NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20220, 12 April 1940, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Rugby Players’ Sympathy The keenness of the late Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage in his social welfare work was mentioned last night by the president of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union, Dr. W. A. Bowie, at the annual meeting. A severe loss also had been felt in the death of the late Mr. M. J. Kyne, who had been a tower of strength to Rugby in Gisborne and Waikohu. Votes of condolence were passed, members standing in silence.

Tangoio Valley Flood Protection A grant of £I4OO has been approved by the Minister of Native Affairs for flood protection work in the Tangoio Valley. At a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay 'County Council the chairman, Mr. C. C. Smith, said the work hinged on the co-operation of the owners of native land, as one of the works involved in the protection scheme was the diversion of the Te Ngaru Stream. “We have had trouble for years in the valley through floods, and I trust that something will be done this time," said Cr. F. H Wilkie.

No Discrimination A reminder that Law Courts make no discrimination between people on the grounds of money or society was given by Mr. J. Miller, S.M., in the Napier Magistrate’s Court, when summing up in a case in which it had been pointed out that the defendant was a man in a big way in business. “It has been said that this man is in a big way,” said the magistrate. “That has nothing to do with this court. There is not one law for the big man and another for the 1 small man.”

“Stoney Indifference”

In an appeal to members to take more interest in the affairs of their organisation, Mr. C. H. Williams, president of the Poverty Bay and East Coast Sheepowners’ Union, asks members, in his annual report, to seriously consider whether it is fair or reasonable to throw the whole responsibility, as well as the work of conducting their affairs, on the shoulders of the executive committee. “For years,” his report states, “hardly a member outside the committee has thought fit to attend the annual meeting or to give us the benefit of advice or intelligent criticism. A storm of adverse criticism would be preferable to the stoney indifference with which our humble but well-meant efforts are treated."

Gisborne’s Rugby Spirit “Sometimes before a match Rugby players in Gisborne look as though they are preparing to do battle and not to go out on to the field ana play football," said the chairman, Dr. W. A. Bowie, last evening at the annual meeting of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union. The speaker was comparing the conditions in the Dominion with those in London, where a friendly spirit prevailed among rival teams. In London the clubs had their own clubhouses on their grounds, to which they adjourned after the match, had tea, and later danced with their girl friends. A more friendly spirit was required in Gisborne. In some cases players in one team would hardly look at the players of rival teams when they passed in the streets during the week: it was all wrong. English players were all marvellously fit, although in many cases the only training the men could do was with a skipping rope. During the war he considered the time opportune to teach the younger boys to play good football, which would make a vast improvement in the game.