SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1919. THE NATIONAL GAME.

Grey River Argus, Volume 07, 7 June 1919, Page 2

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1919. THE NATIONAL GAME.

THE future of football is a subject of probably more general interest in New Zealand than in any other country, for, among all the various forms of athletics, no game stands so high" ;in the affection)* of our people as football. It has justly come to merit the title of the national game. The general transition from the period of the war finds football in this country entering upon a now ei'a that seems likely to sec some changes in the ganifc; changes analogous ■ perha"ps, '. to the many changes in other directions that are destined to follow the war. Un"lilro cricket, the rules of football, have from time to tim e "been modified; often^ with' the object . of improving : the game, and it fc largely because * of fiirther efforts in this direction being now made that the future of football, is for the time being, a maitter .of some uncertainty. On the one hand, there js the point of view that uniformity is a more valuable feature than any other, and ror this attitude there is 1 a good deal to be said. Indeed, waiving other considerations for the moment, all th c votaries of fho gam c would probably prefer the-wid-est uniformity so long afi it" was their own particular set of rules that ■v.i.i.s universal; In- withholding its consent to the innovations in > Rugby which are proposed by the New Zealand Union, the English Union is doubtless, swayed by this, consideration: , Moreover, it is probably with the desire of jjreventing a schism in this : country on the part, of playerswho sock .a inorc attractive form of Rugby than the old code, that the New Zealand Union has amended the rules. This brings up the question as to how far, one way or the other, New Zealand ; footballers in genera], should go. In considering .this question, notice muNt be taken of conditions at home/ and abroad. The <spir.it /of., competition is tke soul of football, and this spirit -is promoted Vlien thespher c .of competition, as enlarged.' .: Visits, 'of representative teams, . whether provincial oV national, are. ; a .leadifig icflinsid^ era.tion with^the .promoters ' .-of V: tin? game. . But it' is. .nowadays impossible tb^ecure such ,a iiniforirhty as to place all Rugby playersi-^say iff: the-^Empire — on* tfie -JBaln'e footing. . ■ ; T6e" faci is that in., places " beyond - New <i Ze^iaml's range of control or iiifluencej schisms h£ve already cansed^. : groat \...i?iy|sipns.' In Australia, thp • 'League : . "game* ''„ A? steadily' supplanting the- -old- code'- in popular f avourj and ¥&' Ehglaiid . tile

Northern Union has been responsible for another extensive cleavage. In this country League cannot yet be said to have- really -menaced the future of Rugby, but the difficulty is that there is abroad a spirit here such as has caused the divisions elsewhere and! in this country itself it has given rise to the adoption of the Leagu e game in several places. This is mainly a desire to make' the game more interesting and attractive. Though some would demur at such a test } a good indication of the popular attitude is to be seen in Sydney in the ."gates" that are nowadays secured for either game. Probably a leading reason f oi' sending over the New Zcalancr League team which is to play its first .game to-day in Sydney, is that the game they play is the better "draw" in Sydney. No doubt, this- is- at leant partly, because the best players there are now ••mostly in the League ranks; "for in Now Zealand it is certain the old code is still just as popular as the other game is in Australia; with the average apecta 1 to£. This likewise, is because the best players are still mostly in th c old game here. So that th c future lies with the code that can secure the favour of the -players. It- is they who will innucnc c the public. Therefore. i the New Zealand Union,' in seeking to make the game as attractive to the players as > pojsiblc is doing the right thing. The only final test, after all-, is actual experience. The battle between Rugby- an cj League will h:i.v« to be fought out on the playing fields and the public will act al-5 judges. J,t will.be for the players to show their respective games in the best possible lirjht — by proper training and good play. The game that is -played best will survive. On the Coast many will be pleased to see the conditions of former years renewed in the sense that tho sphere of -competition has been ex^ tended to- include West-land this yoar. This principle must have *a certain effect in reviving interest. Many," indeed, cqnsicter the : game deteriorated when th c old district Avas divided, merely because of that division. % The present season, therefore, will pcrha-ps be one that "will play a big part, in determining the future of football in the Dominion. The votaries of the different codes, must consequently realise that the success or otherwise of their respective games depends upon their own effort, • vm I jvidually and eollectivcly, and the public will accept the dictum — Lot the better game win.

