PRANKS WITH GOLF BALLS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12527, 17 August 1926, Page 6

PRANKS WITH GOLF BALLS

(To the Editor “N.Z. Times.”) Sir,—Your columns this morning give prominence to a cablegram from France (per Australian and New Zealand Cafile Association) whi<fi states that several naughty yet humorous Fiench boys played pranks With the golf balls on the celebrated St. Jean-de-Lud course. Very interesting indeed, but we have naughty boys right here in Wellington, for it is only three short years ago that the same tiling as set forth in the cablegram from France took place on the now defunt links at Karori. Our boys really excelled their French cousins, for where the latter had a sense of humour, the little New Zealanderß had ai eye to business, and the balls disappeared for good and all. Golfing enthusiasts will know that I refer to the happenings at the “crater” hole on the old Karori links, for what took place there at the time I am speaking Of was a household joke among golfers in this city. After pernsing the ahovementioned cable, I am forced to the Conclusion that Mr H. E. Holland’s attack should have been directed, not against the New Zealand Press Association, but against the organisation responsible for the piffling cablegram undef review.

News from France is very often interesting, and we are all eyes when tho famous "Tiger” crosses swords with the President of the United States of America, but, sir, is it not belittling the very intelligence Of the reading public in this country to think it necessary to cable out from France tho fact that some very wicked little Fiench boys have been playing pranks with the golfers of the St. Jean-de-LuX links. I wonder what France Would think if it were cabled Home that at this Hawke’s Bay-Wellington match last Saturday the latter team could not fihd the b&ll at all, far less “hole out in one.”

In conclusion, I would suggest, with all due respect, that the particular body governing the reception of press cablegrams into this country advise tlie office of the Australian and New Zealand Cable Association in Paris that the next time naughty boys play pranks on Paris golf links they can spend their time and money sending the astonishing hews to Tokio or Tiffibuetoo—in fact, anywhere but to New Zealand.—l am, etc., W.K.