SOCCER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 July 1924, Page 9

SOCCER.

(By Kick-off.) Arrangements are well in hand for the forthcoming match with the Chinese University students, and already applications have been made for tickets to the stands. (An idea, by the way, which might be acceptable to the T.F.A. executive). Doubts have been expressed by the man in the street of Hawera's capability to stage an international game, and it has been openly stated that there are better grounds further north, but in the writer’s opinion Hawera is the most centrally situated ground in Taranaki and posessses more covered in seating accommodation than a.nv other sports ground in the province. > Gisborne people are making great preparations for their game, and intend having a gala day to mark the occasion. Surely Hawera will celebrate in the same way. Genial George Edwards met 'with a painful accident at Kaponga last week. It- appears that Edwards and Freakley both went to kick the ball at the same time, and Edwards caught the full force of Freakley’s kick iust above the ankle. The break was heard all over the ground. The game was immediately stopped and the leg was set by Mr. Hislon until medical assistance could be obtained, and it is pleasing to state- that the sufferer is progressing favourably. * Manaia will miss their skipper for his personality as well as his services at full back, in which position he was,' recognised as one of the best in Taranaki. We all wish him a speedy recovery. j V. Pooch, the Hawera skipper, has recovered from his indisposition, and led his team against Manaia last Saturday, when the points were divided, each side scoring one goal. . To play the one back game a player needs to thoroughly understand his partner’s play; also, lie needs to be pretty fast himself, as a speedy forward with a thorough knowledge of the game will heat the defence more- often than he will be stopped, and providing he is behind the hall when it is last played by an opponent he is riot offside, and has only to kick past the back and race for the ball and the goalkeeper will have to handle. Playing four halves and one back does not , always strengthen a defence, although it will often put the opponents’ attack right off their game. To the follower of the Rugby code the offside yule in Association football must be hard to understand. To make it” easier to follow one should remember that a player cannot be offside in his own half of the field; neither can he be offside from a throw in or a corner kick. But apart from these exceptions he must have at least three players of the opposing side between biin and the goal, i.e. two backs and a goalkeeper, when he receives the ball from one of his own side, but if an opposing back miskicks the ball and it goes to an attacking forward then all are on side, providing he does not pass, it to his partner, who would be offside the moment he received the ball were there not three defenders between him and the goal-line. The hardest position to fill in any soccer team is centre half. A centre half has a. roaming commission. He has to. strengthen the attack as well as assist the defence; -see that his wings are kept well supplied with those neat passes, as well a.s to break up any combination of the attacking forwards; in fact, his place is where the ball is, and to fill that position a player needs good judgment, and must he able to anticipate just about where the ball will travel.

trade ambassadors/ CHINESE FOOTBALL TEAM. In the ( course of an interview by a representative of the Otago Daily Times, Mr. H. Millard, who organised and managed the tour of the Chinese Association Football Team in Australia last year, gave some interesting particulars in regard to the interest which the Oriental nations are now taking in Western sports and pastimes, and expressed the view that the meeting between the Eastern nations and the countries under the British flag would be the means of fostering trade between those countries. In addition to the manner in which the Chinese have adopted Western customs, the most outstanding feature ob_ served by Mr. Millard during his sojourn in China was the fact, for the first time in history, that Japanese and Chinese women were permitted to appear in public in the snorting arena. At the Olympic games held at Osaka, in Japan. Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino women played in international competitions, comprising lawn tennis, basket ball, volley ball, and swimming, i It was a remarkable sight, said Mr. I Millard, and a fine illustration of the I whole-hearted manner in which the Western customs were creeping into the Oriental life, to see the kimona miss of Japan the masculine attired miss of China, and the Elizabethan attired miss of the Philippine Islands appearing attired in the regulation Western swimming, tennis, etc., costumes. The Eastern Athletic Association had direct representation on the World’s Oyympic . Committee. From the three countries it appeared that the Filipino is contenting himself with specialising in sprint events. The Japanese excel exclusively in stamina. The Chinese, with wonderful natural stamina, acquitted himself creditably, and was im. proving in speed with remarkablerapidity. In one instance, at a college carnival, Mr. Millard saw one boy win in one day 100 yards flat, 22fl yards, 440 vards, 980 yards, and the 220 yards hurdles. These carnivals, said Mr. Millard, were held periodically throughout the year, at which beautiful cups and prizes were presented, and were held in great honour by the various

universities. 'Western athletics were included in the curriculum of the universities and colleges, every facilitv being given for the improving of the' race athletically. Mr. Millard stated that the Soccer players who are coming to New Zealand had more than the actual winning or losing of a sports championship with New Zealand at stake. They were the ambassadors from China, the oldest country in tjie world, to New Zealand, one of the youngest The interchange of essential products in each country would be brought before the notice of the people of New Zealand. The fact of so many people in New Zealand actually witnessing these representatives. who were the modern youth of China, in the field .of play, pitted against our best representatives, in spite of that the Chinese had only adopted the game in the last 13 years, would prove coiiclusivelv that the colonials had a false impression of the Chinese as a race. The visit of the Chinese team would do much to encourage and foster trade and social relations between the two countries. China was the richest market in the world for our products—wool, frozen meat, dairy products, and fish —while China had in turn Essential commodities to sell to us in the matter of tea, silk, cotton, tobacco, oil and nuts, not to mention minor commodities for which there was a big demand. While in China Mr. Millard paid particular attention to the trade relations between China and America, and ,wa s particularly impressed with the enthusiastic way in which America was cultivating the trade of China and the interchange of goods between both countries. ' Comparing the figures between these two countries over a period of eight years against the figures between China and New Zealand over the same period, brought vividly before him the fact that it would be well and in the best interests of this country if our legislators would turn their eyes eastwards. It would be a wise move for the Government to despatch a trade corfimissioner to China for the purpose of increasing trade and submitting a report after six months. They would find that immediate returns would be the result, and, further, that if the class of boat trading between China and America was run between China, Australia, and New Zealand, we would be brought within 13 days’ steam of ports .of China. With the increasing shipping facilities, trade figures and tourist traffic would also increase. '

America had also recognised the wisdom of cultivating China from the educational standpoint, said Mr. Millard. As a result of money returnable, to China by America from the Boxer Indemnity Fund, America had established . the Hung Hwa College outside of Peking', which was free to Chinese students, who graduated from that college at the rate of 100 every year and were eligible for three years’ continuous study in American universities. On their return from America the students entered into civil life very deeply steeped"in American trade and social ideals. Many also prominently took up political life on their return, and as America had already graduated 3000 from her own universities, qualified in the American commerce course, and imbued with American ideals, it was naturalvto assume that American interests would become first and foremost in their minds. As the majority of these people on their return entered into political life, and as America had made facilities for more to enter into. her universities, it was certain class of man would be the future ruler of China. . Mr. Millard considers that it is altogether wrong and foreign to progress for New Zealand to ostracise the better class of Chinese, and stated that equal facilities should be given for these men to study in our own universities,' as Australia and New Zealand were more favourably situated geographically to China, and for the most part the Chinese were: more favourable to the British and British rule. It was this cultivation of the educational aspect of China by America which was ensuring for her. the trade returns which she now enjoyed. The question resolved itself into the embargo oh the entry of the Chinese into this country. As facilities had been giveh these players from China for easy entry, the .conduct and gentlemanly record of these men would tend to effect a change in the minds of New Zealanders towards the Chinese as a race.