Correspondence

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 29 January 1915, Page 3

Correspondence

TO THE EDITOR.

WHILEit is our endeavour to give correspondents every facility for tbe free expression of their opinion, it should be borne in mind that the views expressed do not, necessarily, reflect the opinions of the Editor.

SIK, —I was very interested in the letter signed by Mr S. Dixon, which appeared in last week’s issue, and also very glad to hear that the Huntly Athletic Society is not dead, bi t was only sleeping. Weil, there’s nothing like treading on a sleeping dog’s tail if you want to hear him yelp.

Mr Dixon has been at considerable pains to impress upon us the fact that the Huntly Athletic Society did really ‘moot’ the proposal and that “ alone they did it,” and further that not one person associated with any outside club took the least interest,in the movement. Now in fairness to those who belong to such clubs, I ask Mr Dixon the question—Was any society or club ever invited to send representatives to discuss the matter with the Athletic Society ? I think not and therefore it is hardly likely that any person would air his views before being asked. I am very pleased to hear that a, meeting is to be called shortly, arid I hop) it will be shortly, too, and I’ll turn up and give the benefit of my paternal advice. There are quite a number of other things in Mr Dixon’s letter which I might reply to, but I do not wish to, for I believe that the Athletic Society really deserves credit for getting the scheme as far advanced as it has. Societies which take up public questions are only human and a little encouragement and appreciation from the outside public goes a 1 >ng way towards keeping things moving, and in the absence of any such appreciation the best cf men are prone to let things “ rip. ” Now, instead of politely blackguarding all and sundry over the matter, let all those who really waitt to see the scheme consummated, stir themselves up a bit and help push matters along.

I would therefore quite seriously suggest to the Athletic Society that a good way to get an expression of public opinion is to circularise every sports’ society and every individual in the town likely to be of any assistance, asking point blank whether they are in favour of the scheme and if so whether they will turn out in force and hack up a proper deputation to the Town Board asking that body to take the matter up quite seriously and in right good earnest. I think if this were done there would be no doubt whatever about the answer and the Board would, feeling solid support behind it, rapidly push matters to a successful issue. I hope my suggestion will be taken seriously and acted upon promptly, for I, for one, am very anxious to soe the township advance, and this is a step in the right direction. Yours etc., “OLD SPORT”

TO THE EDIfOK.

SIR, —-In order to prove that the revival of enthusiasm in matters pertaining to sport which has recently manifested itself in these columns is not restricted to the few who have thus expressed their views, we have taken up the pen and hope that by so doing, we shall add a little support to what we regard as a move in the right direction. That our people are very, much behind the times in anything connected with sport is obvious to us all: We know it and are surely of it. ( We do not require pessimistic wailings to bring this fact home to us. Rather than bemoan the things we might have had but haven’t, let us take the present occasion

as a starting point for a cheerful and spirited progressive movement which we hope will. eventually place us at at least on ! an equal footing with other; small communities in the matter j of healthy recreative facilities. ! We trust then that the Huntly I Sports CoiMnittee which, ai- j though afforded less support than | it has deserved, has done excel- ] lent work since its inaugura- j tion, will, from the present, be j hailed as a Reforming Angel, the wheels of whose chariot will be urged along by the stout shoulders of a united com- , munity. As Rome was not built in a day we cannot fulfil all our numerous wants.at .once, ' but by taking them one at a time we might accomplish a 1 great deal in tbe space of three years. Let us then, to begin ' with, occupy our minds with j the provision of something re- 1 pectable in the shape of a Re- 1 creation Ground, the Sports ' Committee’s proposals for which 1 seem worthy of approval. Hav- 1 ing accomplished this, we surely ‘ could not do better than turn our ‘ minds to the erection of the long wanted swimming sheds, whilst ( even a Bowling Green might, in response to the magic touch of J enthusiastic industry, come into J existence before the present generation of grey hairs has be- J come much more posted. But to f give effect to these schemes we must have those who will work ; * pessimistic grumblers must be brushed aside and our efforts be ? characterised by a spirit of un- J selfish co operation. The_proper j plan and time to make a start is, ( as a correspondent pointed out at the meeting of the Sports 1 Committee to be held at an early s date. Let those who are genuinely interested show up on 1 that occasion assured in their p minds that the old proverb, will prove its ttuth —“Begin well if * you would end well.” Thanking you, Sir, for a little * of your precious space, we are, Jj Yours, etc., TWEEDLEDUM AND c TWEEDLEDEE. a