INTERNATIONAL AMITY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20667, 4 March 1937, Page 6

INTERNATIONAL AMITY

NOT FURTHERED BY SPORT By Telearaoh -Press association WELLINGTON, March 3. “I don't think that there is a place for Rotary in politics, but I do think individual Rotarians should try to bring about much needed reforms,” declared Dr. J. Inglis Robertson, of Sydney, to the Pacific Rotary Conference. "Surely to goodness the time has come for thinking men to try to see that there is a demand for a certain standard of knowledge from every candidate for Parliament, and it is time to reduce to a minimum international misunderstandings brought about by political blunderings. Surely we should try to secure parliamentary government by an aristocracy of intellect as the only possible offset to the terrible handicap of universal suffrage.” Dr. Robertson urged the institution of a drive to inculcate a peace instead of a war sense. Modem sport as an agent for promoting international amity is regarded critically by Dr. Robertson. It introduced an element of rivalry and certainly Invited partisan feelings. It would be a brave man who would assert that an international boxing contest helped to create good feeling between nations. Public feeling ran high Over sporting fixtures. This was fanned and fomented by a certain section of the Press, and it was very questionable whether sporting contests had done very much to further the cause Of international understanding.