A "SPORTING PARSON."

Press, Volume L, Issue 14908, 5 March 1914, Page 7

A "SPORTING PARSON."

AUCKLAND CLERGYMAN'S DE-

FENCE OF RACING.

(r___S ASSOCIATION T_X__G___U.)

AUCKLAND, March 4

On Sunday the Rev. Jasper Calder, a young Anglican clergyman, who is well-known here as the "Sporting Parson," delivered a special adaress tc sporting men, the gist of which was that there should bo a stronger sympathy between active Church worker* and 'sporting men. Horso-racing had come to stay, and the preacher thought it would be better for the Church to accept that fact and endeavour to make the sport a good clean one, than to display antagonism towards horso-racing, a course which would only alienate the sympathy of a large body of perfectly reputable men connected with sport. This address was considered at a meeting of the Diocesan Social Questions Commission last evening, when th* following resolution was passed unanimously:—"That this Commission regrets, and strongly disapproves, of the pulr.it utterance*, of tho Rev. Jasper Onldej- fas reported in th© Press) on the betting evil." Interviewed to-day. Mr Caleler proved reluctant to make any reply to the Commission, which, he said, was doing much cxer-11-Mit and useful work. •'But. as regard* the gambling evil and racing general!v." said Mr Calder, "'the voice of the Commission seems to sho"- that they have taken an entirely one-side*! view. T believe I have had eno"_rh experience of racing myself to give both side-, on the question. Until ore* can do this, one is oound to find n. difficulty in gaining the f-vmna+hy of the sporting man in one's efforts."