PROFESSIONAL SPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22100, 2 November 1933, Page 15

PROFESSIONAL SPORT

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I notice that at a meeting of the Cromwell Caledonian Society a suggestion was made that the society abandon the professional status and go over to the amateur status. I consider this an excellent suggestion and one well worthy of the support of every true lover of real sport. Professional sport is not comparable to amateur sport in any way whatsoever from a real sporting point of view. In Central Otago we have a number of towns in comparatively close proximity to each other, and if we could not combine wdth each other in adopting amateur athletics most successfully, then 1 am very much mistaken. We must encourage our younger generation to take up athletics, and if we have the interest of athletics at heart we must allow these young people to “hop off on the right foot ” and not allow them to entertain the idea of professionalism. Heretofore the youth of this part of the globe nas not been offered the chance that his city cousins have had, hence the reason that amateur sport as been confined to the bigger centres and nearby towns. I contend that now is the time to go in and give the country youth the chance, to which he is entitled, to take up amateur athletics. I am sure that the Cromwell Society would be doing the correct thing by adopting the amateur status and thereby furthering the interests of the country youth as well as the interests of amateur sport. Trusting that I will receive the backing of a more able pen than mine.—l am, etc.. Amateur. Cromwell, October 31.