Dear Sir,

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 10, 6 January 1948, Page 4

Dear Sir,

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the paper only and where a nom-de-plume is used tha name of the writer must be included for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the right to abridge, amend or withhold any letter or letters. ROD AND GUN Sir, —I attended a meeting convened by the Taneatua Rod '. and Gun Club, the purpose of which was to discuss amalgamation of Rod and. Gun Clubs within the Whakatane district. Whilst I have no fault to find with amalgamation the purpose of many of the arguments were quite sound as far as the gun is concerned, but I coul not see how the rod was going to benefit. Bigger prize money and bigger shoots were its sole aim the idea it conveyed to me was professionalism against sport. The gun through the medium of cash prizes becomes a pot hunter’s weapon in a gambler’s paradise: in fact all the words the money language can speak. The sport of fishing has closed the gate to all forms of gain. Trout fishing has a manly incentive to clean competition, it cultivates observation in young and old. It’s not costly to take on. A keen individual can make his own rod from bamboo and his own spoons and flies—So. Whilst there is no gain and competition prevails it must always appeal to sports.) You on one end of the rod endeavour to show what the world .expects of a sport. The other end of the line has one who certainly exhibits, all the sport water can provide. The trout is our lion in the Dominion rivers. My opinion is that there is no (or very little) interest interwoven between shooting and fishing. Zane Grey, the world's greatest fisherman, searched the world’s. waters for the biggest one, not for gain, but as a trophy for competition, to offer as a competitive aim to sportsmen. Since the aims of amalgamation are: Big prize money, big shoots, good luck to those concerned.

I and many others favour a club of sportsmen backed by good fellowship, and a welcome shake to all trout fishermen throughout the Dominion. Put a fish in his bag, do not conive to take his money. Assist one and all to protect and encourage the welfare of fishing in the Taneatua district. We have the rivers passing our backdoor Dominion envied as fishing grounds, fished by of the worlds’ great fishermen? I refer to Lord Galway, Lord Bledisloe, in fact most Governors in days gone by. We have all the assets to encourage clean sport in clean or dirty water, no food for political acrobats, but a haven for fishermen. In many walks of life, money speaks all languages. It has bought good fellowship and routed sport. A striking example of my argument to forcibly pit professionalism against true sport may be found amongst bowlfers. Bowling has not and never had a tinge of professionalism; its founders closed the door to this element. As long as bowling exists the money language can never undermine the foundation it has been built on—true competitive principles that has cemented a sociable and sporting feeling in many that can never die. The vase you may break and shatter at your will but the scent oi the rose will cling round it still. Yours etc., PETA MORA.