SPORTS PROTECTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 216, 19 September 1911, Page 7

SPORTS PROTECTION.

TO THE EDITOB

Sir, —Will you allow me to direct the attention of your readers to the most important movement in connection with sports and pastimes that has ever been inaugurated, viz., the New Zealand Sports Protection League. In view of the hostility to and1 interference with, the sports of the Dominion (especially racing andl trotting) by a small section of faddists, ' who have shown themselves antagonistic to the innocent amusements of the general public, it was realised1 that a strong ; organisation should"be formed' to protect the national sports of the country. For this purpose a meeting of from the various sports clubs of the Dominion was called', and; held in Wellington on July 18th last, at which I had the honor to attend. At that meeting (Mr H. D. Bell being in the chair) the New Zealand Sports Protection League was formed. Sir George Clifford was elected president,

and the following as first board of control:—Messrs J. H. B. Coates, C. P. Skerrett, K.C., Hon. D. Collius. and 11. D. Bell. K.C. Rules of the association hiave now been drawn up by the above board, and Rule 2

■directs that the first districts of the League shall bo as follows, and the following — Hon E. Mitchelson (Auckland); G. P. Donnelly (Hawke's Bay); lan Johnston (Wellington); A. Boyle (Canterbury); H. D. Vavasour (Marlborough); T. Millar and J. B. Reid (Otago)} W. T. Hazlett (South-land-—were appointed and requested to make the necessary arrangements for enrolment of members in their respective provincial districts, and exercise all the powers of the board in their districts. The objects for which the League in formed v:ve: 1. To influence public opinion, without regard to party politics, in the interests of sport, so as to enable the people to amuse themselves in future without molestation; (2) To promote any alteration of law that may be necessary for the better protection of sports and pastimes; (3) To take up and defend any actions that the council may consider important as test cases; To discourage all malpractices in connection with sport, and to raise its tone wherever it is considered necessary ; (5) Generally, to do whatever may from time to time seem advisable to extend the facilities for every honestly-conducted sport, exercise, and amusement. By the above it will be seen that the objects of the association are not confined to ?ny particular sport, but to all sports and

j pastimes of the people- that may at [any time be threatened with intetf ference. Mr Graham Griffiths has kindly consented1 to act as pro tern secretary till a district board _>s properly constituted, and from him can be procured books of enrolment, rules of the association, and any information required. There is no entrance fee or subscription required to become a member of the League. What is wanted is the hearty- moral support of everybody. Any person of either sex above the age of 18 is eligible as a member, &nd no member of the League shall be required, as a condition of membership, to pay any subscription or donation, annual or otherwise (see Rule 22). As soon as a sufficient number of members in this district are enrolled, I ©hall at once call a meeting to elect a president and committee of five for this district in pursuance of Rule 4. In conclusion, Sir, let me beg that every man and woman in this district who has the interests of sports and pastimes at heart will give this movement their moral support by -enrolling themselves as members of this League. It 's only with a strong and influential body of this sort that we can hope to counteract the interference of faddasbs, who may at any time attempt to interfere with our liberty by curtailing our pastimes. Let us therefore show plainly by the overwhelming support given to this movement that we intend to stand up for »h<s traditions of our race, and allow no interference with our legitimate amusements. It is needless to state that in,order to carry on a work of ifais kind funds will be required, and for the present the different sporting clubs throughout the Dominion are ■asked to subsciribe, the Marlborough Racing Club, it he® been suggested, to the extent of £30. This the committee hi&ve decddeft to collect by voluntary contributions from tho members of the Racing Club. Any member Of the Marlborough Racing Club, therefore, wishing to subscribe should hand his subscription to ihe secretary yMr Griffiths. lam gytfett to jtoderstland. :tbat the other; Sjfiorta clubs'' in -the province will donate their quota to the general: fund.' ■■'• • • •■■■ ''. .-'. ---/■■ ;• - :.- H./D. VAVASOUR.