The Northern Advocate Daily "Northland First.” MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1938. SPORTS CENTRE OF NORTHLAND

Northern Advocate, 3 January 1938, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily "Northland First.”

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1938. SPORTS CENTRE OF NORTHLAND

Registered for transmission | through the post as a |L_ Newspaper.

Over the New Year holidays, Whangarei has been privileged to on I erf ain a large number of sportsmen from other part); of tin* province. cementing the eioser relationships on which the hitnre progress of the territory is dependent. The Kensington Howling Chib’s tourney has attracted rinks from Kaitaia in the north and Maimgatnroto in the south, linking the extremes of the district in good fellowship and camaraderie,

Perhaps not so fully representative, the entries in the Northland lawn tennis tourney are sufficiently indicative of the growing recognition of Wbangarei as the natural fulcrum for the widehung area. At the week-end the Mangonni cricketers entered a strong challenge for {he Dargavillo Shield, emblem of Northland superiority, and next week. ■Rodney will be visiting Whan garni intent on lifting the trophy. From an aquatic point ' of

view. Whang-arm is aisu particularly well equipped, as is shown by the exceptional number of

ocean pleasure era ft which have pm in at the Town Wharf since Christmas Day. Possessing os it does one of the most beautiful and interestiny of New Zealand’s smaller harbours Whangarei will grow in importance as a haven for cruising- parties.

Already we have at Tutukaka, only a few miles distant from the town by good road, a deepsea fishing: base, while further activity within the shelter of the Heads is also mooted for the coming’ season.

With such a variety of beadles in the immediate vicinity of the town, it is only to be expected that the sport of swimming ranks among- the most popular in tlie town. And so it proves to be. with the local swimming club having- the use of the \\ hangarei Public School baths, in which the Northland championships are decided annually. Riflemen from Northland clubs, too, congregate at Whangarei for the mostimportant competitions, which are fired at the new Whareora range only about three miles from the Whangarei Post Office.

So far. reference has been made only to summer sports, but Whangarei is also flic focussing point for the most important winter fixtures.

Although no big athletic meeting has been held in Whangarei itself for some time, two of the major events for Northland track-runners, cyclists and axemen are the Maungatapere and Waipu gatherings, both of which are only a stone’s throw from the town. Deeper significance still, attaches to the Waipu meeting being held today, which Scotsmen from all parts of Northland and further afield make the occasion of national celebration.

Nor mitst it he overlooked that AVhangarci boasts the only active racing club in the whole of North - land, an organisation which contributes very materially to the social life of the whole province. Others fell by the wayside owing to the depression and other causes, and it would he most welcome to see their revival, during the present year. The great majority of the associations and unions which administer sports in Northland have their headquarters in Whangarci, and it is pleasing to note that, with better reading facilities, executive meetings attended by delegates, many of whom travel long distances to be present are being held here more frequently. Upon these officials devolves the task of furthering the various branches of sport, with which each is associated—not only activity in the field of play, hut also proper provision whereby the game may he enjoyed to the utmost under the best possible conditions and the standard of endeavour raised.

]ii these times, when sport is so seriously regarded in the national life, the importance of a community is judged to some extent upon the prowess, or otherwise, of its representatives in the playing field. For that reason, if for no other, sporting organisations. residents and local bodies throughout Northland should be fully alive to the importance of giving our athletes opportunity and encouragement for development at least equal to that enjoyed by the young men and women of other districts of comparable population.

During the present holidayseason, hundreds of Northlanders have had the opportunity of comparing the playing fields available in such places as Hamilton, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, and even smaller North Island towns such as Masterton, Te Kniti and Hawera, with those provided in Whangarei. The comparison is really a most distressing one. In the places mentioned there has been full realisation of the necessity for furnishing playing fields in 'conformity with the importance of tlie centre: in fact, around those playing fields the district spirit of co-operation and loyalty has to a large extent been built. I

Most of the principal grounds are municipally-owned and tended. with sports bodies paying a nominal rental to cover partly the expense of caretakers, etc. 'Centralisation of sport has also been encouraged, so that players of one game have the opportunity of taking an immediate interest in what is happening in the neighbouring fields, while at New Plymouth, for instance, gardens and parks surround the ovals and football fields, creating an aesthetic atmosphere for healthy athletic rivalry.

Hitherto, WMiangarei and district efforts in this direction have been largely individual, and the achievements of the .Ml, Den by Coif Club, possessing what is recognised to be one of the finest links in the Dominion, the Whangarei and Kensington Bowling Clubs, the .Racing Club and. to a lesser extent, the Rugby Union, are notable examples of worthwhile achievement. Cood progress has been made. too. in smaller centres throughout Northland, and as population increases, as

it must do 10 ;i very appreciable extent, laeilitks will be further improved at sueb important points as Kaitaia, Kaikobe.

Mamigalurolo, Paparoa and l)argaville, where the foundations have already been well laid. In tact, in sonn* respects, the reserves in these centres outrival the provision for sports grounds in Whanoarei itself. Tv is to be hoped that Northland, and NVlimnyarei in particular, will benefit to a considerable extent througb the advent of the. .National Sports Council, and that in the year now' commenced, some definite move will be made towards rectifying: one of the important lacks in our community life by the provision and equipment of sports fields in keeping with the importance of the province.