SPORTSMANSHIP?

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 10, 11 July 1930, Page 8

SPORTSMANSHIP?

(To tlie Editor.) Sir, —Like "Impartial," I was also at the game at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon, and I Simply cannot agree with, his remarks. I considered the crowd quite sporting, giving the British team, 'every encouragement and praise for their very excellent play. .It is only natural for 90 per cent, to be in favour of the Maoris, as we New Zealanders are very proud of our Maori brothers, who are good sports, and it is certainly not very hard to see that "Impartial" belonged to the 'other 10 per cent.

j I failed to hear any of the remarks lie ' complains of, and if he did hear one or two remarks that may not have been iu I the best of taigte (I must certainly 'ridicule his statement that he could hear the personal opinions of "hundreds" iu the noise and excitement of a football match), why label all New Zealanders bad sports? After all it takes all sorts of people to make a world, and maybe the spectators at football matches overseas are not guiltless in this respect. "Impartial" says he was on the high bank, and then goes on to tell us that he moved his position more than half a dozen times so that he would not get a warped opinion, of the men he was rubbing shoulders with. Well, I certainly must congratulate him on his keen eyesight, which is evidently as good as his hearing, because I could not see any good positions going .begging and was so hemmed in by the crowd that even had I not liked rubbing shoulders with those bad sports I simply had to stay where I was or else go home. As I went up to see the football match and not to listen to the remarks of an excited crowd, I stayed there and enjoyed a good, clean game. In conclusion, I would say that I consider the British team a wonderful side and the best of sports, but am afraid that some of their followers do not understand Rugby and • confuse good, hard tackling with rough play. > After' all, Kugby is not ping-pong, and hard knocks are given by both sides and must be taken.—l am, etc., TWO-EYED ENZ^DDEK 10th July. (To the Editoh) Sir, —I regret to have to endorse the remarks of "Impartial," but ray experience was similar to his. I have been a resident of New Zealand for about 25 years, and have always regarded the New Zealanders as fair-minded and impartial "sports." Their attitude in connection with these football matches has therefore come as an unpleasant surprise to me. Perhaps this would have been different had the British team not won so many matches. The game was played in a wonderful spirit, and there were many little friendly touches that were good to see. The tackling of the Maoris was hard but perfectly clean." On this point I would like to congratulate 1- both teams, but I am afraid the friendly spirit was confined to the-teams only, and not to the spectators. I heard many disparaging remarks against the visiting team, and also against the referee for not penalising them oftener. I am afraid the excitement of the game must have affected the judgment of some of the onlookers, as I cannot believe that these are the opinions of all New Zealanders. If so, I am afraid it is time for a little introspection, and would suggest' in all friendliness that it is up to us in this country to remember our duty a* hosts, for the visiting team are really guests of the country.—l am, etc., FIAT JUSTITIA