MOASCAR CUP

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11522, 18 May 1923, Page 7

MOASCAR CUP

COMPETITION CRITICISED “NOT IN BEST INTERESTS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS.” ABOLITION URGED. After some pointed discussion at its meeting yesterday, the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Association passed a motion adjudging that such interschool competitions as the Moascar Cup contest were not m the Test interests of secondary schools, and should be discontinued. The remit which occasioned tlie discussion. and which emanated from Nelson Boys’ High School, was as follows: “That inter-school competitions, such as those for the Riddil’ord Cup, the Moascar Cup, etc., are not in the beet interests of secondary schools, and should be discontinued.” EXPLOITED ? Air F. Alilner (Waitaki High School) remarked that the conditions of some of the competitions had allowed them to be exploited by certain bodies, which existed to foster sport, to advance their stand or to strengthen their financial position. As to the relative position of the Aloascar'Cup and Heathcote Williams Cup (for cricket), logically thero was no differentiation between the two. The competition also affected new schools. It was difficult for a new school to obtain matches against others, which generally had commitments. If they were going to pass the motion, they should be prepared to make provision for those new schools. Inter-school contests were of very great value; but when they came to a matter of undue publicity, and anything savouring of a gladiatorial display, then they reached something very detrimental. CIRCULARISATION SUGGESTED. Mr J. Murray (Palmerston North) pointed out that the New Zealand Rugby Union had never handed the cup over to the secondary schools. They had called for entries for it. Ho thought that it would be better to circularise the headmasters of the schools concerned, and get their feeling upon the matter, rather than pass a motion which 6ome of tho schools might not think it in their best interests to observe. He moved that the executive should circularise the schools asking their opinion on the conditions governing the Moascar Cup, the Imperial Challenge Shield, the Jellicoo and Riddiford Cups, and also whether they were in favour of governing the Aloascar Cup by such rules as those ruling in the Riddiford Cup; that was a challenge to the holders. “It is not competent for this conference to deal with the matter,” he said. NO AUTHORITY. ,Mr R. Thomas (Timaru): If the executive finds out that the majority of the schools are against the competition can it also decide against it? The chairman: No, because it hasn’t the authority. Mr Thomas: Well, how far would you get if you left the matter over to the next conference? The chairman: Only in so far as the passing of a motion. Mr Thomas: But if yon consulted the schools, you would probably get a truer estimate. Mr E. Oaradus (Timaru) could not see that any object was to bo gained by delay. The triangular tournament between Christ’s College, Wellington, and Wanganui Colleges, for instance, did not, he was sure, engender the spirit which other competitions did. Mr F. AloKay (Nelson) considered that the fact that they were an educational body which met to deliberate on such matters .’had been lost sight of. The conference was not competent to decide upon the matter. A member: It is the exploiting of schools by outside bodies that we are up against, and I think that that should be clear to everybody. The amendment was lost on tho Voices. “ASSUMING TOO MUCH.” Mr H. Castles (Palmerston Nor Hi; also thought that tho conference was taking too much on itself. It ought to be left to every individual school aS to whether it entered for any competition or not. He pqinted out that, even if they passed the motion, the schools would go on, and they would simply disregard it if they desired to play. He questioned whether thero was not the same amount of feeling between schools whether they played for trophies or not. The chairman: W n are merely giving an expression of opinion; wo aro only giving a little friendly advice. Mr Castles: Then it seems to nie that the motion is beside the point, and you might just as well leave it off the order paper altogether. The motion in the form finally adopted read as follows: “That inter-school competitions, such as those for the Riddiford Cup, the Moascar Cup, Imperial Challenge Shield, Jellicoe Cup, and all similar competitions, are not in the best interests of secondary schools, and should be discontinued.” A proposal to delete the last three words was defeated by, 16 votes to 10, and the motion carried on a similar division.