Mr Hannah's Suggestion.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 40

Mr Hannah's Suggestion.

TO THE DRAUGHTS EDITOR. Dear Sib., — Permit me a word or two re- Mr John Hannah's suggestion which appeared in your column of May 27. Firstly then, as the pastors would say, is Mr. Hannah ignorant of the fact that at the late championship meeting held at Oamaru it wao moved and carried unanimously, at a full meeting of the players then present, " that next chatupionfihip meeting be held at Wellington." Surely, Sir, Mr Hannah could not plead ignorance of this fact when he penned his suggestion. N» doubt it

I is very pleasant to have a championship meeting I held at your door almost instead of having to ) travel hundreds_ of miles to compete at same, but taking everything into consideration I can only conclude that the wish was father to the thought. And now for Mr Hannah's reasons :— 1. "There has been no satisfaction over the last two tournaments for the championship of New Zealand," etc. Sir, Mr Hannah's experience is not unique, as I have never — well, hardly ever —known of one which was, and at present I could tot up quite a number of first-class players who are of the samo way of thinking as myself ; and move especially is this the case in regard to allfound tourneys. 2. " Because Mr Brodie has put the association on a firmer footing by handing over the title of the championship of New Zealand, to be played for at next championship meeting, aud announcing that he intends to-compete." t Now, I for one cannot for a moment entertain the idea that Mr Brodie alon.e-has "placed the association on a firmer footing by handing over the championship tpvbe played for," etc. .No doubt it was very gracious on Mr Brodie's part to do so. and no one can admire Mr Brodie more than myself 'for* so doing ; but I am rather inclined to believe that by -unamimously agreeing to ask Mr Brodie to do bo the players at the late tourney not only showed their good sense, but more materially than anything else I know of helped to place the association on a much firmer footing than previously was the case. 3. '.'Because all the draughts players in tho colony would like to find out whether Brodie, ■ Boreham, or some other player is the best in New j Zealand at the- present time," etc. Now, we have . a player or two over here in the North Island, j and so far as Messrs Brodie and Boreham are concerned they have found out long ago which of them is better. But this by the way. I observe, Sir, that at the conclusion of Mr Hannah's suggestion you append what I take to be your own opinions of the >. same— viz., "that the suggestion is a good one and will, no doubt, ; meet with a lot of approval." When I tell you, Sir, that your approval of Mr Hanuah's scheme has caused some surprise here I but put it very mildly. As editor of one of our most popular , draughts columns you, Sir, must have known i what was settled upon at Oamsini, and to. have | expressed yourself as reported in your column notwithstanding • seems to me at least rather 1 funny. In conclusion, Sir, permit me to ask that youraelf and Mr Hannah will accept these few j rambling remarks in the same spirit with which they are penned— viz , of fair play and good feeling to all. — Yours truly. Wellington, June 1. John Leggat. [Mr Leggat is perhaps more severe thau the occasion really warrants. On reading our own remarks on Mr Hannah's suggestion again, we find they do not exactly express our opinion, being written hurriedly. But if Mr Leggat Will read to the end he will see we do not think it a good thing, for the reasons given. In conversation with Messrs Lucas, Brodie, ate, we pointed out that it was neither practicable nor desirable, and gave good reasons why. Yet Mr Hannah's suggestion was made through this column to the N.Z.D.A., and as it was couched in no unfriendlyspirit, we treated it with due respect. A good intention does not always bear good fruit, but we must try to judge people according to their intention, not reaults. That is tho basis of judgment we like for ourselves. — Dr. Ed.]