CRICKET.

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

CRICKET.

GOOD SPORT. I have always says the writer of Passing Notes in the* Otago Daily Times, the’ religious note in Newbolt’s excellent verses on school cricket —the school being Clifton College: There’s a breathless hush in the Close to-night— Ten to make and the match to win— A bumping pitch and a blinding light, An hour to play and the last man in. And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat, Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame, But his captain’s hand on his'shoulder smote—- “ Play uft! play up! and play the game!’’ I don’t quote the rest, though it would be worth the space. The whole piece, in large type, should be posted up in the pavilion op club-house of every recreation ground. A religious spirit in sport is no bad thing; but it would be an exceedingly bad thing if sport were the only religion left us. The essence of sport is, of course, competition—competition for the sake of competition and for the pleasure of it. Every school ground is a playground, and every schoolboy game is competitive. No striving for the mastery—where would be the fun? Even the children who hopscotch on the pavements hop competitively. Yet in commerce and industry, we are told, the same competitism is an evil thing—one of the evils of “capitalism,” says the Socialist. As a matter of fact ..it is competition in commerce and industry that is the consumer’s chief friend, cutting the claws of the monopolist and profiteer. Maundering still in the wake of Karl Marx the Socialist denounces along with competition “buying in the cheapest market and selling in the dearest.” Does Air. Holland buy or self anywhere else? Is there any lurking denizen of the Labour corner who buys in the dearest market and sells in the cheapest? Apparently we are to picture the Socialist housewife saying at the grocer’s, “Butter one and eleven, isn’t it Give me a pound for two shillings!” “Can’t go higher than one and nine,” says the butterman; “take it or leave it!”- So in the. world of sport—the same principles. “Leg before, I think,” says the batsman who has taken the ball on his pad. “Don’t mention it,” says the'bowler, as with a straight one he scatters his sticks. “Clean howled,” exclaims the batsman, gathering his bat under his arm. “I apologise,” says the bowler, while umpire and wicket-keeper are readjusting the bails; “I’ll give you an extra”: and with that sends down a wide which goes to the boundary. The ideas and ideals of Socialism are far-reaehing.