WAR STOPS SPORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20085, 3 November 1939, Page 5

WAR STOPS SPORT

LOSS TO N.Z. TEAM ONE MATCH COSTS £BOOO LONDON, Sept. (i. It is estimated that the abandonment of the New Zealand Rugby League tour will mean a loss of £BOOO. The team has played only one match. Mr. Jbhn Wilson, Rugby League secretary, visited them at Harrowgate to help them, “I don’t know when it will be possible for them to leave," he said. "1 am in touch with the steamship company and a travel agency to expedite the arrangements." The team's one match was won. They beat St. Helens by 19 points to 3. . For the time being all forms ol sport are at a standstill, but, if the 1914 precedent is followed, racing and football will eventually be resumed on a modified basis. 'lhere are now, on the other hand, more imperative reasons against the gathering of crowds than in the last

war. . A certain number of race meetings may be possible at. Newmarket, where substitute races for the Dei by, the Oaks and the St. Leger were run in. 1915, 101(5, 1917 and 1918. The Jockey Club and the National Hunt Committee are meeting later _in the week, when plans tor the continuance of racing on a restricted scale will, no doubt, be discussed. In the meanwhile, the majority of trainers intend to keep their horses in training. Some horses may be sold ;o Irish owners. Brood mares and fillies will be retained wherever possible. Professional Footballers The position of professional footballers was explained by Mr. W. CCuff, president of the Football League. Until the League Management Committee has considered the position, he said, clubs, should instruct their players to stand by. The Ryder Cup match between Great .Britain and America, which was to have been played in Florida in November, lias been cancelled. Among other important professional fixtures cancelled are the .E 1250 match-play championship fixed for .next week at St. George's Hill. Wevbridfie, and the £SOO Dunlop-Metro-politan tournament at Wentworth. _ The English Women’s Championship and the county finale at Canton. Yorks, which were to have been played from September 29 to Octobci (i, will not lake place. Shaw’s Protest

.y A protest against the closing of theatres and cinemas has been mode by Mr. Bernard Shaw. He calls it “a masterstroke of unimaginative stupidity.” “During the last war," lie adds, ‘“we had 80,000 soldiers on leave to amuse every night. There were not enough theatres for them, and theatre rents rose 16 fabulous figures. Are there to be no theatres for them this time? We have hundreds of thousands of evacuated children to be kept nut of mischief and traffic dangers. Are there to be no pictures for them?”

Mr. Shaw concludes: ‘‘All actors, variety artists, musicians, and entertainers of alt sorts should be exempted from every form of service except their own ’all-important, professional one.”