Great attention was paid in England by the papers to the New ZeaUim 1 ; footlmllers. great feature of": the New Zealand games," says "Astral," in the London Daily News, "is their tremendous tackling. The Britishers wilj have to be right at the. top of their form to pierce a defence that is well-nigh perfect, and there nufct be no blundering. These colonials loavc you no margin for error. Two of the tries at Twickenham were scored by New Zealand directly from fault:, in handling by the South Africans. The New Zealanders arc so wonderfully fast and they follow up so keenly that unless the full-back clears With the utmost promptitude his case is hopclesh- The colonials jire rather foiif 1 . of short punt and follow up, but this is a method that may not prove successful against -quick, adaptable backs like those of the Mother Country. The punt sometimes has a boomerang . effect. The New Zealand forwards arc a splendid lot, no doubt, but. if the Mother Country .scrununagers will only polish up their work in the tight a little more, they should be as good. Hard, fact footwork is the sort of thing, however, to worry the: colonials." lho "worrying," however, was on tho other foot, for *-Tew" Zealand defeated the Motherland team by six. to three.

We \mderstand that Frank O'Neill,the ltunanga boxer, has signed articles to meet Peter- Cook at Cliristcliurch on July sth. in a 15 round contest for a purse of 50 soys.

A cable states that a Victorian loan (not the Victory Loan, as previously cabled) has been' fully subscribed in London. •

During two days 33 divorce-' .cases were heard in Wellington, and xleerec nisi granted. There were still 15 petitions to be heard. ;'

Messrs Donnellan and Shannahari of Greyniouth purchased the b.f. Sleepy Head, by Birtenhead-Somni-fonu. 3 years, .for 200 guineas^ at the sale of H. Friedlander's bloodstock at Dunedin. ■ • ■• .-~

Among the new "0i18.E." : appointments a^e. Third class, Military. Cols. Hiley and Reakes; Fourth Class. Civi'liaris, 'Bishops Cle'ary and Sprott. Messrs -V. G. Day, J. W. Poynton and J. S. Evans (Magistrates) ; -and Malcolm Fraser (Statistician).

Messrs. Gr. W. Moss am! Co.. instructed by tlic Public Trustee, as executor in the estate of Chas. Hanson, deceased. wiliNell on Friday, . 13th June, at their rooms, leasehold section, Mac-kay Street, with shop an^ -buildings thereon; ■ •.■■•■ • ■ . y -'

For' some time tbere 'hay» been suggestions in certain papers 'hat \Gcneral Sir A. Russell should stand for" Parliament; and it ds nQ\v hinted that he may put up for the ' Hawkes '-Bay scat, as more or less an Independent.

An Auckland telegram "states that the Rev. Father James Patterson died on Tuesday night at Takapuna,- where he had lived a retired life for some time, owing to advanced age.

The people of Martinborough, it is stated intend to take active -steps to impress upon the authorities the neces sity for completing the FeatherstonMartinborough railway.

Th ft Governor-General hzM been advised that the King has made the following appointment to and promotion in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services rendered in connection with the war — Captain W. S. C. Colclough, N.Z.S.C, fifth class, or member of the Order of the British Empire.

Press Association wires report that a case of the new disease lethargic encephalitis in Tasmania, the rim case in the Commonwealth has been reported; an<J that there are also four cases oow- in the Wellington Hospital. Since May 29th seven cases have been reported *n 'the . Wellington district. There have been no deaths. The medical impression is that", the disease is one. of theaftcr-.effects of influenza.

