RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31305, 27 February 1967, Page 24

RANDOM REMINDER

AFTERTHOUGHT

The affection of New Zealanders for sport is often reflected In their treatment of their children. Only a few insist., on issuing instructions from the side-line, which means that only a few youngsters are dreadfully embarrassed week by week. But It is not fancy to suggest that fathers have a tendency to buy football boots for their sons as soon as they are three years old. A famous New Zealand footballer of some years ago had an interesting experience with his teenage

son recently. In his room upstairs, the lad had more than enough sporting equipment to show a very wide range of athletic interests he shared with his father. There were cricket bats and footballs and tennis racquets and golf clubs and running shoes and boxing gloves and ludo sets, the lot. But for some time the lad had been a little disenchanted with sport. In fact, he had not played games of any sort for eighteen months or so. But one evening a friend rang him. suggesting that

they should go for a run in preparation for the winter sports season. The boy agreed with some alacrity, and repaired up- . stairs to prepare himself for the jog. He had the proper shoes and socks, and he had shorts and a football jersey. There was only one item he was without. As he went out of the house, he asked his mother if he could borrow five shillings. But, she said, you are only going for a training run. But, he said, he might get tired and need a taxi home.