SPORTS LEAGUE AND EVANS BAY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 100, 1 May 1925, Page 7

SPORTS LEAGUE AND EVANS BAY

10 THE EDITOR,

Sir,—The New . Zealand Sports Protection League asked me the question: "Will"you oppose any scheme for the reclamation of the foreshore at Evans Bay, which will materially interfere with the bathing facilities at present enjoyed by the people?" To this question I answered "No."

The secretary of the league, Mr. Shallcrass, on receipt of this reply rang, me on the.telephone to inquire if I meant no, and did I understand the question. I replied, "Yes, I have taken two days to consider it, and my reason for saying no is that if there Were Teclama'tion works going on at Evans Bay, which'was in the interests of 70 per cent, of the citizens of Wellington, then the -SO pef cent, would hiivo to go by the board as far as bathing facilities were concerned." .Having made myself quite cleat to Ml-.' Shaltcrass, I.was rather surprised to find on the eve of the election, iv your paper, that I was particularly mentioned as having- answered no, but there was no explanation given such as I gave Mr. Shallcrass over the telephone. ' To me this savours of "hitting below the belt," which is not a sportsmanlike action, _ and as I was busy, with very little time, I had no opportunity to inform the public of Wellington my reasons for saying no. . ■ In viewing this question, I look to the future, and I can see that this neighbourhood is going to be an industrial centre, and that Evans Bay will not be a fit place for children bathing, because I.consider the water will be too polluted; even now you have the patent slip, the_ power-house, and tho oil tanks, especially when it is only a short distance to Lyall Bay, where the conditions are 100 per cent, better. I made it quite clear to Mr. Shallcrass tliat 1 was giving him my honest opinion irrespective ol whether' I was going to lose of gaiii votes in tho Harbour Board coil test.

I feel a brief summary of the part I Uave taken lir sport is necessary to convince a sporting body that I have view-u-.j w nlatlfel>' i" tho interest of the children ahd sport. I hold a gold medal won at Auckland for all-round gymnastics, v gold alid silver medal for aWihiming- at Auckland, and fur six months 1 Van a boys dub iti Northland on my own, giving them personal instruction m boxing, dumb-bells, cltibs, and wrestling, so that I think I can claim to be a sport. If it is any satisfaction to a sports body to think that they have done mo an injury in this campaign, they are quite welcome to that opinion ; at the same time I for one aih not blaming them m the least.—l am, etc

Qn*i a-, ' F- A. MACINDOE. 30th April.