THE PLAYGROUND.

Southland Times, Issue 19172, 16 February 1924, Page 12

THE PLAYGROUND.

Sports and Pastimes.

The Waterloo Cup, the world’s championship of dogdom, is a sweepstake for 64 dogs at £25 each. The winner collects £5OO. with a cup valued at £lOO. a new cup being given each year,by the Earl of Sefton. It was held this week at Altcar. Lancashire. Wcmen athletes are developing a “temperament'’ (accent on the first syllable) these days as fast as the most renowned stage beauties. To the list comprising such well-known personalities as Miss Bleibtrey (American swimmerl, Mademoiselle Lenglen (French tennis plaver) has to be added Miss Hilda Ja mes (England), who looks the other way when the British Olympic Games Committee goes past. Hilda is distinctly peeved and announces that she will not take part in the Olympic Games at Paris.

Clark . McConachy, New Zealand’s candidate for the forthcoming open billiards championship of Britain, is next door to a native Southlander. He was born up past Glennrchy on the road to Paradise. McConachy considers he has a good chance this year, and a number of New Zealand sportsmen have shown their confidence in him by dipping into their pockets to help him in his great ambition. Ihe genial Firpo has two libel actions on his hands. When he went home to the Pampas, one of the newspapers down there, “La Critics” became humorous at the big fellow’s expense. Firpo instructed his lawyers to get busy, and also to take action against the person responsible for sending out rhe statement that he had taken out naturalisation papers in order to become an American citizen. Evidently, the big maneater is determined to have himself taken seriously in his home country. If “Boy” Charlton, the modest New South Wales youth whose prowess as a swimmer has made him one of the world’s celebrities in the arena of sport, had lived in the old Roman days instead of the present year of grace, admiration for him would have been expressed in odes, in sprinkling his path with roses, and in bedecking his forehead with laurels. But they do things differently nowadays. A well-known Queensland sportsman, Mr V Hogan, got so enthusiastic over Charlton's successes against the Swedish rhampion. Arne Borg, that he invited Charlton to a jeweller’s. Then he commanded the salesman to bring out all his trays of watches, and allow Charlton to make his choice. The best was good enough for young Charlton, but even then the Queenslander did not consider the assortment worthy of the young swimmer whose performances have mystified even the ex perts. The watch selected by Charlton was priced at £22, but Mr Hogan, so the story runs in one of the afternoon papers, was not satisfied. “Bring me a better watch,” he exclaimed; “one that will go for more than two days.” He was assured, however, that it was the best watch in the shop; so there was nothing to do but take it. Mr Hogan then demanded that all the gold cigarette cases should be produced. He selected one for Charlton valued at £3O. Then for a gold matchbox at £6, the Queenslander tossed the salesman £lO or nothing, and. winning the toss, the matchbox was added to Charlton’s gifts. Another gift was a pair of gold sleeve-links. The gifts were valued in all at more than £6O. Young Charlton, who intends to settle on the land, is at present a student at the Agricultural College. The fuss which being made of him has not so far turned his head; but it is likely to do so if he meets too many Hogans. A polo club has been founded at Algiers, where, it is stated, Arab and Berber ponies can be hired or purchased very cheaply, and are rapidly adaptable to the game. A Central News Paris message states that the record of the champion of the porters at the Central Markets, where strong men are many, is that of carrying over 12cwt on his back, carrying an unwieldy cask of wine weighing 5501 b, and walking while balancing a light motor-car on his head. He is shortly going to Brussels for a “command i*rformance” before the King, and hopes to beat his own record for weight-carrying. A man named Ted Wright has travelled practically all the way from Los Angeles to San Francisco on roller-skates, the time of actual roller-skating being 73 hours. The New’ York Herald says that Wright had pavement for the 450-mile journey, except for six miles of dirt road, where he had* to remove his skates and walk. Of the 96 Sours required to make the trip, 23 were spent resting and eating. The wheels of his skates were almost worn through. The death at Christchurch of Mr Archd. Macdonald at the comparatively early age of 33 will be widely regretted in athletic circles in Southland where the late Mr Macdonald was widely known as a footballer and runner of more than average ability. Originally a Rugby forward, he developed such speed by track running that he took on back play, and with his splendid physique and pace was soon in the highest class of New Zealand football. He played for Canterbury and the South Island, being a member of the 1912 combination which also included another ex-Southlander. W. Alexander, a very high grade athlete who was killed on Gallipoli. In both cases the war cut short what promised to be unusually brilliant Rugby careers. The late Mr Macdonald had a distinguished career at the front, where he attained the rank of Mayor. In addition to football, he was also identified with amateur running, being a sound performer over short distances. PROXIES AND OTHER THINGS. TIME FOR FOOTBALLERS TO MOVE. (By “Censorious.) Tother day there appeared in the columns of the Southland Times a letter which put a number of straight questions to the Southland Union. That letter was signed Barracker,” and the SH.U. would give much to discover the identity of the inquisitive person who wrote it, but the real importance of the thing is that it shows what a lot of information should be forthcoming at the annual meeting of delegates next month. The clubs and the sub-unions may have been surprised by the early date fixed for the annual meeting but all things are being speeded up this year in view of the trip to the Old Country and the local Unions have to move in sympathy. Actually, however, the S.R.U. has been busy for a long time and seme energetic campaigning was indulged in at the close of last season, chiefly with the idea of preparing for the meeting of delegates. It has been suggested that a barracker has no right to ask these questions. That point need not be argued, but the body which is not frank with the public has reasons for not being frank; if it declines to speak it cannot be forced to break silence until the delegates themselves move. On the delegates, then, rests the responsibility, and the clubs and sub-unions want to bear that fact in mind when they appoint their representatives. Obviously the use of proxies is dangerous, especially when proxies are placed in the hands of the men who are to be criticised. A sub-union may have a representative. If he has served well in the past slick to him. but every club and every subunion should have a representative present and should shun proxies like poison. The rule which provides for the use of proxies should be expunged, because it is danger cus, and at no time has it been more dangerous than at present.

The annual meeting affords the footballers an opportunity for an examination of the management of the Union and for obtaining information. It is at this time that such matters as •’Barracker” raises can be explained. It will be remembered that information concerning the football contract has been promised. In spite of the , heat engendered by the subject when it was raised last year, the position is that the Rugby Union has been asked to explain why it gave to a member of the Committee a contract for 13/- when a price three .‘•hillings lower was available. There must be some explanation and the annual meeting should hear it.

When the clubs and the sub-unions consider appointing delegates they should take cognisance of these matters. The players on the field are bound by certain rules and regulations and they are punished if their conduct does not square with the spirit of the game which is an amateur one. They brought the Rugby Union into existence and it is their privilege to see that the management of the game is made to square its spirit. It is useless crying after the annual meeting is over. The time is now and the first things are: No proxies and adequate information.