The Globe. MONDAY, MAY 27, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1306, 27 May 1878, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, MAY 27, 1878.

That all powerful institution the Bank of New Zealand —at least the Auckland branch of it —has set its face against football. Henceforth the employees of that branch will engage in the game at the risk of dismissal. It seems strange in a country so thoroughly English in its ideas, and in which the sports of the old country have been transplanted and flourish exceedingly, that an interdiction of this kind should have been made. One of the greatest military commanders of his day expressed the opinion that the indomitable pluck and energy of the British soldier was fostered and formed on the playing fields of Eton and Rugby. The training up of youths in manly sports such as football, cricket, &c., tends to develop in them manly qualities, and we should indeed regret to see the future generation of New Zealand grow up deficient in them. Not alone do the sports to which wo have referred exercise a beneficial effect on the physical condition of the young men of the present day, by developing qualities of endurance and courage, but they also have a bearing —and no inconsiderable one either —on tho moral welfare of the rising generation. Instead of spending their Saturday afternoons in idleness an apportuuity is afforded them of passing an hour or two in healthful exercise and innocent recreation. But it may be said there is danger in football. No doubt there is, but is there any sport into which some modicum of danger docs not enter ? Take cricket, hunting, steeplechasing, boating, yachting —and in all there is more or less of danger. Tho sport would to a great extent lose its zest were there not some opportunity for the display of those qualities of courage and endurance which are brought out in the presence of danger. Had our forefathers encouraged only such manly sports as were unattended with risk to life and limb, the character of the English race would, in all probability, have been different from what it is—wo would have had more milksops, and fewer men capable and willing to uphold the honour of their country in tho field of battle, or undergo the hardships of an Arctic winter in the cause of science. Instead of placing obstacles in tho way of manly exercise, our employers in New Zealand should do everything in their power encourage it. There is considerable danger of a geneatiou springing up amongst us possessing the dualities of the Americans described by tjjo “ Autocrat of tho Breakfast Table” as a set of blackcoated, stiff-jointed, soft-museied, pastocomplexioned youth,” utterly unworthy of their Anglo-Saxon lieuage. The solicitude for its employees thus manifested

by tho Bank of Now Zealand in Auckland is somewhat remarkable when contrasted with tho practice which obtains in many parts of the colony —and perhaps in the northern capital —of compelling their clerks to work till all hours of the night without any remuneration. It seems to us that far more harm is likely to bo done to health from tho system of late hours so prevalent in some quarters, than from engaging in any number of scrimmages at football. In the one case, not only is the physical system injured, but vicious habits are often formed which may result in moral ruin to tho individual concerned. Deprived of the opportunity of rational amusement by being kept night after night at work, is it to bo wondered at that some seek enjoyment in the artificial excitement ever ready at hand, and that some fall a victim. But no one ever heard of a love for football or other similar amusement leading men into vicious habits. At rare intervals wo hear of a fatal accident, but the percentage after all is very small indeed, and bears no proportion oven to the physical results of overwork. It also follows, if the Auckland branch of the Bank of Now Zealand objects to football, it should prohibit cricket, boating, Ac. How then are their employees, when they have any leisure time, to pass it? Sewing the extreme solicitude evinced by the Bank lesf its curled darlings should run any risk of injury, it might bo as well to select such games as will prevent the possibility of this being the case. It might bo suggested that the Auckland Bank employees should form clubs for the cultivation of the scientific but harmless game of marbles, and the equally harmless if not so scientific pursuit of kiss-in-the-ring. Wo do not know whether it is the intention of the other branches of the Bank in the colony to follow the example set by their northern friends. It is to bo hoped not, and that ere long the Auckland manager will see fit to withdraw an order which seems to us to place the institution he represents, as well as tho employees, in a somewhat invidious position.