DUNEDIN NOTES.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2662, 2 June 1908, Page 5

DUNEDIN NOTES.

mom oca ow* coaassrovMirfl. .We are just g»-tiiiiij into a delightful simmer at this hour of writing in anticipation of the great football carnival of Saturday. I assume, however, that the excitement of this week will be nothing like that of next. We only play an Otago team against the Anglo-Welshmen for the first Saturday but on the Saturday following the first New Zealand teat will be played. Then we shall have wigs on the green. Football, which leaves roe absolutely unthrilled and unmoved, can send tens of thousands of law-abiding, god fearing, douce, decent and dour English, Scotch and Irishmen off their heads. When 18,000 people pay at least a shilling a head, and an extra one or two for the enclosure and stand, to 1 see thirty young men cover themselves with mud and glory, why, we may conclude that football is fairly popular. It is

the only game that we in .New Zealand will look at. Saturday after Saturday our grounds are crowded, but for the best cricket team in the world we can't pay expenses. For the International matches the grand stand fee has been fixed at 5s and I have no doubt many will pay it. Fortunately all the to-do is over pure amateur sport and New Zealand will be well able to hold its own. What we all should like, however, would be a good deal more play and a little less sight-seeing. The boys and youths who spend their Saturday afternoons in watching and their evenings in discussing the day's matches know every move of the game and follow each bit of play with an avidity that calls for smiles as well as admiration. At the same time a few more 1 muddied safs' at the goals and f«wer tongue-waggers round the ring would be liettermor the onlookers and better for sport.

Football is a 'money making game. This the Rugby Union has long since discovered. The humble sixpence—the price of one (or is it two 1) drink—would, in the past, take the barracker in ; now, it is a shilling (' bob ' I believe is what it-is technically termed) with anything up to ss. In the years that are to come—unless the bottom drops out of the business—we may attain to United States figures for interuniversity games. There, 4s 2d is the lowest up to a pound for a seat and £1 for a box ! Bat we need not offer advice to the Ruijby Union. As an exploiting syndicate of amateur 'sports there is nothing much to teach them. They have a remarkably keen eye for the cash value of football and are building up a respectable cash reserve. As for their business methods, if you took a peep in at a Union meeting you would imagine you had got into a Methodist Conference by mistake. They are serious and decorous almost to tho point of solemnity. There is infinitely more fun and human nature to be had and seen at a brotherly debate on}; the doctrine of the new theology or of the infant damnation than you will find among the Rugby authorities when in full council assembled. • Sport! Barracking ! ! Colored language! ! ! Why, my dear sir, after attending » business confab of the N.Z.R.U. you would be more inclined to say that they opened every big match with prayer and closed it with the Old Hundredth. Well, after all, it's a national trait. We do take our pleasures sadly. Empire Day was not observed as a close holiday owing to the Prince of Wales' birthday being so near. I hope the latter will disappear and its place be taken by the former. W* are not greatly concerned with the da} the Prince of Wales was born on and for my own part I am inclined to think wc have of late years elevated the monarchy and royal family somewhat unduly. To curb the power of Kings was the work of our fathers, to exalt them into social gods is that of their degenerate descendants. Be this as it may, we cannot afford to keep the two holidays and until something definite is decided on we must observe the birthday. This means and was a half and half sort of Empire celebration—which was a pity. We all need to be reminded of our responsibilities and privileges and one dny a year may well be given over whole-heartedly to it.

In Duuedin there was a misunderstanding between the teachers who are officers in the cadets corps and the Education Board that at one time threatened to lead to a break-down of

the mayoral programme. Ihe officers claimed that all they were called upon to do was to address the children and salute the flag the first .thing in the morning but not to parade in the middle of the day. This roused the ire of the patriots on the Board and a sharp resolution was passed requesting the teachers to roll up—which thny did. There was no question of the teachers' loyalty or obedience ; the whole trouble was due to want of a clear understanding at the start and for that lack of clearness the teachers were not to blame.

The Winter Show opens next week and a successful exhibition is assured. The Premier will be present and, given fine weather, a large attendance of the public, who year by year have come to appreciate this welcome interlude, will roll up. The Hon. J. A. Millar is also to be among those who make Danedin their headquarters at this time. He is to address his constituents on Monday and is to explain how the Government have done everything they could have done—especially at Blackball—and how exceedingly wicked the Opposition are to say that they haven't. His bill to amend the Arbitration and Conciliation Act is to be the bill of the session—so it is said

The City Council declined to grant permission to the Kaikorai band to give a concert in the theatre on Sunday evening for the purpose of raising funds. Their action, though unanimous. has been sharply criticised. At first blush one feels that their decision is a wise and a right one. We do not want oar Sundays turned into days of

pleasure hunting and theatre going and we say " Nip any attempt in this direction in the bud." That I think is a sound view and good basis to go on. But to this as to everything else there are exceptions. It is said, for example, and one has only to take a walk to prove it, that the streets are crowded with idle promenaders on Sunday evenings and that anything which will draw these people to something better is desirable. Further, there is no reason why the Oity Council, who must graut permission, should not have sufficient wisdom to dissent fromjimproper applications and select only those that are unimpeachable. The question is a serious one—more serious than some may think—and one not, to be settled off hand.