ETHICS IN SPORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20706, 2 May 1929, Page 13

ETHICS IN SPORT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,- —For ways that are dark and tricks that are vain, commend me'to Mr Clayton. He would have your readers believe that from the .fact Of hie refraining to mention my name in his previous letter it had nothing to do with me. As a matter of fact it was to his inference that I took exception. To he fair, Mr Clayton should have told your readers that at the. time of the Outrani sports gathering, I was not a vipe-presideut of the Pipers and Dancers’ Association. It was at the'“cleanup ” meeting that I was elected a vicepresident. I did not attend the Outram sports as a member of the executive, and I would remind Mr Clayton that, although officials of the association attend sports gatherings, it is never their duty, and certainly not their desire, to interfere with the management of these sports._ In any case, the age of competitor’s is a matter that lies entirely Keith the officials of sports bodies. The rule book of 1927 (rules 118 to 120) is explicit; Coming to the matter of protests, I may be pardoned for quoting- Mr Clayton’s own words, in a communication to me in 1927. Anent a dispute at Berwick sports, he states:—"The fact also that you did not enter a ■written protest within the stipulated time takes the’matter out of our hands,, as our rules provide that-proteste must be lodged within 15 minutes of the decision being given out.” To my way of thinking, what is sauce for. the goose should serve as a like condiment to the gander. : ■ 1 "V. ! Mr Clayton is also wrong when he says that his association had’.no jurisdiction over the • Berwick- sports in 1927. ■ As secretary for .Otago Tor five years he should know/full well, that all piping and dancing competitions everywhere in New Zealand'are subject to the rules of the Piping- and Dancing Association, -no matter whether the societies are affiliated with fit or pot, or . whether-they pay rpermjt fees or not.-. In-his'Berwick letter lies the crux of--the .whole'dispute so ;far ,as Mr Steele'is concerned,, and no one knows these facts better than Mr Clay*, ton. What more fitting demonstration of inconsistency and pin : pricking can be pictured than Mr Clayton’s own_words, and His present alleged’ knock-butsl - ’His'untuheful melodies have broken, down' owing to his etrlking the wrong chord, ■ ' • ..Reverting to the nomination o£ my daughter. I will 'state the facts as they occurred. Late in the afternoon I was informed that a sword dance for .girls of 10 years and under had been added to the programme.' Knowing'my daughter’s age to be over 11 years, I did not enter her. Later a friend told me that she had entered my girl. My reply was that the entry should never hare been made, as she was oyer the age specified. My friend immediately returned to the secretary, who informed, her that the .class had been altered for girls under 12 years. Seeing that the secretary had previously altered the age limit to suit another competitor,. I naturally thought my daughter was within her rights in competing,, The secretary also informed ’my friend that he was mord interested in the running events than he was in the dancing. My statement in my letter is therefore correct that, "knowing her age, I did not nominate my daughter,” but that was when I understood the dance was for 10 years and under. Later, when I was told the event was for girls under 12 years, I allowed her to .compete. Boiled down, the whole dispute can be described as emanating from a discontented and disappointed minority, amongst whom the green-eyed monster of jealousy has been allowed to rear its venomous head. Had the old executive of the association remained id power, I question whether Mr Clayton would have taken up the attitude he has done to-da.v in comparison with that dis-‘ played by him in 1927. The accumulation of inconsistencies lies at the feet Of Mr Clayton, and will, by this time, have been manifestly revealed to your readers. The numerous outlets of all this bitter feeling have been opened with a view of striking a blow at the new executive over the result of the clean-up ” meeting, and the bombs of a “ piebald ” nature that have, been thrown have, recoiled with force, upon the 'heads .of the defeated and' demoralised so-called "sports.”—l am, etc.,. H. M. Apian, Dunedin, May 1.

