THE MILITARY SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8530, 2 April 1891, Page 3

THE MILITARY SPORTS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l see in your account of the above sports, held on Saturday last, you state that there was a " little friction" over the " LloydLindsay " competition, and as many of the visitors and others who purchased the programme of the sports will know that the members of the South Franklin Mounted Infantry had many entries, but did not come forward to compete, I desire on behalf of the corps to give our statement of the case, so that all may understand the whole affair. The Committee of Management issued a set: of rules for the guidance of intending competitors, and under those rules our men were entered, and in all cases where competing complied with them. In event we had one representative who started, as per rule, viz,, in full dress nniform and accoutrements ; the other competitors wore undress cap, no tunic, or accoutrements. In this case I protested on his behalf before the event, and at the close of the race he handed in a written protest, to the effect that the conditions of the race had not been complied with. One of the judges most unwarrantably interfered in the matter, and told our man to take off his uniform and belts and be like the others. This I understand to be outside the duties of a judge, it being no part of. his work to amend or alter the rules, but to give his judgment in accordance with them and justice. By dint of a great deal of persuasion we were induced to allow our men to compete in the " Lloyd-Lindsay," and then only under protest. We had much the same experience. Our men only competed fully accoutred, as per rule, and the remainder as they pleased. The judgment, the same as before. On hearing this the officers of the corps withdrew their men from auy further competition. Our experience o& Saturday was similar to what we had at thi' military sports last year, but we led to belie that the rules would be adhered to this time. We were invited by the Waiuku Caualry t« unite with them to upset one of the rules made by the committee, limiting the number of entries from each corps, but we emphatically declined, and it appears to have been a trap laid to establish a precedent to overthrow any or all the rules at pleasure. I wish here to state that we do not intend to submit ourselves to any more Payneful operations. Allow me to add teat the S.F.M.I, are quite prepared to compete in similar events, providing the competition is fair, and the judgment is without favour, and would, if beaten, doff the helmet and give three cheers for the victors. — am, etc.. R. F. Webster, Lieut. S.F.M.I.