FOOTBALL IN PAPUA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 16

FOOTBALL IN PAPUA.

SPORT AND CIVILISATION. INTEREST AMONG NATIVES. [FROM OL'R OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY. Sept. 1. To complete the civilisation of the natives of Papua, the Commonwealth authorities there have introduced the game of football amongst them. _The game, as played by the Papuans, is evidently of a more refined and more gentlemanly nature than the class of football played in Australian cities "The players are amenable to the whistle," says the Lieutenant-Gov-ernor of Papua., .Sir Hubert Murray, in a report, "and although the greatest excitement prevails at times, and feelings run high, uo blows are exchanged." It is mentioned also in the report that the interest which football has awakened in the natives of Cape Nelson, north-east-ern division, and neighbouring districts, has led them to send requests to the officer in charge for permission to enter teams in forthcoming contests, and in some instances it has been found necessary to make fixtures two Saturdays ahead. Tho Government, it is added, proposes to extend the game to other parts of the division. No reference is made to "barracking," which has an important and farreaching influence on the game in civilised communities nowadays.