A STRAIGHT CASE.

Northern Advocate, 15 December 1920, Page 2

A STRAIGHT CASE.

Ail nrticle concerning the Whangarei Queen Carnival which if published in our columns to-day should be carefully read by everybody. It lias been contributed by one of the enthusiastic workers for the success of <he carnival, and his plain, straightforward statement of the puroose underlying the effort is one that wo can heartily commend. We know that a statement of the objects of the carnival is needed, for its promoters have already experienced a certain amount of opposition. It is not 1o be presumed that any number of the residents in Whangaroi and the neighbourhood are displaying serious hostility to the various activities that are to culminate in the carnival next month; but those who are working»to bring the scheme to a successful issue know that there are people who are not giving them any help, and are oven criticising them rather unkindly. The attitude of this unsympathetic element is based upon ignorance; some people have said that they are not prepared to help unless they can satisfy themselves that the carnival is a bona flde project. We advise these people to read what appears in our columns today. The carnival simply represents a scheme for raising funds for three sports bodies in Whangarei—the Rowing Club, the Cricket Association and the Hockey Associate?). The difficulties which theso bodies have had to meet ore known to most people. The manly, healthy sports that they foster cannot he carried on without expense, and during the war period the various organisations had the same experience as other sports bodies throughout the country, their members for the most part going away on active service and leaving only a handful of enthusiasts to carry on. They kept the sports flag flying, but they now feel that tht> time has come for substantial improvement of the facilities enjoyed by the lads and young men of Whangarei. They are therefore seeking'the' support of the whole community in an effort to put the three organisations on a firm financial footing, arid to us the request certainly appears to be a reasonable one. The sports bodies undoubtedly are doing good work in the town, and also in the neighbouring districts; their activities are helping to build up a healthy, vigorous race of young men. Good athletic sports promote both the physical and the moral'welfare, creating character as well a.> muscle. Surely work of this kind deserves the best encouragement the community can .give it.-