DEVOTION TO SPORT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11954, 26 May 1933, Page 3

DEVOTION TO SPORT

WARNING BY ARCHBISHOP JULIUS. LOST OPPORTUNITIES. CHRISTCHURCH. May 20 Some very direct criticism of the New Zealand people's devotion to sport was expressed by Archbishop Julius during an address at the annual mending of the New Zealand Sunlight League last night. ; T believe that the tendency to break records and the conduct of sport

does not advance in our young p-eop.e the things that we have most at heart,” declared the Archbishop. “A great deal of our sport—l am not running ’it down, because I value it—means simply this, that a few fellows are highly • trained to play a game and the rest sit around and howl and think" they are learning something, whereas they learn nothing and do nothing. So it is with record-breaking the few manage it, but tile poor, dull, and slow ones are left—as ] was left—ut* th© bottom of the school.

The Archbishop went on to emphasise the opportunities which the Dominion offered for the healthy training of its younger people. “What are we making of thorn r” ho asked. ‘‘l don't want to run down our manhood and womanhood. They have many fine qualities, but some that are not so good. Statistics after the war shocked 1 us when we read of the numbers who were stunted, ill-nourished, and over-fed. the numbers who were born tired and lived tired because they did not know bow to work. They would make splendid men and women if they knew how to make the best of their opportunities —and we stand about and talk a*Tol of rubbish when we> might do a great- deal of work.”

A country’s defences, he emphasised, were not to be measured in guns. It was the manhood and womanhood of a country that made it safe, and it was to develop that manhood and womanhood that was the chief glory of the- country. That was what the league was for. It must reach further than the unemployed girls —and he was told that those girls were so busy that they could not come to the meetings- - and put its plan before tlie people and keep the plan before them constantly. Even the Minister of Health might do something if lie tried hard. “If anything will make New Zealand a great-, strong, vigorous country, it will not bo great lawgivers, but strong, .staunch men and women, grown-up in strength of mind, vigour of (body, and greatness of soul, and .God grant that this league . may help them forward!”