WELLINGTON'S SPORTSMANSHIP

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21578, 14 September 1935, Page 22

WELLINGTON'S SPORTSMANSHIP

TO THZ BDJTOX Of THB rKEIS. Sir,—The article by "Thane" in "The Press" to-day is both timely and fitting, and will be approved by all gen-' nine sportsmen not only in Canterbury but throughout the whole of the South Island, and no doubt in parts of the North Island also. It errs only in being too mild, and as straight talk at the right time is necessary and often useiul, I should like to iet oil some steam that has- been accumulating for some time. I may say that I have had more *han 30 years close connexion with several amateur sports, and can honestly say that Wellington sports bodies Ivave been responsible for more trouble and unpleasantness than the rest of New Zealand combined. This latest examrjle of peevish lack of sportsmanship is typical of the selfish, high-handed, Wellington attitude when ever it cannot have all its own way, and can be likened to the spoilt kid who gets nasty and howls if he cannot win all th.e marbles all the time. It is regrettable to have to admit that throughout this island there is a very strong opinion that Wellington's motto in sport appears to be "graball and keep-all," with trophies and ■ gates of more vital importance than! the game. The fact of the seat of Government being in Wellington hardly implies that, control of ail sports, on Mussolini lines, should also be there, but it is blatantly obvious that this is the main objective of Wellington sports bodies. If this object is ever to be attained, then very different methods will be necessary, as we South Islanders will not tolerate the usual big stick methods that appear to be so favoured by Wellington, as, for example, the attempt by the Wellington Cricket_Association to use this weapon oh the New Zealand Council. Result—Wellington got well caned and put in the corner. Another example of unsportsmanlike methods was that of.two or three Wellington Surf Living Saving officials coming down to Christchurch one Sunday morning and holding a secret meeting with one or two officials- of the Royal Life Saving Society, and forming what they called a New Zealand Surf Association, without having the ordinary courtesy of either inviting or notifying the Canterbury Surf Association. They then tried to use the big stick on Canterbury, but again failed badly. Many more examples could be given of Wellington's rather pompous and amusing superiority complex, but one will suffice. A prominent sports writer in a review on New Zealand Rugby stated that after full analysis, etc., there were really only three provinces that could be considered as representative of New Zealand Rugby, viz., Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Auckland! The splendid spirit of harmony, good fellowship, and sport that exists between all sports bodies throughout the South Island can be held up as an example worthy of emulation, and if Wellington is desirous of removing her present unpopularity in several branches of sport, then I would humbly suggest, as a lover and follower of all-clean sport, that less arrogance and selfishness in Wellington will help considerably.—Yours, etc., PLAY THE GAME. September 12, 1935.