The Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1926. THE GAME FOR THE GAME'S SAKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17879, 22 June 1926, Page 6

The Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1926. THE GAME FOR THE GAME'S SAKE.

Wherever the fierce light.of publicity blazes on a sport, such as in the meeting of Mdlle. Lenglen and Miss Wills, or more recently in the test matches between the Australians and the Englishmen, it may be taken for granted that the commercial side of the enterprise is being exploited in one direction or another. In the case of the Australian cricketers, unfortunately, it is the players who are most vitally interested, and this fact was bound sooner or later to enter into the discussion as to whether the tests should be extended, and their earning capacity proportionately increased. The comment of the “ Observer ” may be intended to purge the sport of some of the evils associated with the game, and for that reason it can hardly be pleasant. Cricket, at Home, unfortunately, is no longer an amateur game. It embraces most of the most objectionable features of professionalism, except that no ease is on record where a match has been sold. For that very reason, there is some good to be found ■in the “ Observer’s ” comment that tours in the past have been largely a crusade for ihe defeat of England. Nevertheless, the criticism would be assured of greater effect if so much of it in a similar strain had not been heard before. When the All Blacks were winning matches all over England, several critics insinuated that various kinds of base methods were the cause of the team’s success. These writers were sharply reprimanded by the London “ Times,” but it almost seems that Englishmen of a certain type are not disposed to take defeat w k ith a smile. It is regrettable that this spirit of criticism should creep in because it tends to undo all the friendship for which international matches are responsible. This was lo be noted at the Olympic Games, and it has obtruded itself into tennis, swimming and athletics generally. What is needed is a wider appreciation of the true sportsman’s motto: “The game for the game's sake.” Only in such a spirit can misunderstanding, jealousy and bitterness be scotched. It is hard to know whether the challenge of the Labour Party to the churches is a sign of grace or not. There is a very amusing incident related by Boswell regarding Dr Johnson, who once, in a fit of humility, invited a friend to criticise his shortcomings, but ended up in a passion, which was likened to a penitent belabouring his confessor. Perhaps the same sort of thing might happen at the Trades Hall. One can imagine that the address which the nominee of the churches would deliver would be listened to with interest, if not reverence, but the subsequent proceedings would provide the evening’s entertainment. If the verdict of the meeting should be that the churches are, indeed, anti-Labour, it would he interesting lo know what Labour is going to do about it. Will it proceed to reform the churches, proclaim a new gospel, or come to the penitent form? At present Labour borrows as much of the philosophy of the New Testament as suits its book, and Socialists will glibly quote “ the Carpenter ” when they wish to score a point off the churches. As a purely sectional movement, Labour cannot reconcile with its teachings any organisation that makes as wide an appeal as the churches make to men of every station in life. The Labour movement is a material rather than a spiritual force, and unless a man will pledge himself to caucus rule he cannot enter the kingdom. The anxiety of Labour as to the position of the churches recalls the story of the man who asked Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War if he thought God was on their side. Lincoln’s answer was: “ Are we on God’s side?”