THE RIDDIFORD CUP

Southland Times, Issue 19124, 17 December 1923, Page 6

THE RIDDIFORD CUP

A NELSON COMPLAINT. BY PRINCIPAL OF COLLEGE. (Per United Press Association.) NELSON, December 14. Referring to the Riddiford Cup competition, Mr C. H. Broad (Principal of the Nelson College), speaking at the annual prize-giving at the Nelson College, said that there had been unfortunately some bungling on the part of the Defence Department in regard to this competition and it was to be hoped that in future the rules laid down would be strictly adhered to. “I look upon the competi tion,” he said, “as an excellent one, but a good many teachers in New Zealand do not so regard it and if the Department breaks its own rules at the will of those opposed to the competition, they will be confirmed in their opinions and confidence in the Department’s ability to manage it, will be destroyed.” THE DEPARTMENT IN REPLY. SAME CONDITIONS AS USUAL. WELLINGTON, December 15. With reference to the statement made by the Principal of the Nelson College in regard to the Riddiford Cup competition, the Defence Department explains that the competition was carried out under the same conditions as for last year, when the Nelson College won and Scott’s College were run-ners-up. The programme was sent out to all competing schools some weeks before the judging took place. After the award was published, Nelson brought forward a point that the strength of Scott’s College was Delow 100. The conditions for the Riddiford Cup do not make it necessary that a school should be of a strength of 100 or more. If this were done, 38 per cent, of the secondary schools could not compete. The conditions for the Campbell Statuette Competition which is for cadet companies other than secondary schools, do insist that a competing unit should be 100 or more and the conditions for the Passmore Shield, for which secondary schools used to compete, include this also, hence apparently arose the misunderstanding referred to by Mr Broad.

COMPLAINT REITERATED. MR BROAD IN REPLY. NELSON, December 16. Mr C. H. Broad (Principal of the Nelson College), referring to the Defence Department’s reply, says: “That the Department has bungled is perfectly clear in that units have been barred from participating in the compeition owing to their being below the declared minimum strength of 100. If the Defence Department’s statement that the conditions of the Riddiford Cup do not make it necessary that a school should be of a strength of 100 or more are correct, how is it that the Department came to debar some schools under that strength from competing? It is also surprising that the Department should state that the programme was sent out to all competing schools some weeks before the judging took place. It reached us six days before the competition.”

Mr Broad concluded: “As stated the other day, I look upon the competition as an excellent one, but a good many teachers in New Zealand do not so regard it. My contention is that if the Department

breaks its own rules at will, those opposed to the competition will be confirmed in their opinions and confidence in the Defence Department’s ability to manage it will be destroyed.”