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Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1924, Page 2

Tin: Alinistei of Railways lias sjii-nl upwards of two years .studying the railway system of the Dominion. Within that period lie went up and down the country seeing the pesiti-m everywhere for himself. The result is a proposal lo carry out a large improvement .scheme involving an expenditure of eight millions to lie spread over eight years. The alterations to he made are all considered important in that thoy v. ill add to the ’amino; jmwer of tK* (liHWfiit limvi in\<>l v<m! . In <uh»*r words, tin* «*\|u*iulitiuv is to lio iv|>m(iiiet in*. Tlh'iv is to !><• ;i \ c\rv < xl me in tin* North Island. For this Is! uni the most important work proposed is (he duplication of the Lyttelton tunnel. Strange- to say the Minister decided this matter off his own bat, for his principal oliicers did not consider the work necessary, asserting that the traffic over tl-c- lino is normal and not showing signs of increase. There has, however. boon strong political pressure for ibis work, and at least three Canterbury members hold the (ioveriiinent in ofl'n-c by their votes, namely .Messrs Isitt. Witty and Holleston. In the < ireiiiiistam t-s it is not surprising if the Minister is discreet about the position, and does not oflend Canterbury by turning the railway aspirations of tho province down. So the game of politics proceeds. It will he for the Canterbury I’.regress League lo marshall the parliamentary forces of the province again and see that the work is poshed on while the Government is in the humour and the going is good. Subsequently the conditions may not he so favouialde, and as the bird is in the hand now, the gift should he made the mest of. All the same there is not any doubt in our mind that politics or net, the Minister came to the right decision in the matter of the Lyttelton Tunnel duplication, and the sooner the work is accomplished the better it will he all round.

()\ Saturday football votaries had the opportunity of watching an exposition of League football on Cass Square. Not to put too line a point upon it. the game was a disappointing one. Kxpeetations had been aroused in anticipation and the fact that these "ere not realised added to the disappointment which was felt in regard to the exhibition as a whole. Tn this little eominunitv Rugby has been in existence since the mid-eighties and has boon popular always. It is the code, too, which lias made New Zealand famous over the last, score of years, as

witness the prowess of the All Blacks over the succeeding years. A game which tan retain popular favor so long and still draw its thousands when first class teams are on He field, is not to lie cast aside lightly. League football retains all the essentials of Kughy. The difference in the two codes is but slight. To point of fact a Rugby seven-n-sido tournament comes closest to the 1 eaguc code of play with its thirteen-a-side. and the more lucky number certainly gains by the comparison. In Rugby, with well matched teams in form there are the elements for a first class game. .League probably makes more demands on individual condition, though Rugbyites can he placed to a standstill when the hackdivisions are operating freely and at nil equally. The rivalry of the two codes,

however, should not he without its advantage to hr.tli games. It should assist to remove the ilofeets of both—for each Juts shortcomings. But in each instance* it is a game*, and the play is the* thing. II avo had to make our choice over again we would stick to Hugbv. It is the more robust game. There are great openings for initiative as leading up to letter team work, and that consummation "ill give spectators all the thrills they want, and the* players get- the* full benefit of tin* joys of the game.