' TJie Cambrian v'Society of Canterbury ljurppse making^ a .special display •at tlie peace celebrations, in- order to ?do : honour to the j men -of the Principality . who servedv so gallantly in the Jftn-i pire's ho;ur of danger during the great War. MrJD; J. Bvans. of Hokitika, has..be en ;-v appointed '-.. to - receive do r . nations. for .the- -West- Coast, and ."allcontributions -„ will : be ' :. thankfully ' refeeived aiid faitlifully ■: applifcdj

Mr J. Cairney, son of Mr J. . Ca.'Tney of Greymouth. has passed with distinction the second professional examinations for the degrees- of MB. and Oh. B. Mr Cairney arrives here by: ttouight's express from Otago University on a holiday visit. ~

The Hibernian Ball Committee' has cTpeidcd to hold itl± popular annual function at the Town Hall on Thursday, July 3rd next, and a strong, eommitteo has been formed to make the ball on c of tfhc chief social events of the year.

A cable states the Commonwealth Government ks submitting to Parliament a proposal to substitute preferential voting for the present system in election of members to th c Senate:

Some 577 acres or Crown Lands in the Auckland land district and 23 in the -Hawke 's Bay district' were gazetted last week and set aside for soldier settlement; also 200 acres of settle: ment land in the Wellington district, an(s .470 in Southland.

That paspalum grass is all right for a hot season was clearly demonstrated this summer in the Auckland district, all trough the spell 1 without rain this gnD : s held avcll, and since the rain set in has shown .wonderful growth.

A proposal to raise a loan of £30,---000 to co-ver the cost of. providing an up-to-date electricity supply system for the Borough of Hamilton., and the provision of machinery to ensure an adequate water supply is to be considered at the next meeting of the Borough Council. . ;

Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., has telegraph 1 cd to Sir James Allen emphatically denying the report that he and Mr. Vcrnon Reed were engaged last week in choosing ( a canc'Sdatc for. Napier. They wore merely paying a private visit. — Press As)-n.

There is a serious shortage of school teachers in the Auckland province at present, the Education Board is exper-' iencing great difficulty in securing cap able teachers, tispccially for the rural: districts. * '•

The Shropshire is to rcaoh Napier on June 13, and the Orari on June 23, to load 70,000 ccarcases' to relieve the pressure in th c freezing works.

There arc at present 340,000 freight carcases is the , Waingawa freezing works, with accommodation for tinother 70,000.

A Canterbury am 1 , ,Marlborough deputation is to wait upon thc»Minister of Public Woiks shortly to urge tiiat. the South Island Main Trunk railway should -be- completed a s soon as possi-: ble. .--t ■■••■•' ■

Hhe Labour Party held another of their socials last night in the Druids' Hall, a large and enthusiastic, crowd beng present. The arrangements were perrecv patrons being loud in their praise. The prize winners for the euchre .were: Ladies Ist, Mrs Meates, second Miss De Fhillipi; Gents, Ist, Mr Chapman-, 2nd Mr- A. Thomas. The up stairs poition was crowded, the dance floor being in charge of Mr Goodall. while Mr N. Williams presided at the piano. Dancing was indulged in till 1.30, when everybody left thoroughly satisfied that the Labour socials are. second to noae.

Yesterday, the Govcrnor^General, accompanied by Lieut. Garland (Milton) ■Dr. .Collins,, Dr and Mrs Pomare, Mr Dixon (official reporter), Mr Taylor (official photographer and cinema expert) , left Wellington by the Moana on', a trip to the Islands. At Raratonga the party will pick up the Tutaneka'v which has gone ahead, and will visit M-angaia, Maukc, -Atui, Miti.sito, Aitu-taki, Aia Nui, and after that Navam.and Tutuili, thence to Samoa, and Frji. The pflicial reporter Mr Dixon). will, 'under an arrangement which the Government ha s entered into, -supply reports" -on the trip to the newspapers. .

