FIELD GAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 80, 6 April 1937, Page 14

FIELD GAMES.

THEIR SOCIAL VALUE.

RUGBY LEAGUE PRESIDENT.

MR. J. A. LEE'S OBSERVATIONS I

"It may be important to attend to the business of the community, it may be important that we should produce butter, meat and other essentials and goods that also provide material satisfaction, but we never want to lose sight of the fact that in the long run the proper development of the ideal system of society depends to a vast extent on healthy men and women. I know nothing that aids more in that direction than the provision of healthy recreation." stated Mr. J: A. Lee, M.P., in the course of his presidential remarks at the annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby League last evening.

The speaker emphasised how highly he esteemed the privilege of being elected president. It was an office in which he was identified with a body that was doing splendid work promoting opportunities for the betterment of the health of young people, and providing facilities for the maximum expression of team games rather than of individual games. He felt that there wae a better or wider training for citizenship in the field games because no I matter how brilliant a player wae only the type of activity which elevated the team counted for much. It wae the real spirit and purpose of human society that kept going the democratic machine, and it was the Golden Rule—the sacrificing of the material and even of the spiritual

advantage for others. And, thue the individual served the team and the team eerved the individual, in th*> field of pport. In an age of greater leisure thie team spirit in recreation demanded more spoilt* a:ul more organisations with them that would give e;c;ie for your.g nt'oule to holp to mould fine: c.tizens for this country.

Friendly Gesture. "You know I consider that all the defeats, or rath?r, disabilities, this code has had, and has overcome, have welued it strongly," added Mr. Lee with a smile. "We like the other game, and good feliowg we know are playing it,*but we think and know our game is better. In othei words, we like the other game, Rugby Union, but we like our own game best. It may be an offshoot. I suppose it is a case of the juvenile being better than the parent. (Applause.) Anyhow, we think our game is improved, livened up, harder and faster, and it has a tempo more in keeping with our time. When we say we believe it is going to be the supreme Rugby code in New Zealand that is not because we dislike the other codes either —because we like all games that do something for the young—but for all that we are entitled to think and realise that our own type of game is best. We have succeeded well, as I say, but we still have greater opportunities as well as greater responsibilities, and I am sure the administration, with the game's supporters, will carry on most successfully."

Acknowledging the inspiring address given by Mr. Lee, the chairman of the Control Board, Mr. G. Grey Campbell, said the co-operation given by the clubs was a great pleasure to the. authorities, and it was evident that many of the officials were descendants of pioneers of the game. Players were now joining up in club management after they finished their playing days, and the Board of Control was grateful for the collaboration it received from all units in the game. It bore out what Mr. Lee had referred to— team-work in the game.