BOY-SPORTS’ BANQUET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19270, 6 September 1924, Page 15

BOY-SPORTS’ BANQUET.

FUNCTION AT Y.M.C.A. Tho Y.M.C.A. gymnasium was the scene of an unusual function on Thursday, when some 300 boys assembled to pay homage to tho spirit of sport and sportsmanship. The gathering took the form of a banquet, tho various tables representing different sports and pastimes. The big hall presented a fine picture, and gave evidence of much careful preparation. Ten large tabes, arranged in the midst of an array of bunting, flowers, and greenery, gave a representation of football, cricket tennis, athletics, swimming, camping, ana indoor games. The largest table displayed the joys of the “out-of-doors.” Groups of tents, pitched by river banka and seaside resorts, inviting pools with a miniature bridge, and other realistic touches all helped to make camping out a lure. Two Association football fields with teams representing China and Now Zealand were in keeping with the occasion. Of the primary school boys’ clubs, the Pikis’ table was skilfully'Planned, and the sport, athletes, *was uniquely demonstrated, irurdles, sprinting lanes, the high jump, and a sand pit were provided, while a pair of kewpies contested a game of tennis on an adjoining court. Of the two cricket tables, the Hawea Club’s exhibit was the better, and secured first place in tho competition. A green playing area, enclosed by an iron railing, and provided with an attractive grand stand, was tho scene of a match between teams of doll representatives which were arrayed in flannels and shirts. The secondary school boys featured swimming and indoor games. Mr J. Jaokson Purdie, president of the Association Football Club, had charge of the proceedings, and executed his difficult task with tact and humour. During tho banquet orchestral numbers were given bv the Reveille Orchestra, and were appreciated by all. Songs by Miss Valda Harden and Master Norman West, a pianoforte solo by Master Jack Roberts, and a turn of juggling and balancing by Mr Norman Tait punctuated tho speeches of the averring. Following the loyal toast, the Chairman rose to honour the esteemed guest of the evening, Mr Wong, manager of tho Chinese University Association football team- Reference was made to the unexaggerated importance of this visit of such a group of men from China. Frankly, it was more than a surpise to find a Chinese team so clever with a football; but this merely suggested that when China had a few more years of experience, on tho playing fields her sons would be serious competitors in tho great realm of sport. Everyone had been impressed with tho keen, clean game they had played, and all true supporters of Association football wanted the game to be characterised by this quality. Because the team was touring under tho auspices of a Christian movement, he had an additional pleasure in asking tho audience to rise and drink to the health of “Our Guests and Fellow-Sportsmen.” Amid prolonged applause, Mr Wong rose to reply. The speaker said it gave him much joy to be present with such a great assembly of boys, and although he was now grown up he still was a boy in spirit. The representative matches he had seen among tho school boys _ encouraged him to believe that Association football was going to produce some very clever men. He hoped that tho day would not he far distant when an All Black team would tour China, and if any of those present secured a place in that team, ho would be more than happy. “You must learn your games when you are young,” said Mr Wong. “Out team started football in boyhood. So start to-day. Play what game you will, but play it clean and well. More than thus you cannot do.” Mr Wong concluded by thanking the boys for the honour they had done his team.

On behalf of th© Otago Football AssociV tion, Mr Duncan welcomed the representatives from tho primary schools of Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago, of whom there were over 60 present. He urged tho boys to take lessons from the senior players and so cultivate a style of play that would make Association football more attractive than it was. Above all, lovers of tho game wanted tho boys* to play deaai and in the spirit of true sports. Mr Warbovs, a late president of the Wellington Y.M.C.A. Association Football Club, joined Mr Duncan in extending a welcome to the gue-sts of the evening. Tho speaker stressed tho fact that both the school and the Y.M.C.A. Boys’ Divisions were working for thc_ same end—that of getting boys to do things and not to be victims of idleness, but to develop into clejin, strong, good men. All sport, should be conducive to this end. As a head master who had seen much of Association football, he thought the game was most suitable fo7‘ primary school boys.

Mr Phil Ward, captain of the Y.M.C.A. Association team, then greeted tho boy representatives. , Mr S. H. Ferguson, a Wellington head master and manager of his province’s team, thanked the friends who had accorded tho visiting boys snob a warm welcome, and who had helped to make the Schools’ Association football tournament such a success. Tho good and efficient work of Mr Adair (boy’ work director of the Y.M.C.A.) was tho subject of very special mention. Mr Ferguson made the suggestion that all branches of sport should bo given a chance in all the larger schools thereby allowing the boy to follow the game for which he is best, suited.

In rising to propose (lie health of “Kindred Bports,” Mr T. R. W. Courts, chairman of tho Otago State Primary Schools’ Sporls Association, traced the history of sporting activities of the Britsih Empire for the part century down to the present. It was not so much in the class that tho spirit, of “esprit de corps” was developed, init more particularly on tho field of sport. The team game created the spirit of unselfishness and good citizenship. This should be the end of all sport. Mr Ruddima-n suitably responded.