With gas and . coal at such high prices, it should be noted by those vvhd- wish .to economise that the ; local gas works- arG now: offering coke at 6d a] bug, or three bags at 3s delivered. Special 'prices for loads or quantities are also available. This should prove a boon to all in need of fuel and Greymouth is fortunate when one compares the. price for cok c here with that of other towns which- in some cases reachr ds 4g a bag, , ,

"Worm-fishing is sheer butchery," said-- -a member of the Wellington Accli rircHA-'Slion Society. '?No more tinspoitsmaulike method of taking: trout could; be devised." It was the habit of -some fishcMuen to put lines with worm bait into the Hutt River, rest comfortably on the bank until the float sank, and then pull the fish in. This. pru'otico, said the member, ought to be stopped. I

Although Trenthair. Art Union tickets arc on sale all over New Zealand there are necessar^y Districts which ai*c not covered by the selling organisation. However, the Postman goes everywhere,,- and those who live in outlying'spots can easily buy Art Union "tickets through the mail. The Secreu;ry's address is box 2SI, G.P.O. Wellington. The tickets are 1/- each and the prized total £G,300 in value. The whole scheme is for the children of "Diggers." and every uo€y can spare a 'little bit.'

The decision of the Railway Department to add to the salary of the men in the service at the present time £45 is practically very much what was being done in the general service. The Public Service Commissioner stated lately they did not .arrive at the £45 by way of .war bonus >at all. They arrived at it after making the most exhaustive inquiries into th" cost of Jiving' They determiriea, first, what the cost of living was in 1914 and what it was on April 1, 1919, after taking evidence from Mr. Eraser. Then they took the basic -wage of £165 — they were working then on the general division—and'they found that the increase in the; Cost of living as *given . to them by. Mr. Fraser made it so near £45 that they took that as the standardi > So .they had arrived at it on an! entirely independent jjmsit- They juidj taken the 1911 scale, and had added! £45-. to the,' minimum and £455. to the*, maximum-.^ The clerical division, of. 1 course, was -practically being done! on . the same basis. ■ Only in somcj cases some. got £50 and others got £60---to. branjr them' as- near as tbheyeould! To the £260 to £300 men they had had| to .give; £40,. but some of -the men in the old> seventh class got £50 and some £60. They could /lot work it .exactly for all of them; but that was the broad principle. V . Cabinet recently approved df ' the. . principle rthat -the scales should : *be the same for the three divisions 6f ; the service now under different control— Railways Post and Telegraph, and -general' service. The . classilcation wilLfce <?,iffefeiit to meet different iieeag! .

The New Zealand Dairy Association on May>2l, distributed among its suppliers the sum of £55.0GG 18s lid.. This covered 720,8101 bof butter-fat supplied during April. -" '

A factory for the manufacture of dried milk is to be established at Hautapu, by the Cambridge Dairy Company. ••;•'■

Wellington citizens are .feeling the p'mch of winter in regard to two indispensable ccmnioditcs, naniely, iniik, aad coal.

A waterfall, which is to be admirably; suited' for hariiestiing, has be"en. discovered on the Waipa River, 15 milcg from Tc- Kulti. It is 150 ft high.

A new postage-stamp of three-cent denomination has been issued in the United States to commemorate the successful outcome of the war

Fire is now causing trouble in Christio Bros. No. 2 -coal ' mine . at Green Island. There has been fire there since Easter, ancj the stoppage of- work has allowed it to get a hold, since the operations for keeping it down by blocking off su's the coal is taken out are nolonger going on.

Now that the married men are coming back, one of the ' cheeriest sights is to see 'Diggers' children meeting him at the wharf. On. the other hand the saddest cases in New Zealand are those of the' children whose fathers will never come back. It is for these children that th c Trentham Doinini<Jtt Scholarships Art -Union-, has been founded. To give them a.' first-class nturt in' life i s to build a finer memorial than any of bronze or: stone. Trentham Art Union tickets are only 1/cach, and every shilling is", for the soldiers kiddies. First prize valued; £1000. • - ■ " '