SPORTS GRIP ON DOMINION

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22182, 27 August 1937, Page 12

SPORTS GRIP ON DOMINION

DISQUIETUDE OF CHURCH JOURNAL

"AN OBSESSION WHICH IS NOT GOOD"

Fears that the community is too much obsessed with sport are stated editorially in the latest issUe of the "tfew Zealand Methodist Times," the official journal of the Methodist Church. The article suggests that there are sofhe distiuietlng features in the extent of the obsession, and emphasises the interest being taken in the RUgby football tour of the SoUth African team.

"We are no enemies of legiLm-lc sport . . ~" the editorial states, "but we do feel that there is a real danger of sport Obsession in the Dominion nowadays. Football is dbiibtiess bur national gams and addiction to it. on the part 'of bUr JSTeW Zealand youth is laudably general. The present tour of the famous South African Springboks is creating nationally widespread interest. But is there not some degree of toti-lieaviness about the intensity of the interest displayed? Fancy 45,000 people being present at the test match in Wellington last Saturday week and 1500 travelling by train specially from Auckland to see the match! And fancy £6 being the lowest price quoted for seats on the grandstand the morning of the test! And all to witness a two hours' display or athletic prowess. Events Abroad "Frankly, at the risk of being accused of suffering from jaundice, we submit that there is a lamentable lack of sense of proportion abroad. TremertdoUs international happenings are taking place to-day. It sometimes seems as though civilisation were fdcklng in the balance. There is the Far East ablaze not far from our door. And yet, 'these be your Gods, O Israel'." The article alSd mentions the great increase in tbtalisatbr investments in I Christchurch recently. It is submitted I that the obsession of sport is not good. "It argues a defective sense of values. Sport is healthy In its rrieasUrfc, and is wholesome in its place, but there is a grave possibility of its being assigned too high ah importance. And the result is riot creditable, it has its disquieting features."