SPORTS PROTECTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 94, 4 December 1911, Page 6

SPORTS PROTECTION.

THE LEAGUE’S ATTITUDE TO POLITICIANS. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, December 4. At a meeting of the Board of Control of ttie Sports Protection League Sir Geo. Clifford, in reply’to a question, explained the position of the League in regard to the general election. He regretted that the League had not been in existence for a sufficient time for its organisation to be perfected. If it had been it would have classified the’ contests into two clnsses—(a) those in which both candidates are favourable to the League’s policy and in which the League must absolutely impartial, and (b) those in which candidates have distinctly diverse views as to the League’s policy and in which therefore the League would exercise its whole influence in favour of its supporter against its opponent. Owing to the short period at its disposal no such classification can now be adopted without serious danger and misunderstanding, and the League must therefore, on tnis occasion, leave it to tiie discretion of its members individually to exercise the franchise in each constituency as may best tend to secure its objects. He proposed, therefore, at this juncture, ro leave the League’s friends unprompted, except by their general sympathy; but it followed that the action in future, when the League has acquired the necessary stability of organisation, will be one of careful watchfulness and cf sturdy opposition, irrespective of party, to all those who are not whole-heartedly with the League.