A GREAT SPORT

Southland Times, Issue 22488, 24 January 1935, Page 8

A GREAT SPORT

MR T. PETTIT WORLD’S CHAMPION SAWYER SOUTHLAND VISIT Although now of an age when he would find it difficult to swing an axe with all his pristine vigour, Mr Thomas (“Tom”) Pettit, former world’s champion axeman and sawyer, who is at present visiting Southland, still retains the upright carriage of the true athlete and his love of bushcraft has increased with the years. That Mr Pettit is also an interesting talker was discovered by a Times reporter, who sought an interview with him. At the outset the genial Australian explained that he was still actively connected with the sport, in that he was steward and organizer of the chopping sections at all the big sports meetings jn Australia and was besides the representative of one of the largest axe producing firms in the Commonwealth. “I have seen so much of your province in the last few days and have been made so welcome here,” said Mr Pettit, “that I already feel very much at home. Perhaps the fact that Southland is the home of the leading bushcraft exponents of New Zealand also contributes towards the home-like atmosphere,” he added with a smile. When asked to make a comparison between the leading sawyers and axemen of Australia and New Zealand, Mr Pettit stated that he would be in a better position to answer this question after seeing the bushcraft exhibition at the Browns sports. Promising New Zealander. “I did see something of what the New Zealanders are capable of at a chopping carnival at Ulverstone” added the speaker. “In fact when I met the New Zealand team at the boat, Geoff Blanks, on behalf of his team mates, asked me if I would coach them. Having been so well treated in the Dominion, both as an athlete and as a business man, I naturally agreed, and training began forthwith. The ‘boys’ wanted to stay in town but I persuaded them that the best training was to be found in the bush. There I discovered that one young member of the team, W. Hunter, who although only in the maiden class, had a beautiful action and displayed all the attributes of a champion axeman. I paid special attention to the lad and my pains were more than rewarded. He won a big contest, the Reeves’ Handicap, was runner-up in ; the Marshall Handicap and in I the main event, the Centenary Cup, was narrowly defeated in the final after easily winning his heat ■and semi-final. So outstanding was his performance that the winner, C. Weston, a veteran- axeman, paid the youngster the most unique tribute I have ever witnessed on , a sports ground, handing over to him the gold medal that he (Weston) had just won.” When questioned regarding the big Australian meetings, Mr Pettit, grew particularly enthusiastic, describing in detail the famous Australian bushmen’s carnivals which can be found nowhere else in the world.

Unquestionably the biggest meeting was that staged in conjunction with the Sydney Show at Easter. The fixture would this year be held from April 15 to April 24. Prize money for this meeting was always in the vicinity of £4OO, but the public were equally well catered for. For eight days and five nights spectators were entertained by competitions between the leading axemen and sawyers of the world—an attraction, which Mr Pettit estimated, was equally as exciting as the Melbourne Cup. The different events were designed to give townspeople an insight into the manner in which the bushmen earned their daily bread. What was a comor.place happening for the tree-feller, provided thrills for city dwellers, r.nd one event above all others always drew thousands of spectators. This was the open and championship tree-felling. The open handicap competition had been held for years but it was only on the instigation of Mr Pettit that a championship class (limited to six men) had been instituted. The championship was now a regular feature of the Sydney Show.

“I might state,” continued Mr Pettitt, “that there is more attached to treefelling than a frenzied hacking at the trunk of a tree. The entrant for this event has to be able to fix three boards, 3 feet 6 inches apart up a tree and then, standing on the third board, cut portion off the top half of the tree (which is 13 inches in diameter) and then complete the job by repeating the operation from the other side of the tree. It may not sound much” the speaker added, “but it is a test of nerve and skill that an Australian will go far to see.”

Always the biggest event on the Sydney Show programme, the Commonwealth championship (15 inch standing block) had £4O attached to it as first prize money and £lO for the reserve championship. This and the 15 inch underhand chop formed, with the treefelling contests, the principal events on the nrogramme. The Brisbane and Melbourne shows were similar to the Sydney show although not on so grand a scale. These were all patronized by the leading bushcraft exponents of the Commonwealth. Among the champions Mr Pettit numbered C. and M. Winkle (the former he considered the greatest axeman in Australia with the standing block), L. Appo, M. McCarthy and E. Ehlerth. Trade In Australia.

In reply to a query regarding trade conditions in Australia, Mr Pettit sank the athlete in the business man and gave it as his opinion that the Commonwealth was now well on its feet again. As a result, new buildings were everywhere springing up mushroom fashion, and the building trade was experiencing a mild boom. “The main reason for the returning prosperity,” continued Mr Pettit, “is the efficiency of our Commonwealth Government. I consider it is doing wonderful work, and the whole world admits that the Lyons Government has been instrumental in bringing the Australian ship of state back to an even keel.”

Mr Stevens, the Premier of New South Wales, also came in for his share of praise from the Australian visitor. “I consider him the Sir Joseph Ward of Australian politics,” he said, “his financial genius has already done much to reduce the enormous debt of that part of the country.” In conclusion Mr Pettit was extremely laudatory in his remarks concerning the beauty and fertility of Southland. “Through the courtesy of Mr T. O’Byrne I have seen much of your countryside,” he stated, “and to my mind Southland has the richest farming land in the world. I would also like to mention that I consider the attractions of the South Island infinitely superior to those of the North Island.” Mr Pettitt was an interested spectator at the Browns sports yesterday, and competitors in the bushcraft events had the uneasy knowledge that they had watching them, one who has been five times undefeated singlehanded sawing champion of the world and the only man who has ever held the international title for the standingchop three times in succession.