CONTROL OF RUGBY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10633, 5 July 1920, Page 7

CONTROL OF RUGBY

, liETTHRS TO THE EDITOR. The following letters have been received : Sir,—The letter under the above, heading protesting against tho obscene language which occurs at almost every foolball match that takes place at the Athletic Park makes very sorry raiding. Unfortunately, however, "Patron" has noV exaggerated A footbali match is fast becoming a place whore a young girl or a woman may not, with decency, appear. "Patron" suggests that police and Park authorities should ir.tervcnu. In my opinion, he docs rot go far enough. Tho cause of a great deal of tho unsportsmanlike behaviour of a certain proportion of the spectators is due to the amount of betting that, takes pfaco on every match nowadays. Football, boxing, and oven cricket, is tarred .with, the bookmaker's brush. If we are to keep these health-giving sports clean we must banish the bookmaker from our midst Ho is n parasite who is sapping the blood of hoalthy sport in this country. We have a "Sports Protection League" in our midst. May I ask, sir. what is the function of this body? S'urely there is no agency from which Benuino sport requires more protection than the bookmaker! I am informed that according to law it is not a crime to bo a bookkmnkpr, but that th« crimo is to bo caught bookmnldng in certain places: heroin lie the difficulties of tho police. The police know the names and addresses of every one of tho*o varasitcs in New Zealand, but legislation prevents then from adequately dealinjr with them. May I sus-. Rest -that (he head of the racing authorities, the management of tho New Zealand Rugby Union, tho oxecxitive of the Boxing Association, supported by all lovers

of clean.and health}' .sport, unite in a deputation to tho Prime Minister to force legislation to keep clean our national sports, which hi tho past did so much to produco such a splendid body of men as tho New Zealand .Expeditionary Force. W. E. HEKBEKT. Bowen street. Sir,—'Permit me the us© of a little of your valuable apace in which to endorso the remarks made by a correspondent in your issue of Thursday last under the heading "Beasts a't Athletic Park." The Wellington Rugby Union cannot bo complimented on tho manner in which they are at present managing their affairs. The cause which gave rise to the above letter should never have been allowed to exist. If the indecencies enacted at Athletic Park were committed in some public place they would promptly result in prosecutions giving rise to heavy penalties. A stop should be put to those disgraceful scenes: immediately, and unless the authorities .take the necessary action, some other body should. Even ' though the ground is privately owned, considering that it is frequented by thousands of the public, it seems ridiculous to think thai tha Police could not interfere to 6ee that the laws of decency are not violated. ; Another matter opon to criticism is the manner in which the representative teams are selected. Looking at the "A representative team" this year, it seems as though younger and better players have been neglected for the sake of older players, who, perhaps, may have had a reputation, or through somo of the selectors trying to pick the team almost wholly out of the club they represent. Then, again, there is the matter of referoeing. By following the awmo closely, I have noticed that some referees aro too oftnn apt to favour one side more than the other. To-day I journey, ed to Potone to witness tho senior game there, and was far from, pleased at the manner in which the game wae Controlled and decisions given. I think it is about tune tho Wellington Kugby Union remedied these matters, otherwise the good old sane of Bugby is going to bo spoiled, not only from the spectators', hut also from tho players" point of view. "DISGUSTED ENTHUSIAST." Wellington, July Sid. 1020.