CONTROL OF SPORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 248, 19 October 1937, Page 8

CONTROL OF SPORT

THE PROPOSED COUNCIL ITS EFFECTS DISCUSSED TENNIS MEETING’S DEBATE Although nothing tangible was tablecUin the shape’ of a Parliamentary Bill, some discussion took place at last night’s annual meeting of the Wanganui Lawn Tennis Association as to the possible effects of a National Council of Sport. No expression of opinion was made by the meeting in a corporate sense, the consensus of thought of delegates apparently being that, while the matter required careful study, it was not a right thing to oppose it until what was proposed was understood. “It would not be a right thing for it to go forth to the world that we are against the Government in this matter,” said the president (Mr N. R. Bain). “On the other hand, we do not want to approve of anything until we know what it is.” The speaker agreed that some corordination was desirable, but stressed the danger to existing tennis clubs, which had provided their own grounds, if the tendency was developed of local bodies spoon-feeding others. Clubs run exclusively by private enterprise had raised money from members to equip grounds and maintain them. In one case a club in Wanganui paid twice as much in rates as in rent. He did not know what the National Council of Sport was intended to do, but if it brought about a greater degree of co-ordina-tion the association should support it. “If we want to enjoy sport, the right thing is for us to put our backs into it and do it ourselves,” Mr Bain added. “That has always been the sporting attitude of New Zealanders. 1 hope it will not die and leave in its place those who want to rush to local bodies for everything. But there is a certain amount of co-ordination, particularly with regard to grounds, that is desirable. ... It is just a question of trying to get it properly organised and a proper balance. The Council of Sport might do something in that direction, but I am entirely against surrendering the control of sport to the Government. (Voices: Hear, hear).

Mr Bain contended that the war had proved that the New Zealanders, as a race, were strongly individualistic. Every soldier had been a potential officer or non-commissioned officer because of his self-reliance. The characteristics of the race, he believed, all trended against rushing to local bodies for everything. Mr D. W. Earle asked whether anything definite had been obtained from the New Zealand Tennis Association on its attitude towards the Council of Sport. Mr Bain replied that the minutes disclosed that the association had supported the principle.

Mr G. H. Pownall said that the delegates had not yet submitted a report. He considered that the Council of Sport should become active to see that all sports grounds were made rate free.

Mr Bain: That is all very well. It only means that the rates will have to be found by someone else. If a club lost money through a bad season, or something of that nature, some concession could be made, but to suggest that all sports grounds be made rate free is absolute folly. A Delegate: Isn't it a sort of Douglas Social credit business they are dangling before our eyes? We are being taxed out of everything to spoon-feed the rising generation, and it is a case of God help those who have set up their own clubs and courts and paid for them. We want another war to make the rising generation earn its living. The National Council of Sport should be free from all political control. The position wants careful watching. Mr Bain did not think it should go forth to the world that the association was against a Council of Sport, until it knew more about it.

The Delegate: That is what I mean. It should be carefully watched, but we must have it free from political control to fight properly for our rights. The matter is to be looked into when a draft of the proposed Bill comes to hand.