THE CLUBMAN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1155, 30 May 1912, Page 6

THE CLUBMAN.

During the next few weeks Aucklanders are likely to hear a good deal about sports’ protection and the insidious interference of wowsers with our recreations and pastimes. As there is sure to be a good deal of heat generated over the propoganda, the merits and shortcomings, and the personnel of the rival organisations that are to make their appeal to the sportsmen of the Northern province, it is opportune for us to place the position of affairs clearly before our readers.

Early last year an Auckland Sports’ Protection Association was formed under the aegis of Messrs W. E. Hackett and R. A. Armstrong and was persevered with in a somewhat perfunctory way until some of the leading sportsmen of the Dominion, notably Sir George Clifford, Messrs H. D. Bell, K.C., C. P. Skerrett, K.C., and Dr. Collins, M.L.C., decided that the time was ripe for a strong and representative national league to be formed for the protection of sport in all its branches. The outcome of this was an influential meeting held in Wellington last August by delegates from all parts of the Dominion. It was there and then decided that the New Zealand Sports’ Protection League should be launched and a Board of Control elected with Mr H. D. Bell, K.C., as chairman. The executive of the Auckland Association were represented at that meeting in Wellington and Mr Armstrong spoke in favour of the League.

Shortly after the formation of the national league applications were called by the Board of Control for an organising secretary at a liberal salary. Many of the best men available to undertake the organisation of the League throughout the Dominion applied for the position, including Mr R. A. Armstrong, but the choice fell to Mr A. A. Paape, of Invercargill. The next chapter in this history is decidedly instructive and explains the subsequent action of Mr Armstrong.

Soon after the announcement was made that Mr Armstrong had been passed over by the Board of Control as Dominion organiser, the General Elections were approaching and the gentleman in question saw his opportunity of focussing a certain amount of the glamour of public recognition on himself, and at the same time venting his spleen against those who had not such an exalted opinion of Mr Armstrong’s organising ability as he himself cherished. Accordingly he took to the hustlings at Parnell.

Here it is well to point out that public opinion was bitterly opposed to the candidature of Sir John Findlay, and Mr Armstrong realising—as a true opportunist would —that to gain the sympathies of the mob he must howl against the unpopular candidate. Accordingly Mr Armstrong allied himself with Mr J. S. Dickson, who was opposing Sir John Findlay. Still again guided by the acumen of the oportunist, Mr Armstrong identified himself with the leaders of the coursing sport, who at the time were

sorely incensed against the Government for having passed the Gaming Amendment Act that had practically crushed their sport.

With these factors to work on Mr Armstrong set his course so as to run before the wind, and in order to lighten his craft jettisoned the principles that he had been disposed to support and foster as organising secretary of the League—had he been successful in securing the position.

Once upon the waters of political controversy, Mi' Armstrong kept his ear to the ground and studied every move in the political arena, so that he was able to gauge the public temper and steer his course so as to get every puff that came along, and at the same time he never lost an opportunity to take the wind from the League. His tactics were not those of a sportsman, and the Board of Control publicly repudiated him. Then he became “nasty,” and the bitterness and venom in his system rose

to the top, with the result that he churlishly set to work to bespatter the League with mud and build a jerry organisation for the sole purpose apparently of effecting a clevage in the ranks of sportsmen, and so play into the hands of the enemy.

The next chapter of this pitiful history is when, after a lapse of several months, Mr Armstrong billed the Northern racing and trotting clubs for the work he had been doing to bring

the said clubs into disrepute. The clubs were tolerant with the renegade until they could no longer countenance his backsliding. Then they unanimously repudiated him and decl.ned any responsibility so far as they were concerned. Thus Mr Armstrong was cast from the flock and classed "undesirable.”

Following this the Board of Control sent Mr Paape to Auckland to test the ground Mr Armstrong had fouled, and it was decided to scarify the district and prepare it for the new crop of principles that stand for the objects. of the New Zealand Sports’ Protection League. This action has st.rred the unwholesome spite which lurks in the heart of Mr Armstrong, and he is now raging about and, like an evil ferret, is carrying his noxious influence into every crevice and Granule where he imagines he can set up irritation against the League. His influence is as contagious as it is virulent so that sportsmen will be wed advised to safeguard themselves against the insidious work in hand.

Since the very comencement of the New Zealand Sports Protection League this paper has staunchly supported the organisaton, and we consequently welcome the news that within a few weeks an active district branch will be established in Auckland. Already several subsidiary country branches have beefi established in the Northern Province and they are flourishing exceedingly, because in each case they are being supported by the leading sportsmen in the districts, irrespective of what class of sport they may individually be championing. Collectively they are banded together to protect clean and honest sport in all its activities.

Already some sixty branches of the League have been formed throughout the Dominion, with an estimated membership of close on 100,000. It has been erroneously declared that the League was formed for the purpose of defending the totalisator. This is only one of those half truths that when sifted shows the utter falsehood of the statement. The League was purely defensive; it was not out to defend racing alone, but sports generally. The idea was to bring all the sportsmen together so that when legislation affecting sport was introduced the branches could be consulted and the necessary action taken.