TO THE EDITOR. Sjk,—l notice -with, pleasure Mr Stuart’s outspoken protests. A few more of these arc indeed indicated to suppress, in some measure, the audacious coups of a few pot-hunting parents in a national sport.I consider this instance a good opportunity for a few generalisations. It ap-' pears to me, after some' years of quiet watching' and also participation, 'that there is an increasing percentage of the parents of this kind who, by having their children taught dancing,-and by entering them at various sports, meetings, conceive the notion that they should dictate to, and generally, endeavour to bushwhack, obliging sports conimittees. It becomes not a contest of skill for the children, but an opportunity for C 3 intelligentsia to ehter, with'.their Queensbury rules, so to speak, the murky arena of graft. Committees, in their sincere, endeavour to_ please as many as possible, are hoodwinked by these people, whol' perhaps 1 naturally, perhaps after assiduous practice, hare acquired considerable skill in their nefarious gophering tactics. > But this is not their favourite method.

The more highly skilled, the more experienced, the more influential secure the services of an accomplice (or in more advanced cases, accomplices), who, on -the strength of their record of prowess (rather suddenly acquired), insinuate themselves into positions of judges. Of course, the rest is then easy. The exultant victors flee from their field of spoliation together with their* judge, who might be required some', other . day. Great care is taken of these alleged judges. They must not take cold; ergo, plenty of stimulants. They must .not 'suffer contamination Jby coming into . contact with the opposition; ergo, personal attention - and protection. A delightful pastime! Piping and dancing at the present time may be exemplified as Dead Sea fruit. Everything nice and rosy to the disinterested onlooker, but Jet . him become interested and partake a little of this luscious-looking fruit, and disgusting sensations flood his finer feelings with nausea. But the whole pity is that these few true supporters are so reluctant- to associate' with-those who Enow for their bellies' sake Creep, climb, and intrude into the fold! • , ' • Or other care they little reckoning mate Than how to scramble at the shearers’ feast And shove away the worthy bidden guest. . “ Good in everything.” Yes, there is indeed left in this branch of sport; a'percentage (alas, small) of conscientious, fair-minded enthusiasts who are eager to see things managed in ,au unbiased and straightforward manner. Piping and dancing, judged on the merits of the competitors by capable and reputed adjudicators, who recognise the intrinsic value of right, is a pleasant and uplifting sport, both for competitors and spectators. This, therefore, is an appeal, from one entirely disinterested in personalities, but one with long experience in both branches, to committees and executives, to; be on the lookout for grafters and bluffers; it ■ is an appeal for judges, to act fairly and honourably, and it is an appeal to both, parents, and interested participants to deal with these corroding and .cancerous influences forcefully and intelligently,, so that in the near future piping and danqug may be restored to its honourable and > elevated position in the field of sport.;—l am, etc., ■' - Gavbte. •- ’ TO THE EDITOR.' Sib, —It was ray intention to be finished with this correspondence. I feel, however, I must thank the secretary of the Outram sports for his .letter of yesterday’s date, which proves conclusively that I had just cause for my protest.—l am, etc., . William A. Steele. Dunedin, May >l. ’ . TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —The letter which appeared ih your columns over the signatures of the executive does not state the facts correctly, I asked the secretary at Outram what the age limit was, and he that as there were, no entries'for the boys’ sword dance under 10 years, this- event was altered to a similar event for girls. I attended on the secretary after: the event ’to protest against girls Over age entering, and he" made no; mention'of the event haying been arranged for girls, of 12-years. If it had been, my daughter would not have been entered by meI understand that a complaint was lodged with the judge concerning the age of the first prize winner. Her prize was handed to her when she was, in company with her father, some distance away, from the official’s tent, and she was apparently permitted to receive, the prize by her father, notwithstanding the fact that he knew she was not fairly entitled to it. The general opinions of those who attended the sports and knew of the circumstances -were-that the committee-did not rim the events in a fair way. and 1 find myself _ unable to support the .Outram sports in fpture by. entering -any member of my family, as the rules, appear to. be made to be evaded;' and fair play in the interests of good sport.seems to be foreign to the ideas of the' society.—l'am. etc., W. H. Baxter;