The Dominion THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1908. THE WORSHIP OF SPORT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 21, 4 June 1908, Page 6

The Dominion THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1908. THE WORSHIP OF SPORT.

1 , To many people—certainly to tho bulk of the younger manhood of this country— the most interesting item in tho cable news printed yesterday was that which recorded tho presentation of the very valuable testimonial to Noble, tho famous Australian cricketer. When the .sum of £2000 had been collectcd for this testimonial, the Australian Press called attention to the extraordinary contrast between the success of this movement and the poor response made to the appeal for funds for the Farrer memorial. William Farreh, " one of the most valuable men which -Australia has produced," as tho Sydney Morning Herald describes him, was a wheat breeder. For a quarter of a century he devoted his great patience and talent to experiments in wheat production,. with the object of breeding wheats that would resist disease and that; would

thrive under the most unfavourable conditions of Australian climatc. Tho results that he actually achieved and tho results yet to come from the work which he began and carried so far have been, and will be, of enormous value to Australia. Ho added many millions to the natural wealth of hi 3 country, and he made for himself a high reputation in every wheat-growing country in the world. Yet, while £2000 was almost instantly subscribed for the Noble testimonial, two years' canvass for funds for the establishment of a FAitßEit Memorial Scholarship has only yielded &IEO.

Without in the least regretting that one of the best types of leaders in one of the best of modern games lias received so comfortable a proof of public admiration, one may feel a little disturbed at this evidence of the public assessment of relative personal worth. Contrasts of this kind have been numerous enough in Australasia. When the sculler Seakle died, he received a semi-public funeral; it was proposed in the Now South Wales Legislative Assembly .that a resolution of condolence with his parents should be entered upon the records of the House; it was even • suggested that the Government should erect a statue to the dead sculler. We all remember—and try to forget—the hysterical absurdities that followed upon Webb's defeat of Towns, and we all feel a little afraid that if a national subscription had been set on foot for Webb's benefit, it would have yielded more in a week than was collected for the Seddon memorial in' a year. But it is . unnecessary .to marshal evidence to support v thc notorious fact that the Australasian public thinks more of the successful athlete than of the men whp really/ make tho country. The public cares less who makes the laws than who makes the record. We are certainly not of those who would have sport done away with, or the public fondness for athlctic prowess in any way lessened. What is wanted is a great deal more regard for large achievements in other arenas than that of sport.

While on the subject of sport it might be pointed out with advantage just now that a growing proficiency in our athletics is not necessarily a wholesome sign. On -.the contrary, it is an unwholcsomo sign when it means a narrowing of athletics to a stage for highly-specialised performances by a few highly-trained experts. That, we are afraid, is what we are tending towards in New Zealand so far as football is concerned. In an earlier article wc expressed the opinion that the Nov/ Zealand Rugby Union should endeavour to keep football a "game" by aiming at simplicity, and by- thinking less of finance and more of the sport. The Union is receiving a good deal of timely advice upon the unwisdom of making tho balance-sheet its chief concern. No doubt tho Union may with some reason urge that a high charge for admission to the matches of the Anglo-Welsh team is necessary to secure tho tour from financial failure, but surely the 1 big balance to the Union's credit should be considered, not a fund to be increased, but a fund to be disbursed in encouraging the 3port. A satisfactory feature of the past few days' discussion lias been tho evidence that it has afforded of a goneral fear amongst the friends of the gamo that riches mean ruin to amateur football. Already the situation has reached a point at which Imany genuine--- lovers of true athleticism are beginning to wish that football was a game which: the many played indifferently instead of a game which a few play with amazing expertness for a nation of lootcrs-on.