HOCKEY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 1701, 17 April 1926, Page 8

HOCKEY.

-THE'-TN^DtAN'TUAM. CASTE RULES IN SPORT. Through the growing international-' isni; ill many, classes of sport have lowered.- racial barriers, generally,: and made it possible for the people of one nation to compete with those ofjanothcr. on.,pcpial terms, the forthcoming visit, of. the Indian Army team of hockey players has raised a number of question* relating to their caste rules : and the conditions under which they arc to be treated while in New Zealand. The natural impulse of Dom-' inioii,.players will be to accept the Sikhs oUithcsame.terms as -they would a Maori team,, but the very different relations existing' between Europeans and the natives of India and New Zea. land respect ively.mak* this impossible.' Tho theoretical attitude of the Englishman in India is that of the master towards* pupils who, on small pretext, might -become; unruly; for the general native,population of Britain's Asiatic dependency has not reached the degree of enlightenment arrived at bv 1 lie Maoris.

One of the ..fundamental rules of British sovereignty in India is that the European, jwonian is to be maintained on a pedestal, and it is per; haps wise, though, hardly complimentary to the good sense of New land women,'.that the controlling body has issued instructions that the Sikhs should "not: be taken to any place where there is a possibility,that their estimation of the high standard of the white woman might b,e lowered." .< Tin 1 entertainment of the nativesjp| to be of the simplest character. They are interested in viewing new sur,roundings, and.-motor-trips will be; a staple form of, entertainment, while visits to picture palaces, will figure ou the amusement.chart. !

YISITORS'CHARACTERTSTIOS., ', Details concerning the visitors are given in a circular issued by the New Zealand Hockey Association, with some piquant- :references to native customs. "The team will consist,':' the circular states, "of 15 players-, three being British officers and 12 natives, mostly Sikhs. The average ■height of-, the,' Sikhs, is over six feet. They are prevented by their religion from cutting their hair or beards, with tho result that they present a very striking appearance. They should be a great attraction to the New Zealand public. ,Tho team has been selected after a lengthy series of trials and tournaments open to the whole army in India, i The team is playing a .series of matches in India prior tpembarkatioii, so that its combination slijOiild be assured. '■ t. "The Sikhs do not smoke, they are teetotalers so far, as our drinks are. concerned; and they know nothing bf our form of dancjng. Many of them will never have, spoken to a white woman, prior to. arrival in New Zea.-i land. They arc not to be taken,to any place of .-amusement where there, is'a possibility that their estimation.

of the high standard of a white woman might, bo lowered. ;"So...far as the,British, officers are concerned,, either . you wilL arrange accommodation for. them in the-;best hotol in. your, town, or you : will billet; them with your,leading, citizens.. With regard to the, bpard of.the natives, I am pleased to advise: that, the,- v New Zealand Defence .kDepartnient- ; .-ha9--promised'every assis.t'ancfttpcisyble. ,• ''The natives wilLprepare.all,their ,own .food. The, two, main.-items, arc atta .(a,- form of flour) -and, dhal (a fo,rm of,split peas). I have cabled,.the Indian Army .officials, .asking ~them to bring out their, own supplies of both atta and dhal. There arc no native officers in the team. " The natives are either Sepoys (i.e.- privates of a, line regiment) or N.C.O.'s. "The visitors are accustomed to playing, on hard, true and fast-grounds. My association looks to' yon; to,-; spare no effort in getting your playing area placed in.first : class order."