WORK AND PLAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3561, 28 June 1912, Page 2

WORK AND PLAY.

— COMPULSORY M!LITARY SERV3CE AND SPORT. AN AMICABLE CONFERENCE. Some perturbation 'has 'boon occasioned amongst sports bodies in .various centres in the Dominion that the system of compulsory military training would have the effect of disorganising athletic pursuits to a very great extent. That there is little fear of anything of the kind happening locally was proved by a conference which took place at tire Garrison Hall last night between the -officers commanding the local forces and representatives of the sports bodies of the district. The officers present were: Major A. G. Beere (senior/ local officer), Major C. Hellier Evans (commanding A. Squadron, 9th Regiment), Captain A. R. Gatland (commanding cadets, 19th Regiment)The local sports’ bodies were represented hv Messrs Arch. Kirk (Poverty Bay Rowing Club), E. L. Maude (Poverty Bay Rugby Union), D. Cowan (Gisborne Tennis Club), and O. It. Olsen (Poverty Bay Hockey Association). Major Beere presided, and explained that the meeting had been called by the officers with a view to conferring with the various local sports bodies, and endeavoring to arrange dates for parades which would interfere as little as possible with legitimate sport. I The idea of the officers was to fix set I dates. The men in the territorial [ force now had to put in twelve dayj light parades each year, and the offi- | cers were desirous of consulting the different sports bodies as to the most suitable days to decide upon. At a meeting of officers it had been unanimously agreed that the third Saturday iii each month and the Thursday preceding would be the most suitable days on which to hold the daylight parades. Major Beere explained that if it was desired to hold any important athletic fixture tile officers would meet them by applying for leave to change the dates of the parades for that month to another day. They wished to help the various sports bodies in every way they could, and felt assured that athJetes in their turn would assist the compulsory service scheme. After a brief discussion, during which the various representatives present expressed their appreciation of the considerate manner in which the officers were meeting the interests of athletes, it was decided to adhere to the dates fixed for parades, and riot to allow sports fixtures to clash w,"li them.

Major Evans said that the' willingness of the representatives of tire sports bodies to assist the territorial scheme was proof that the thinking portion of the community were in accord with compulsory service. There had been some opposition in other parts of the Dominion, but he regarded these as cases of small dogs with big barks. The officers were anxious to help sport, and ho felt sure that athletes would be equally willing to give what assistance they could to the defence scheme. A vote of thanks to Major Beere for presiding terminated the meeting.