SPORT AND RELIGION NOT IRRECONCILABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19035, 2 April 1930, Page 9

SPORT AND RELIGION NOT IRRECONCILABLE.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL SEES A HAPPY COMMUNITY. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, April 2. The obvious benefits of the liking of New Zealanders for sport were mentioned by Lord Bledisloe in his reply to an address of welcome made by the Hon A. J. Stallworthy at the civic reception last evening. “ Mr Stallworthy spoke in almost the same breath of the spiritual and sporting activities of this community, and its environments,” said his Excellency. “It was to me quite a new association from the public platform, but I am bound to say that I was very much impressed with it. “I have never been able to understand why a people should not be/ spiritually minded and worthy of •high moral commendation, and at the same time thoroughly enjoy those sports and pleasures which nowadays are so liberally provided for old and young alike. “ I do not know whether this is a suitable place to say it, but, if there is one thing which we can say with truth of our Christian religion, it is that it is not of much value to us unless it makes us happy. If I may venture to say so I have never been among so many happy people as since I landed in this country, and I cannot help thinking it is due in a large measure to the fact that the whole community of this Dominion enjoy their sports at least as much as they do their work (laughter), and carry out the latter all the better for their indulgence in the former.”