WHAT IS A “WOWSER.”

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2713, 22 June 1925, Page 11

WHAT IS A “WOWSER.”

AND WHAT A “SPORT.” BETTER "WOWSER” THAN "SOUSER,” SAYS MR. ISITT. An interesting feature of the Dunedin Methodist Central Mission’s celebration of the 35th anniversary on Sunday last was an address on “Sports and Wowsers,” by Mr. L. M. Isitt, of Christchurch. This was given at the afternoon service, and the big gathering was presided over by Dr. Evans, president of the Otago Rugby Football Union, who was introduced hy the Rev. W. Walker. With him in the pulpit were Mr. H. J. Duncan (president of the Otago Football Association) and Mr. J. J. Clark (president of the Otago Cricket Association). Mr. Isitt asked his hearers what was the meaning of the two types known as “sports” and “wowsers.” For some years past a certain section of the population had been arbitrarily dividing their fellow's into those two sections, and at an early stage of the game he had been entered as a wowser. He w'as not an ordinary or common variety of the w'ow'ser, how'ever. It had been his endeavour to find out for some time W'hat a wowser was, and he had never done so. One man had told him that a wowser w’as “a feminine man, who did not believe in sport.” “But I believe in sport,” said Mr. Isitt. “I have played football and cricket and many other games, so I can’t be (hat kind of wowser. Another explanation that had been vouchsafed him was lhat a wow'ser was a faddist. Well, he had heard a w'ell-known man addressed as a. crank, and his reply was that he’d rather be a crank than

a tank. Similarly,” said -the speaker, “I would rather be a wowser than a aousor.” ~ „ “What Is a sport?” Mr. isltt asked. “He is a man who plays the game, who knows how to play the game, who doesn't whjne when he is losing, and who doesn’t get a swelled head when he is winning, and, above ah, he plays for the team, and not for his own personal'glory and aggrandisement. You must pass the ball and let your pal score the try rather than hang on to it and risk losing all. That is sport In athletics. What is sport in the game of life? It is much the same. Religion is part of the game of life, and yet there are many who think that it is a careful saying of their own souls. That, to my mind, is a most narrow-minded belief, i People who think that don’t know the ABC of religion. The task God has given the people is the salvation of the people, and to do this we must live not for ourselves, hut the uplift and benefit of humanity.” There were other people, he continued, who had no religion because they believed in nothing they did not understand. Such a man as this was more of a fool than he ought to be. A scientist might tell us that a star was millions of miles away and that it took so many million years for its light, to reach this earth. Could we understand that? Could’ we understand space—north, south, east, and west? The true sport in the game of life had the same qualities as the true sport in athletic life. Ho was the team player who played not for his own gloriflcatfm. His life God had given him for his fellows. In the name *of God he fought for every movement that lifted men out of the mire of evil. That was the true sport. “I say that I am a wowser,” Mr. Isitt added, “because, I hate drink and gambling. This Infernal trade is still being left In existence by decent men who look upon it from the uoint of view that it doesn’t hurt them. What about your team work? Where does that come in? In the interests of the children you should work together.” Mr. Isitt also referred to his fight in the House against the Increase of totalisator permits, and yet, during the past twelve months, £11,000,000 had been put through the machines. Down had come the sports who had wanted additional permits—and had got them. Anyway, what was the sport of racing? The jockey himself rode a race, but ho was "a wee youth with his cap and colours and cigarette; a youth who read the ‘Referee’ and thought he was a sport,” In conclusion, the speaker pointed out that if people lived only on the animal level, seeking a good time and social position, then they would in their time find that they had only taken out of life what they had put into it.