Sporting Review. THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1892.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 87, 24 March 1892, Page 5

Sporting Review. THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1892.

At the A.A.A.C. meeting held in the Domain on Saturday last, among several innovations the most noticeable was the “ Press table.” To enable the members of the fourth estate to do their work with comfort, a table and chairs were provided. Seated at their ease and smoking the pipe of peace, the Pressmen saw what they conld of the sprint races. At intervals the “ Press steward ” arrived and administered spoonfuls of information, e.g., “Tompkins ist, Jinks 2nd,.Bags 3rd ; won easily by two yards, a breast between second and third; time, 10 1-sth secs.” Could anything be more delightful for the reporter ? Absolved from all responsibility, and furnished with an official bulletin after each event, his work is positively child’s play. “ Blessings on the man who invented sleep,” quoth the immortal Saacho Panza. And so say all Pressmen of the inventor of the Press table. It is indeed a boon and a blessing . But soft!—the scribe feels a twinge in what he is pleased to call his conscience. Under such conditions, what use is he ? His journal, like every other journal, will produce a report of the meeting faithful in respect to results, but without the slightest touch of individuality or originality in describing th'j races. His sole function is to be a sort of conduit-pipe from the Press-steward to

the public. The committee might just as well write out one report in copying ink and furnish each journal with an impression. In future anybody who can write in pencil from dictation will be a perfectly competent Press representative at the A.A.A.C. meetings. Under the old rule experts representing the Press were permitted to take up any position they pleased to witness an event, subject to such restrictions in regard to keeping away from the judges, and interfering as little as possible with the view of other spectators, as the committee thought fit to impose. Hence independent reports from different points of view became possible, and were actually supplied to the public by the several journals. Now everything is reduced to the dead level of mechanical mediocrity. Moreover, in the event of a competitor receiving unfair treatment from his opponents, or suffering from a mistake on the part of the judges, he had some chance of redress at the hands of the Pressmen. If the object of the innovation is to scotch or stifle all criticism, it has been attained with a vengeance. We are not writing only with reference to the A.A.A.C. meeting, as the “ Press table ” was used at the last Championship meeting at Christchurch ; and we trust that the above remarks will be taken as evidence of an unselfish desire on the part of those whose personal comfort is enhanced by the innovation, to do their best for the advancement of athletics, and the information of the general public.