SWIMMING MONOPOLY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16904, 1 December 1922, Page 6

SWIMMING MONOPOLY.

TO THE mutton. Sire—« May I be permitted a small space in your paper to say a few words on the subject of district swimming. in yo 1r spurts page of No—vember 28 I mad with interest some remarks, written by ‘Crawl,” which dealt at length with this subject. To an outsider like myself they give the impression that there is one way, an‘l one way only, to save lot-a] swimming from a monopoly which is gradual‘y creeping upon it. “'hen. however; you take the trouble to look a little further inLo the matter it seems to strike you even more forcibly that the scheme which has been suggested “'1“ thrust, upon enthusiasts a monopoly far greater than the one under whit-n they are labouring at. present. VVill not a» digtrint Scheme tend to form a club consisting of good swimmers which will practically kill any inter—club competition? Again. supposmz the scheme goes through. are the organisers sure that all those who are at present swimming for the clubs of their choice will he content to swim for the clubs into which the}~ are rlraff. ed? Have We not had already one example of district sport‘ and did not that serve {0 show that any (listric: scheme is practically (‘Prt-ain to stir up strife and discontent among partici—punk, and officials? “ Crawl ” wastes most of his eloquence putting forwar‘l the view point- of the suburban clubs. and as a conclusion appears to rub in a little 90ft soap to appease the members and followers of the larger club“. Surely these clubs are worth more r-on. sideration than clubs which gasp the'r way through an uncertain existence and emerge only occasionally from partial and recurring oblivion. I note with narticular inferest what " Crawl” would do were he an official of a suburban club. Bfav l l,» permitted to suggest that it might be beneficial to swimming: generally if “ Crawl” was to become a member of one of the suburban club committees. and was given 9. chance to use on soma of his superfluouh energies for the hanefit of that club. - I am quite oer. thin that generation: to name would not he nhln to look hack on a decurla strewn with the wreclmcm of smashed hopes and wasted ambitimm.~-T an}. ctr-i. Oli'l‘SlDl‘lß.