PROTECTION OF SPORT

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 222, 19 September 1919, Page 7

PROTECTION OF SPORT

REVIVAL OF LEAGUE IN

BLENHEIM.

The local branch otf tlio New Zealand Sports Brotecitiom. • League was revived at a public meeting held in -the Council Chamber yesterday nft&moccV The Mayor (Mr J. J. Corry) presided over a gathering of i«epr©sientatlives of iall branches of sport. Mr R. "W. .Shallorass, general secretary of the League, was present. In higj introductory -remarks the inferred to1 tlie fact that a "branch of the League was formed in Blenheim a few years ago, and the promise of a useful existence was being fulfilled when activities were restricted on account of the 'war. Now that normal times were approaching the need of some protective organisation such- as the League was more • apparent than ever, and ho hoiied that it would bo .strongly revived and become a powerful force in th© I>ominioin in the intare&ts of sport. Addressing the meeting on the objeots of tfhe League, Mr Shallcrass stated that it was not a political organisation as far as party politics were concerned, but its attitude was i political in tko direction of securing ' representation of sportsmen in Parliament. At the. last election1 certain .questions were put to candidates, a,nd the. outcome was that cf a Parliament of 80 members only three Membars were recognised as opponents of the League's objects. The League came into existence because of a wave of sentimentalism that swept through tho country in prewar days, -when a section of the community endeavored to impose their mode- of life on other sections. The desire was to create a public feeling ngainst restrictive legislation and to protect the privileges of sport. The war had demonstrated the value of sport to the nation. Physical training was one of the things which needed promoting, aiad it could not lie promoted in any more effective manner than by indulgence in national games. Tho League was impressed with the necessity" for more .extensive playing-grotmds at public i-chools. It" was recognised that wondary schools generally wore well provided in Ihis respect, but m the public institutions—where it was important- that a lov© of sport should be dovolopod- thn interests of the vioungor geiKM-aUon w-e.ro not being satisfactorily m.-t. The League had also com-t-rn-ed itself in tho provision x>f public recreation grounds. He incnitionud thnt ib© Auckland branch had been instrumental in securmp: ;i playing-gn'oiind of ?bout 20 ticrcs on

the Exhibition site, raid this was one of the best in New Zt.uland. He believed that a better -cine was in view in Marlborough. (Hear, hear). By creating a general organisation they could remove disabilities that any particular branch of sport might suffer. The relationship between sports bodies and, local bodies was important. One of the functions of local bodies and the State was to provide adequately for the recreation of the people, aad local bodies particularly exercised a strong influence on'the."facilities which were available for sporting institutions. The League had done a £i*eat dba.l to combat efforts that had been, made in regard to the taxation by local bodies on grounds that had been provided by sports bodies themselves. As a result of their efforts permissive, legislation in this direction had also beon secured. Boxing was among tho classes of F,port that had bsen attacked, and for a time this, pastime had been prohibited in the Wellington Town Hall. As the result of pressure, however, this restriction had been removed. He repeated that th© desire of the League was to create a, public feeling in favor of tjie rights of the people to enjoy themselves without interference. Concluding, Mi' Shallcrass mentioned tihob Maa-lborough had beon settled by representatives of the best sporting families in England, and it was most, desirable tlnat these traditions should! be passed down from generation to generation. Several gentlemen spoke in praise of the objects of the League, and tho meeting affirmed tho desirability of reviving the local branch. Officers were elected as follows:— President, Mr W. Pollard: vicepresidents, Messrs R. McCailum, M.P., and! A. Rore; committee (to elect an executive of five), Messiis E. A. Weld, J. J. Corry, J. G. Bacon, A. J. Fisher, T. W. Orr, J. M. Lightfoot, H. D. Vavasour, I*. Griffiths, W. J. Girling. C. H. Mills, H. ■J. S. Mitchell, H. R Bapge. J. G". Arrestro'hg, D. F. Fleming, E. H. Eccles, G. T. Seymour, W. Gee, Br. 11. Noble-Adams, "ft. P. Furness. W. M. Lainbie, J. R. Coull, H. Mills, R, Wateirß, G. E. Oostello, J. A. Fowkr, W. D. S. Ohisholm, :tnd 11. Fuller. Arrangements for the first, meeting were left in the hands of the president.