FOOTBALL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 13 April 1912, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

The Editor of the "New Zealand Times" has boon having a wordy argument with officials of the Rugby Union. Tho journalist stated in hi<s paper, in effect, that there had been rough and dirty play, which the Union had not effectively punished or put down. The Union stands in a simmer of virtuous indignation, protesting. In point of fact, the Union's protests don't convince anyone. We all known that there has hoen rough piny, and that some of tho rough players are playing still. There, was one particularly bad case, in which a player struck another man on the field and broke his jaw. Tho public is waiting for the Union to oxplain how it punished +bnt fellow in a salutary manner. Other instances might be cited. Tho fact seems to bo that good nlayers are largely immune from punishment. And now, aptly, there comes aoharming cable message from "RnvarH. In that country, schoolboy^ under the age of seventeen arp nrobihitod frnm rtlnvirxr foot''°" on -*•« rn-onnd +Vnt they play roughly, and coarsen theJ- v>*<iron That -may or may not be 60; huh I swear that the m^re watching of a. fromo coarsens inc. T want to snarl ami .swear. T f>™ offended by H-n in-in v«Minrr«> of t'"» d"I*-* -"ho «ir nnd squawk about me. T seek in vain for a prominonf Fr,->l>illor who inhieir'«« any sort of distinction in another field, or who R OPnrnnli«V>e~ vorv m"<^ ;- "?(rr KF-s Mind tou. T do not in the loist object to anT """P Vin-'1"«P i+ i° rl->TTTP'-o-i<: o" rU-Jrv T Vinvo nl"'-ed d»-i'«ro'l.«; r-n.Tv.nc! mv?elf, r;nrl should ro^^r'v tro in for

aeroplaning if I could afford it. But I want fun with my danger, and I can sco no fun in watching a crowd of very ordinary fellows fall over each other in a muddy field. When I was a reporter I havo been compelled to watch football matches in weather in which it was positively indecent to bo out, and such memories lie bitter on my soul. However that may be, brutality and ruffianism is not jusified in any game. Of t.hat I am convinced.