WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

WHITE AND BROWN. FOOTBALLERS ABROAD. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, March 1. 1 1 is not merely the followers of the game here, as players or spectators, that, are approving of the action ot the New Zealand Rugby League Council in disqualifying for life the recalcitrant members ot the League team that recently toured England. The whole community is applauding the Council for doing everything that lay ill its power to dissociate the Dominion from an exhibition of deplorable behaviour, which every right-minded man alid women, hoy and girl in the country regret and resent. Football has done much to strengthen the bonds of kinship between the Mother Country and ti.e Dominion. It has advertised New Zealand as no effort of the Tourist Department or the High Commissioner's office could have done, and until this most unhappy violation of all the unwritten rules of the game by a section of the League team its influence in both countries has been for nothing hut good. The presence of the Maori team in the Motherland at the same time as the League may be reverently regai ■ded as a fortunate dispensation of providence. The Native players by their discipline, their sportsmanship and tlieir hearing on and off the field did much to maintain the respect for the New Zealand game at a time when its reputation might have been gravely imperilled. The brown New Zealanders again have saved the whites. A NATIONAL QUESTION. Under this heading the " Post ” returned last evening to a discussion ot the blitter position, rounding off a statement of facts with an appeal to the Prime Minister for his intervention. " This matters appears to us,’’ it says, "as one of national importance. The air is full of the widely divergent views of the Dairy Board and .its critics, and it needs clearing at once. That being so. the Prime Minister should lose no time in stating his views on the butter situation from the broad national standpoint. Wc admit that he is exceedingly busy, and must lie so, in picking tip the threads of business dropped during his absence and in dealing with matters that have arisen during his visit to England ; also with the Royal visit. Tint a statement- on this matter from him is really a matter of urgency. Besides, he is better able than anyone else to make it, for he can view it from the national standpoint informed with facts obtain- 1 s ed on the spot, information that would not be available to the general public. Some expression of his view, and that as soon as possible, would do much to clear the air and allay anxiety as to the future of the butter market.” M.r Coates so far has made no response to this urging, but it is expected he will unburden his mind in the course of a day or two. A WEALTHY PRINCIPAL.” During the bearing of a betting casein the local Magistrate’s Court yesterday it was stated by the Chief Detective, who was lOiultictiiig the prosecution, that the two defendants were "acting for a wealthy principal.” One of the defendants described himself as

a canvasser—no doubt a very appropriate title—and admitted that lit- was carrying on business as a bookmaker and that on the very day of his arrest he had received £33 17s fid in cash from his various clients, lie pleaded that he had taken only small wagers 'and that he was out of pocket by the business, a statement which moved the magistrate to a broad smile. The other defendant represented himself as a bootmaker, hut pleaded guilty to keeping a common gambling house, and did pot pretend that the .Cl" 20 found in his shop was derived from his soling and heeling business. The men were each lined £SO, and might consider themselves let off lightly; but the point of inteiest to the public is the identity of the "wealthy principal ” mentioned I»y the Chief Detective. Habitual bettors, know this gentleman, several of him indeed, better than they know the front face of the totalisator; hut this 1 is the first time he, or them, have been so confidently mentioned before a magistrate. This incident in the ordinary course should enlarge their acquaintance among those in authority. THE ROYAL VISIT. ' I

Wellington’s preparations for the rereption and entertainment of the Royal visitors are now being given their finishing touches. The city already is festooned with flags and streamers, strangely decorated structures are appearing in the streets, the shopkeepers are dressing their windows in keeping with the occasion, the civic authorities are' trembling in their shoes, society is dressing itself in its best and the people at large are'pro-j paring to give the Duke and the Duchess a very hearty Now Zealand i welcome. Wellington despairs of making quite so good a display ns Auckland did, the photographs of the proceedings in the Queen City having somewhat dismayed the Capital, but all that colour and noise and enthusiasm can do will lie accomplished. The children’s displays will he upon a rather smaller scale than those in the North, for the simple reason that many of the big schools lie beyond the reach of the promoters of this mark of the city’s loyalty. However, the boys and girls are not to he forgotten and most of them, having read the newspaper I assiduously, already are in love with the Duchess and ardent admirers of the Duke’s clothes and figure. *