PLAYING THE GAME

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1928, Page 5

PLAYING THE GAME

BE A SPORT ! How often do we hear the above expressions in daily life. What is playing the game and being a sport ? The terms are synonomous. In youthful days the in junction is dinned into the ear of every scholar. Then, out in the world, one is trained to take the ups and downs of life as a sport—a good fellow, clean and vigorous, ready to meet trouble with a smile, willing to help someone over a style of difficulty—playing the game of life in the same spirit as the games at school were played. Tom Seddon, United candidate for Parliament, supported by Sir ■Joseph Ward, the brilliant statesman, and endorsed by lit. lion, •f. G. Coates, the energetic Prime Minister, has been a good sport, is a good sport, and plays flic game of politics as he played on school ground or the fields of Flanders.

Actually, Tom Seddon had a career on the field of sport competing with his peers and comrades of his younger days. He

was the Athletic Champion of Wellington College. He won the Panfurly Cup—a coveted prize and honor. For five years he represented Victoria College in the inter-’Varsity tournaments. He was in the First Fifteen of the ltugby team of Wellington College for three years. He played in representative Rugby for Old Hoys of Victoria College. Entering a political career lie just missed being a Pliodes Scholar. Yet despite his political duties from 1900 onwards he graduated as L.L.H. at Victoria College in 1915. Tie was sporty fo stick it out to victory in the midst of the duties of serving his constituency.

Then came the bolt from the blue-—-the Great War and the Call of the Empire. Tom Seddon in flic same sporty spirit responded and answered that call. He was sport enough to join the New Zealand Expeditionary Force as a private as soon as he could arrange to do so. He served in the ranks —playing the game under the rigorous rules of war. lie served in Canterbury Pegiment (which embraced Westland) from 1915 to 1919. He left New Zealand a lieutenant and gained his captaincy in Franco in 1918, distinguished himself on, the field of battle. He played the game with the boys, and many hundreds were under him. He was a sport. He shared their joys and dangers alike and went into the thick of (lie fray with them. He was the true sport, typical of New Zealand, bent on playing the game.

In 1918 lie had the honour of being selected from the New Zealand Division in France to proceed to the United States to lecture on a propaganda mission to stimulate recruiting in America—and he had a great reception wherever he went. In that task, too, he was a sport aud played the game.

Tom Seddou takes an interest in sport of all kinds, and is patron of all kinds of outdoor recreation. A clean and healthy life has enabled him to participate in all the joys and pleasures to be got out of games, and he is going through life as he began —a good sportsman playing the game.

Politics have, been likened to a game. Tom Seddon knows the rules of that game also and he plays it as a true sportsman. His fellow-members regard him with favour and acknowledge his prowess and value Ins friendship accordingly. He is a popular sport.

Wednesday will be Polling Pay. Electors who are Sports and all Sports who are Electors will be drawn to Tom Seddon — pood sport that he is—and playing the game will vote for Tom in the knowledge that lie will play them fair: that he will stick to the rules of the game, and in the right sporting spirit work for the progress of Westland and its permanent prosperity as no other candidate could. VOTE FOE TOM SEDDON