MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1924. BRITISH SPORTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 December 1924, Page 4

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1924. BRITISH SPORTS.

British people throughout the world are devoted followers of .sport, and tlier eare few in this country who fail to take an interest in some game or pastime. During this week attention has been turned to the first test match in Sydney between this season's English, team and the Australian eleven.. The game has contained features of great/ interest to those who understand cricket, but .perhaps the most welcome has been the splendid batting display of Hobbs, who is regarded by keen critics as the world's greatest batsman. Australia’s aggregate score of 902 proved too big for the Englishmen, whose collapse in the first innings was not anticipated. It showed the “glorious uncertainty'’ of cricket, wherein lies much- of its charm. The first test has ended and the next four will be awaited eagerly. On the other side of the world the tour of the All Blacks is nearing the end, and if they win the next contest on January 3 they will have to, their credit an achievement of which their country will have every reason to be proud. Tours by teams representing countries within the Empire should do much good, for through sport better understanding may be reached. Those on tour may be regarded as missionaries, and by tlieir achievements on the playing fields as well as their bearing off the fields they encourage the., desire y among those whom they meet to leani more about the coun tries which they represent. At the present time Britain has a large 'surplus population, and both Australia and New Zealand need immigrants of a suitable type. Lovers of cricket in Britain are no doubt following closely the reports of the matches which Gilligan’s men are playing in Australia, while the thousands of spectators who have seen the New Zealand footballers in . action must have learned something about this country. Directing the attention of people to the British Dominions in this way is, wo think, valuable, in that it impresses upon them the fact that the Empire is very extensive, and that the men. who live in the overseas Dorn ini on W'-are fellow citizens with the people living in Britain. The series of test matches which have taken plnce between Elnglish and Australian teams have done much to make Australia better known in the Old Country, and the 1905 tour of the All Blacks also did much for New Zealand. British people are often ac-

cusecl of devoting too much time to their sports, and in some cases it may be true, but we still think that to their sports owe a great deal. From the point of view that sports properly entered into assist in promoting physical fitness .they are worth while, but they do more than that. Cricket, for example, as Mr. M. A. Noble stated recently, is more than a game, and the same may be said of Rugby and other sports. To be successful; the player must use his brains and must think out his actions speedily and accurately;, moreover, he must. learn the meaning and essence of team work, for each unit of the eleven or the fifteen, as the case may be, mnst know his place and be ready to do what is required of, him He, must therefore understand his fellow players and learn to trust them and be trusted by them. It can easily be seen that sports approached in this way have an invaluable place in our national lifej and we hope that all who take part in them will display this spirit, of co-operation as well as individual determination.