PASSING NOTES

Waipa Post, Volume 36, Issue 2149, 26 April 1928, Page 5

PASSING NOTES

" The time has come," The Walrus said, " To talk of many things." (By J.T.P.) THE COMING OF RUGBY. "The muddied oafs and flannelled fools." as Kipling rather picturesquely, but with a touch of sarcasm, once ! described England's players of outdoor games, are numerous in New Zealand, but the " flannelled fools " are now stowing away their cricketing kits, and, with those who perhaps do not play cricket or other of the summer pastimes, will become "muddied oafs," and take up the more strenuous game of Rugby football, which, by reason of its great vogue, has been aptly termed " our national game." In every city, in every town, in every vilage — a ye, in the most scattered places in the country—the tocsin has been sounded to " don the jersey," and is being responded to with an alacrity i and an enthusiasm that characterised , the view-hallo of the hunting fields in England of old. It is surely a healthy sign, and denotes no degeneracy on the part of young New Zealanders, but, rather, illustrates a desire to participate in a pastime that demands personal fitness, courage, and, above all, an indication and determination to " play the game " in the acceptation of the truest interpretation of that sporting phrase. The year promises to be a memorable one. Foremost of interest is, of course, the tour of South ( Africa by the selected representatives • wearing the Fern Leaf. Leaving Wellington quite recently, with the blessing and good wishes of the Prime Minister re-echoed from the North Cape to. the Bluff, the All Blacks will tread on South African soil early in May, and shortly thereafter will begin a series of matches which will act as curtain raisers to and appertisers for those great international contests —modern battles of Goliaths on the football field between the redoubtable Springboks and fifteen stalwarts of the Empire's farthest-flung outpost. That these contests will become the cynosure of all eyes ..the Rugby world goes without saying; that they will be fought with that keenness and clean play which denote the love of true sport; and that the best team will win will be the ardent wish of all. That the "best team " will be the All Blacks metfely expresses a sentiment in New Zealand wherein the wish is father to the thought. In the Dominion itself the usual contests will be waged; there is no reason to believe that the standard of play will not be as high as formerly, the absence of the All Blacks notwithstanding; indeed, the latter condition may have a contrary effect, as the door of opportunity will be open wide to young and new players to show the metal of which they are made. In Waipa, as of yore, the season is breaking with great expectations, and the competitions promise to evoke as keen play among the contest ants and .as much interest among the supporters and the general public as in previous years.

PEACE-TIME HEROINE. Ever and anon the realms of Peace are illumed by courage and self-sac-rifice worthy of a permanent record in the annals of a nation's history. One such was recorded the other day from Brisbane, where a falling tree seriously injured the leg of a youth necessitating the grafting of a piece of flesh eight inches by four in the wound. His 13-year old sister offered to allow the necessary flesh to' be taken from her body. The operation proved successful, the brother recovering. The sister was said to be doing well, when, however, she suddenly collapsed and died. There is little exaggeration in calling this girl a heroine. Apart from her sistei'ly love for her brother, she pursued her path of self-sacrifice without grumbling or complaint, enduring agony and loss till at last a merciful death released her from her sufferings. Truly, her name must be added to that small band of martyrs, who, in peace-time going marching by, quietly and unobtrusively.

REFORM ON TRIAL. The political dogs of war are straining at their leashes, for 'tis election year. Three years ago a wave of popular enthusiasm swept the polls, installing the Rt. Hon. Gordon Coates and his Reform Party in an impregnable position. But since then "much watei' has flown under the bridge" and unerring indications point to this year being Reform's crjucial "test. There is abroad a latent spirit of discontent with things as they are; a desire for that change which, like Hope, springs eternal in the human breast, and a wish for a government with which the habit of "getting things done" will emerge from an advertising stunt into an accomplished fact. In short, the Government has not acted up to, nor even approached the virtues claimed for it by its paid claquers. Taxation has not been reduced as promised, rather have the charges imposed been increased; a Government, opposed to Socialism, flirted with the Socialistic Dairy Control Board and inflicted a grievous injury on the primary producer; the

promise to assist the farmer has been met by increased custom duties on articles most required by the "man on the land"; the railways have been exploited in the interests of the cities and at the expense of the country dweller; immigration of the wrong personnel has sadly upset the equilibrium of the labour market throughout the Dominion of New Zealand and economic ills, such as an enhanced bank-rate and an advanced rate by the Advances to Settlers Department, have appeared at a time when the pressure was in need of reduction instead of being stiffened. For all these things Reform will have to answer at the bar of Public Opinion. The same old devices and artifices will be employed to explain them away; the first edition was served out the other day. It came from the caucus— you know that frightful .caucus of Labour origin which is quite a virtue when adopted by Reform. In the official report, the party was stated as being 'more united than ekver," Rather curious, however, to note that the malcontents were conspicuous by their absence. It is noteworthy that Messrs Glynn, Harris and Burnett were reported not prelsent. Had they been perhaps the party might not have been characters ed by such nice harmony. But this is only the start of such propaganda and shows how Reform is cogitating upon the task ahead. Perhaps the immortal words of Abraham Lincoln are applicable: "You can fool all the people for part of the time; you can fool part of the people all the time: but you cannot fool all the people all the time." New Zealand is in no mood to be fooled; she wants maintained that progress with which her name has ever been associated.

GENTLEMAN—THE HORSE. Mr George Paul, fresh from his victories at Avondale with Aussie, which for him has turned out a splendid investment, and Awarere, is as good a sportsman as he is true and no doubt one could hear him toast "The Horse" in these words:

Here's a toast for all who love, Courage, Strength and Beauty; Whost simple creed is Play the Game, Ride straight and do your duty. A toast to him who never failed In wagon, cart or limber; Whose gallant spirit never quailed 'Fore line of guns or "barbed. To him whose heart knows no defeat On racing field nor track. A toast to hhn who'll always share Your/pleasures, sports and labor. So lift your glass and honour him— Man's staunchest friend and 't'TPS.Slll'G As true as steel, as kind as love, In action or at leisure, He lives in memory dear and far— Of Ellerslie and Avondale too. He paid the price for what we areGentleman— The Horse.