LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1133, 22 May 1911, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

SCHOOL FOOTBALL. Sir,—ln your issue of Saturday, May 13, I notice a; letter-from George Howe on tho 'School football question. I do not wish to go' into the' merits of the case, hut would like to put in a word for tho sake of fair play to the teachers. After certain .wild, talk thai: does not requiro an answer, ■ George Howe says: "These men., were .entrusted, by the Wellington Kugby L'nioii wifh the duty of encouraging school-Rugby:" Now, this is decidedly unfair,' and misleading to many people, .for is:it not "a fact that the teachers formed and- ran the Public Schools Rugby Union;.successfully before they had any encouragement and help from the W.U.U.?' And as for more boys playing

"soccer" than Rugby in the can George Howe point out any of the principal public schools that run a "soccer" team, and do not play Kugby as tho school game? I think he must have got mixed in his facts. And did not the Association people approach the teachers some years ago and try to induce them to run "soccer" as a school game? If the teachers had done this, how would it have affected Kugby by this time?

As for the W.K.U. Committee wanting to take a hand in running the P.S.R.U., it is easy to understand that the teachors would prefer to. keep the boys under their own control: Why do these ccmmitteemen not look after the boys when they arc .leaving school? The "soccer" people have raked in many a promising boy, by a little attention. As for tho suggestion that these "dog-in-the-manger" sports might lose their passes—that-is on a. par with tho rest of tho letter, for if these passes aro considered as a recompense for time spent, then the teachers are a poorly-paid crowd, and the W.R.U. a bad paymaster. I understand; tho passes were given as an act of courtesy. George Howe congratulates Sir. 'Darroch on the spirited stand he took up, and hopes for the sake of Rugby football and school sport that he will reconsider his resignation. I believe that until this year Mr. Darroch had attended only one meeting of tho P.S.K.U., and. that was some years ago, when the same question was brought up. So I fail to see that ho has done very much for school football —certainly not onough to entitle him to any medals; and if the P.S.R.U. did lose "a man like him" they might contrive to carry on for a little while longer. I would like to make it plain that I am not writing against the W.R.U., as I think they were not seeking any differences with the P.S.R.U., but were anxious to assist them. —I am ' CtC ". , . . PATER,' May' 15, 1911. "HOME RULE." Sir—ln yours of Slay 18 your correspondent, "it.D.," makes reference to me, in his letter in reply to two of your correspondents, who am .di?cu«'iig the merits and demerits of Home Rule. K.D. would also seem to fnip.y Uac I am one of these, which I am not, as I always si"ii my namo to anything I write. I think , if all your correspondents would do the same, "K.D." along with them, to say tho least, it would show that they had the courage of their convictions. However, I wish to remind "K.D." that ho has again blundered badly. I did not attribute the cause, and therefore 'there is no. inconsistency on my part, as tho authority I quoted from was "Tho Life of Queen Victoria," by Thomr.s Archer, F.R.H.S. On pages 178 to 179 will bo found all about this "kicking or tho Crown into the Boyne," which "R.D." and some of his compatriots like to talk about. "R.D." can cry "what rot" again if ho likes. He seems to take for gospel everything Sir. Kedmond says, but the man' who preached Federalism to please the Americans in order to collect tho dollars, and denied it to pleaso tho Irish is not likely to bo cornered by tho reports of speeches ho makes if denial will suffice. "R.D.'s" remark about tho Irish beinK the most peaceable people may'be true, .if ho exempts boycotting, cattle-driving, and abduction of children, as in the SI Cann case. Again "R.D." in his reference to the population of Roman Catholic Irish in America, puts them at nearly twenty-fivo millions. "R.D." should quote his authority for these figures. Quito recently I saw the statistics of religious denominations in America. This gave the Roman Catholic population at a little over twelve millions, and "E.D." should know that a great many of theso. came from tho Continent of Europe, Poles, Germans, Italians, etc. Again, "R.D." gives us some very useful information, namely, that "the Fenians havo recently thrown in their lot will' the Nationalists." I should like to know when they were not in the Nationalists' quarters. The Fenians aro more of tho stamp of Slajor M'Bride and Colonel Lynch typo of Nationalist, but they aro all in tho same boat. That reminds me of a little couplet I once read which I think fits the Nationalists very well— "Parties aro like fishes, 'tis said, The tails direct them, not the head." —I am, etc., THOS. M. MILLIGAN. May 18, 1911. > ' IRELAND'S LOYALTY. Sir,—Re your leaderette. in Saturday's issue on the attitude of the Dublin Corporation towards tho proposed Royal visit, and the probable visit of tho colonial Premiers, a fow words. I don't remember reading or hearing that any public or representative body in Ireland gave an invitation to tho colonial Premiers. Ido remember reading that tho Premiers expressed a desire to visit Ireland. They wero assured if they did eo they would find Irish hospitality had lost nono of its old-timo charms. Whether Sir Joseph Ward visits the country or not, matters not an iota to Ireland. I believo that tho majority of the people would be better pleased if they refrained from doing so. Why? Because Ireland is making a desperato effort to stop her peoplo from emigrating. Emigration has been one of her serious drawbacks. The colonial Premiers aro looked, upon by the majority as emigrating agents touting for possible emigrants, and turning the people's thoughts from their own country. If Sir Joseph does go to Ireland he will' rcceivo a welcome not because ho is "Sir" or a great Imperialist, but because he is Premier of a country where so many members of tho Irish race have mado their homes.

The explanation given by one of the Irish envoys to tho action of the Dublin Corporation is not far-roaching enough. It savours too much of apology, for my taste. If this same agent were speaking in America, wd'uld his explanation be so apologetic ? It would tako something more to draw American dollars, Is Ireland loyal? Ask the British Prime Minister who is preventing the long-wished and sought-for Anglo-American Alliance. Ask the Dublin Corporation why they did not vote a loyal address of welcome to tie King of England. The Dublin Corporation or tho Irish people have no personal animus to King George or any of tho Royal Family. As representative of a (iiovcrnment which keeps their country in a state of poverty and subjection, they could not. conscientiously welcome him. Ireland is not loyal to England—never will be loyal

"As long as of her rightful debt The smallest fraction's duo, So long, my friends, there's something yet For Irishmen to do." THE SWAGGER.