"COMMERCIALISED SPORT."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19413, 12 September 1928, Page 17

"COMMERCIALISED SPORT."

IDOLATRY OF NEW ZEALANDERS "You will want to know my impressions of New Zealand," said, the Rev. Hector' N. McLean, of the : United Church of Canada, speaking at th( Christchurch Presbytery .-yesterday "Well, I find it a land where 'every . prospect pleases' - The laughter of the members oi Presbytery was an indication that thej knew tlna conclusion of the quotation. "You know," continued the Canadian visitor, "I feel like the Apostle Paul at . Athens—'his spirit was sore: within him -when he saw the city given over to idolatry.' The situation is batd Enough in .Canada—the Lord knows it is. My impression honestly; .(it doesn't make an> difference to me) is; that I think New Zealand is given oyer "body and soul to eommerciajised sport. Now, I believe in clean and legitimate sport, but when sport; T>e.comes an obsession, and an over-ruling passion. God help us. and God he\ the country, and it's time to call a halt, and a timt to do something. But," lie added, in concluding this part of his remarks, "I never got into a controversy in my life, Jonly once-r-with my wife—and that settled me!" (Laugh? ter.) "