago a committee representative of all the Chinese residents in Wellington was set up for the purpose of arranging the celebrations to .be held on the anniversary day commemorating the founding of the Chinese Republic: This committee was a thoroughly representative one of our Chinese community, and unanimously resolved at different meetings held by it to fly the National Standard at the combined sports which were to_ have been held on Monday last. No objection was taken to this course by any of our countrymen until late on Sunday night, when a few of our countrymen endeavoured to have the- resolution we had passed rescinded. These dissentients, however, were hopelessly outvoted, and it was decided that-the former, resolution should stand, and the Nationalists banner should be flown. It'.was unfortunate that those iu the minority should have decided to remain firm, and that they should have threatened to disturb any proceedings which might be neld by us at Athletic Park. :

la view of this decision :eh their part ■we had no other course open'to'iis but to cancel the arrangements we had made to hold our gathering at Athletic' Park, and an emergency committee which was set up decided to change the scene of our gathering from Athletic Park to Hutt Park. This action was merely an act o£ grace on our part, and the decision was made merely to avoid anything in the nature of a disturbance.

Our gathering proved to be a most successful one, and several hundred people assembled at the Hutt fark to take part in our celebrations. A large number of European visitors Were present and participated in one or two of the sports events; a Soccer match, with a visiting Auckland eleven was played, resulting in a win for Auckland; a big athletio programme was completed, arid altogether a most enjoyable; day was .spent. l oni" statement, Sir, that some~forty or fifty Chinese residents in Wellington" support the Nationalists Party, the Kuo Ming Tang, and swear allegiance to the revolutionists in China is misleading, inasmuch as 90 per cent, of the local Chinese residents are supporters of the Nationalists Party. _. Moreover, your statement tnat the majority -of the Chinese- community did not agree with the decision of the committee and "protested against it is also incorrect. The majority of the Chinese residents in Wellington are supporters of the Southern Government, and being free thinkers, claim the right to support the Government of their choice, ihe fact that there were about forty or nfty people present at Atfiletic Park, whereas there were several hundred present at our gathering, surely speaks for itself, and this we think is indicative of the popular feeling amongst the Chinese community of Wellington;: We may state that we are not all members of the Kuo Ming Tang, but apart altogether irom the merits it is only natural that we, being of Southern China, should be in sympathy with the Nationalists Government. . " s

There was nothing in the nature of a disturbance, at our gathering at the Hutt lark, and we know of nothing in our behaviour on that occasion that' could be termed offensive or insulting' •• It is with deep regret, Sir, that we have decided to place these facts before you „?\F en?? assur-e J'ou th^t 90 per cent Chmese community in Wellington will thank you for conveying to' your readers the fact that the t Vif & !SO^ atlon s s P°rts meeting held at the .Hutt Park on Monday last was a very successful one.—We are etc '

Celebration Committee o£ the Wellington Uunese Association. Per T. B. Young, Secretary.