ETHICS IN SPORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20701, 26 April 1929, Page 17

ETHICS IN SPORT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir. —.As vice-president of the Pipers and Dancers’ Association (and the father of the child who annexed first prize at the Outram sports) I desire to refer briefly to the letters published under the name of F. Clayton (late secretary of the association). Mr Clayton would have your readers believe that I was guilty of nominating my daughter in a class for which she was not eligible, at the same time knowing full well of her ineligibility to perform in the class. Knowing her age 1 did not nominate my daughter. When the nomination was tendered the secretary of the Outram Sports Committee was informed of the age of my daughter, but he aquiesced in the nomination and permitted her to perform. On the strength of these facts it is plainly apparent to all concerned, that Mr Clayton’s alleged bombshell has burst upon his own faulty crown. This brings me to the point that Mr Clayton states he possesses a letter from the secretary as helpful to Mr Steele in obtaining some “ measure of justice.” To be candid, 1 hold in my possession a letter signed by Mr Clayton (as secretary of the association) in connection with my daughter’s rights to a prize at Berwick sports in 1927, but beyond saying the claims of my child would bo advanced, I never heard another word from Mr Clayton. His policy of alleged justice has apparently reached the stage of transformation, since he ceased active participation in the doings of the association. It was not my intention to enter into correspondence in this matter, but readers can now see the pin-pricking methods of Mr Clayton. Every cloud has a silver lining, but Mr Clayton would endeavour to lay his alleged qloucly allegations at the feet' of the new executive. Time alone will demonstrate the true “Ethics of sport” uppermost iu the minds of Air Clayton and his confreres as a result of their actions at the “ cleanmup meeting.”—l am, etc., H. M. Allax, Vice-president Pipers and Dancers’ Association. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l see we have a member of the executive of the Pipers and Dancers' Association in the field, I refer to Mr R. Stuart against whom I have nothing personally. I would like, however, to ask him if he is aware that the secretary of _ the newly elected executive refused point-blank to reply on behalf of the competitor who has caused all the trouble. I challenge the competitor’s father to deny this. In referring to the case of the girl Baxter, one would conclude that the dance was for 10 years and under. This was, made quite clear—under 10 years—and if the competitor who was'placed second, was-10 years, then she was not to the prize. The point that Mr Stuart raises on behalf of his colleagues. regarding, a competitor being 10 years until her next birthday, is a debatable point and for present purposes is simply camouflage. With regard to the girl’s entry for the dance under dispute, it is being freely circulated that her teacher (Miss Doreen Wheeler) entered her for the event, and if the father of the competitor (Miss Daphne Allan) did not enter her, it is certain that he is disappointed if a decision does not go in her favour. What has Mr Stuart to say to that? To my mind Mr Steele - has proved his case, and it ill becomes Mr Stuart to twit him with the remark that his daughter was not placed. Fair-minded readers will realise that he was not fighting for personal gain, but on behalf of competitors as a whole who have too long had to put up with this sort of treatment The executive which has been just removed from office was on the fair way to run the business of the association on clean lines, until the motion proposed by Mr F. A. Cheyne, that it be removed from office forthwith came along. A strange thing to me that this gentleman, while he moved the resolution, had practically nothing to say iu support of it, but left it to the “master mind,” whose method in the past has been that of underground engineering.— I am. etc., Achintore.