WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. HONOURS EASY. (Special to “Guardian”.)

WELLINGTON, September 3.

A good doal of the amour propro of Football Wellington lias been restored by the success of tbo New Zealand team in its fourth test against tbo South' African players at Capetown on Saturday. There has been grumbling all along against the omission of Nicholls from tbo previous tests, and now that bo has been associated with the greatest of the New Zealanders’ successes the critics are pluming themselves upon the soundness ot their judgment. Thore is a story abroad to the effect that it was at bis own urgent request that Nicholls was omitted from the previous test teams and that it was only on account of the numorous casualties among tho Now Zealanders that he accepted the call upon him for the concluding game. How he bore himself on the field on Saturday the newspapers this morning tell. Considering all tho circumstances—ot which the continued progress made by the South Africans is not the least the New Zealanders as a whole have acquitted themselves creditably and well deserve the welcome that is awaiting them here. THIS NEWSPAPER’S PART. There is a good deal of sympathy hero with the protest made by the Hawk’es Bay Rugby Union against the undue amount of personal and generalcriticism of the New Zealand footballers now in South Africa that lias found its way into print. The worst outbreak oif, this kind was a vicious attack upon The captain of the team, which went the round of most of the metro- 1 politan newspapers, apparently without raising a word of protest from any ol them. The lesser offences of the kind were telegraphed reports from South Africa giving particulars of the failuie of this player or that and often conveying the impression that the New Zealanders were no match for even the South African country teams. It was desirable of course that accuiate leports of the play should lie supplied lor New Zealand consumption ; but surely there was no advantage in pillorying a player who fumbled a pass or missed a shot at goal. It is not true of football that the looker-on sees most of the game, and oven the newspaper repoi tei lias his limitations.

INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE. The discussion of the report of the National Industrial Conference in the House of Representatives on Friday afternoon was a somewhat listless formality. Labour had a good deal to say on the subject, but no Minister offered any comment and when the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. there was no mention of. the discussion being resumed. The “ Evening Post,” however, does not despair of some good coming out of the conference between the parties. “In the circumstances,” it says editorially, “members showed good judgment in refraining from any comment which might be provocative. Labour members particularly are entitled to credit for the restraint exeicised.- They did not question the sincerity of the Government effort to bring about an understanding, and their speeches generally disclosed a willingness to support the Prime Minister in his attempt to raise this great, national problem above tho plane of party politics.” Mr Parry, the Labour member for Auckland Central, went to the length'of suggesting that too much should not lie made of industrial problems during the impending election campaign in order that they might be amicably settled at the following confore nee.

AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY. The weather having prevented Mr Kingston! Smith from completing his trip across the Tasman Sea at the Wigrnm Airdrome yesterday there is no immediate need to discuss the views of tlie reverend Mayor ol Christchurch in regard to tlie sanctity of the Sabbath Day. It limy be as well, however, to let Mi- Archer know that there are quite a number of good people in Wellington who share bis views in regard to the seemly observance of tlie first clay of the week. But they realise—as Mr Archer himself appears to have done when lie said it the flyers’ arrival on Sunday was an absolute necessity lie would very likely have fallen into line—that it was of the first consequence that Ml* Smith and bis companions should have the advantage of the moon that would light them through Satin cay night and facilitate t Heir re ,omi journey. Surely Mr Archer and ■ clerical friends would not have nad M- Smith and bis companions h.ige'y the perils of their iia.:a-iioos-jevrney in order that the S.ib.iatb '••node for man” still should conic m f. tK edicts of the Churches.