FOOTBALL AND THE BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3088, 19 May 1917, Page 8

FOOTBALL AND THE BALLOT

PLAY, AND GET FIT FOR THE CALL. Mr. P. Hannon, the sculler who rowed Webb, of Wanganui, for-the championship of New Zealahd,"is ! at pre-, sent a visitor to Wellington from Blenheim. As one who registered at Wangamii, ho has been called up in the ballot, and though anxious to servo he is very much afraid that his injured knee (which went wroug in the race mentioned) ivill affect his prospects. Some months ago it was operated upon in Blenheim, and a horseshoe-shaped cut in his right knee, about six inches in length, testifies to the seriousness of his injury. , As one unable to play himself, Mr. Hannqn cannot understand the policy of the responsible bodies in closing down on football for players over 20 years of age. That was perhaps a very wise course to take when New Zealand was dependent on the voluntary system to make up the strength of its Reinforcements, but now that all eligible men in the First Division are liable to the chances of the ballot, he is strongly of the opinion that the young men should be encouraged to play football. His reasons are that such men, who may be called up a month or three months hence, would have to train hard for their games and wouW therefore go into camp as thoroughly fit, whereas the winter is upon us, and those men who ordinarily would be in training are not given the facilities of tho gymnasium and the football field to acquire that degree of fitness which should bo helpful to the military authorities.