"TURNED INTO GLADIATORS”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19348, 1 July 1925, Page 4

"TURNED INTO GLADIATORS”

OBJECTION TO SCHOOL FOOTBALL IN PUBLIC HEADMASTER STOPS ANNUAL FIXTURE By Telegraph—Special to “Chronicle” CHRISTCHURCH, June 30. In the past years it has been the rule generally to play the annual Rugby fixture between the Boys’ High School and Christ’s College on the first Wednesday in July. Had all gone well this year's fixture would have been decided to-morrow, but the headmaster of Christ’s College, Rev. C. E. Crosse, has definitely refused to play the match on what he considers public ground.

Some time ago, Mr G. J. Lancaster, headmaster of the Boys’ High School, made certain representations to the headmaster of the college but Rev. Crosse refused to budge from the attitude he had taken up. The result was the announcement that there would •be no match this year, and airs of bitter disappointment became prevalent, more especially amongst old boys of each school. It has been a time-honoured custom to play the game on the ground of each school in alternate years, but during the war period the Canterbury Rugby Union arranged with the two schools to play the match at Lancaster Park. Rev. Crosse then decided to take up the attitude not to allow the boys from his school to play in public, making the announcement that such happening turned the players into gladiators. Mr Lancaster was not antagonistic to the proposal that the old custom should be reverted to and the consequence was that the match took place last year on the college ground. This year, therefore, it was the school’s turn for the game, but as their new ground at Riccarton will not be ready for another season the request was made to Rev. Crosse that the match should take place once more at Lancaster Park. Rev. Crosse, however, answered in the negative and has adhered to that decision ever since. The games between the two schools commenced in 1881, the year that the High School was established.

•1V srathni mana M I with presen mitt co pany. I respect Mu r raj* venrs. of his nt pre the or eft Germ! legial bridg 19221: ' -fl I ■ (Fro Bod 4 Mr ships I wa s a. the n al. ■ I •cpt. wl? I Mr Massey went the length m^uoclj. that if Lord Liverpool insisted un his own plans being carried out would have to find another Prime -M ister to see their execution. Final Mr Massey was supported by the Bil ish authorities and succeeded in obta ing the services of British and Jap., ese battleships, which convoyed t transports to the coast of Austral: where they were reinforced by skips the Commonwealth Navy. For his • lion in this matter, in the Hon. Coh :i opinion, Air Massey deserved the <i dying gratitude of the people c‘‘ Xi Zealand.