THE TRUE SPORT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 307, 11 December 1931, Page 5

THE TRUE SPORT

PERILS OF GAMBLING. REV. OLDS’ ADDRESS AT McLEAN PARK. Sport in general, and gambling in relation to it, was a subject upon which the Bev. E. T. Olds briefly addressed those who were at McLean Park, Napier, last night to witness the boxing contests which were staged by the Napier Boxing Association. At the commencement of his remarks Mr. Olds said that he would not give twopence for anything that would not come out into the open, and as the religion of which he was a servant was one which would come out into tha open, that was the reason why, he was at the boxing that night. He believed in sport as long as it was good and clean and as long as it was in keeping with the teachings of our Maker —'that was the looking after of our bodies and keeping them clean. What was meant by sport was the playing of the game for the sake of the game. Everyone liked to win, of course, but the game itself should be all that mattered. Both sides could not win, and a man who was a loser and yet a clean fighter was a true sport. Dealing with the question of gambling, Mr. Olds aid that that was the worst thing that imperilled sport today. “If you have money on a man and are hoping that he will win, you are not a true sport as you are hoping to enrich yourself as a result ol another man’s efforts,” he said. “You are not a sport, but a parasite. Ths desire for gambling is taking the place of true sport.” In conclnsion Mr. Olds said that 190(1 years ago there lived a clean fighter who was badgered about for years and years by his fellow-men. He was caught at last and put in gaol and finally to death. Before he died he said: “1 have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept my faith.” If all of those present could say thst, concluded Mr. Olds, when they came to their end, then life had been worth while.