WAIATA-COLYTON.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 233, 31 August 1929, Page 10

WAIATA-COLYTON.

(From Our Own Correspondent). COLYTON, Aug. 31. Tho monthly meeting of the Waiata-Ara-tika Literary and Debating Society was held in the Waiata Schoolroom on Tuesday evening. A good attendance was presided over by Mr Freeman. Tho subject selected for debate was “Is New Zealand devoting too much tuno to sport p” proving a fruitful subject and keen interest was shown throughout. The A team which presented the case for the affirmative was comprised of Miss Billet, Messrs. D. Jensen, J. Bain, J. Walker, and H. Jensen, while tho members of B team were Messrs E. Billet, N. Walker, Miss Merritt, Mr G. Grierson and Miss M. Wilson. In opening tho case for her team, Miss Billet, the leading speaker, stated that in hor opinion the young people of New Zealand plaoed sport before everything else. Their work or business was undertaken half-heartedly and rushed through in a slop-shod fashion so that more time might be devoted to sport. This was most unsatisfactory to the person who employed them who was desirous of carrying on a successful business or farm. Too much sport, too, had the tendency to lead one to spend money required for other things, and many vices, particularly, gambling and drinking, went hand in hand with nearjy every kind of sport. Mr D. Jensen, the second speaker, referred mainly to motor racing which was indirectly responsible for many accidents on the public highways. Young men at an impressionable age, after attending several of these race meetings, had a craze for speeding which often speeded them straight into trouble. The third speaker, Mr J. Bain, spoke of the effects on the careers of many young people to whom sport becamo a crazo. Many lost good positions through it, many were injured temporarily and sometimes permanently on the football field and boxing ring, while many were ruined financially on tho racecourse. This same time, utilised for productive purposes, would bo a better advertisement, for New Zealand. The people of New Zealand who strove to give their young folks a good education did not expect them to fill their whole time and thoughts in sport was the opinion of Mr J. Walker, the fourth speaker. Young men were brought, before the courts in this country who had every wish to act honourably, but had used money in gambling and sport with every intention of paying it back, but this they eventually found themselves unable to do. If tho rising generation did not devote more time to business, who was to look to the affairs of tho country in the future? Mr 11. Jensen spoke last and talked a <rood deal on hunting, referring to the disastrous effect on nativo bird and animal life in New Zealand. " Mr E. Billet opened the case for the negative and said that it was quite possible to combine sport with business. Business wa3 often successfully carried out through meeting the right person on tho sporting field. Now Zealand sporting teams touring other countries created friendly feelings and advertised this country. Modern machinery and methods allowed more time for sport and recreation without lowering production. Tho second negative speaker, Mr N. Walker, spoke on health lines, pointing out that sport occupied one’s time and acted as a recreation- to body and mind. Particularly those living in towns needed exorcise, sport providing this, and giving the necessary fresh air and sunlight so essential to health. Miss Merritt, too, spoke on tho same lines, referring to, many kinds of hoalthfUMrPGt- Grierson, the fourth speaker, spoke on the two important snorts, cricket and boxing, both of which built up fine physique and created a hig.i sense of sportsmanship as one had learn to take a beating in good part and to give and take in a sportsmanlike manner, . Miss M. Wilson spoke of ski-lng and other healthy exercises indulged in In tho mountains and Alps of Switzerland. She also claimed that no healthier sxer-

ciso eould bn provided for schoolgirls than tonnis and basket ball, A hearty discussion followed and spoochos were invited from the audience, Messrs Snell, Freeman and Peat, all spoke for a short time. The adjudicator then awarded team marks, the negative side winning by 3£ points, Supper was then handed round, and brought to a close an interesting and enjoyable ovening,