AMATEUR SPORT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 140, 20 July 1914, Page 3

AMATEUR SPORT.

INFLUENCE ON TROOPS. Properly introduced and controlled, it has been shown that amateur sport has a marked influence in improving the morale of soldiery. Such is the testi mony of an American major who recently returned from the Philippines. It is claimed that the spirit of sport for the sake of sport has got hold of the men of all -nations engaged on outpost duty in the East, and that the re suit has been their gradual forsaking of forms of recreation and amusement that are detrimental rather than beneficial. To such a degree is enthusiasm *for sport developed that in the Philippines recently an order ,was issued by the general in command constituting a council to control sports of all kinds. Curiously enough, these Americans coming from a country where amateurism is usually subjected to a pretty wide interpretation, are insistent that the service sports shall be based on the most absolutely amateur footing. Experience has proved that on that basis the greatest measure of camaraderie is developed.

Nor are the Americans alone in this respect. At Tientsin, China, men of several nations engaged on the work of watching Oriental development and guarding international interests are keen amateur sportsmen. The Briton and the Jap, the Chinese and the American, meet in international track and field contests regularly. The British soldiers are devoted to boxing, and this sport is wit - nessed by the Whole of the troops of the nations represented, especially on interregimental contest days. The American major is unstinted in his praise of this sporl. 1 ' They have there,'' lie says, "the element of hard and fair fighting prevailing.'' The number of British troops who take their exercise in the form of boxing bouts is declared to be surprisingly great. Here, again, strict amateurism is the rule, and, says the American, "Under the influence of the English, a healthy condition has been created most beneficial in the treaty ports.'' Mr Ft. L. Baker is understood to have ill hand the preparation of a scheme for service, sports in Australia, where sooner or later it will be necessary, according to many of the present governing bodies of sport, that the sports shall be controlled by service bodies, or at all events by bodies that will consider sport as it is most likely to fit in with the military and naval training systems. The experience of men on outpost duty is interesting in view of that.