PLAINS SCHOOL SPORTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5393, 27 February 1929, Page 4

PLAINS SCHOOL SPORTS.

VERY SATISFACTORY ENTRIES.

ARRANGEMENTS ADVANCED.

The entries received for the Hauraki Plains primary schools’ sports meeting which will.be heid at Ngarea on Fi i a ay, March 8, 1929, have been so numerous that up to three heats will have; to be run for most events. Entries were received from every school in the county, with the exception of Waitakaruru, which has not taken any part ip the arrangements, and has not yet given any reason. In all 53 races will be necessary to decide the 22 events, and this will mean mat the arrangements will, have to proceed like clock-work. The committee has accordingly made very comprehensive arrangements and will require every competitor to be ready at the starting post at the times stated in the official programme. With such numerous events the; programme will have to star.t sharp at 11 a.m., and races will have to be started every five minutes. Under these circumstances no eventt c.ap be delayed, aiiaiting dilatory competitors fier with 372 children s;tar,ting in boats and finals, c.onfusion will result otf school team managers are pot able to take their school representatives to the starting post at the times stated in the programme. SOME MISAPPREHENSIONS. Some peculiar misapprehepsions nre curent. in certain parts of the Hauraki Plains concetrning these sports, and possibly on account of the rivalry between the various districts the allegations are being given a certain amount of credulenee. in the main, the matters in question are covered by the regulations, which were drawn up at coutfeirences of representatives of most of the school committees in the country. All schools were invited to seyrd t.wo delegates on each occasion,,, and at least six schools were represented at each meeting, Despite this, the allegation is being made that the control is held in Ngatea; Another allegation is that high school pupils have been: nominated f° r primary school events. This is quite in order, and quite fair, for the regulations provide that all competitors must have Ireen on the roll of the primary sclyool for, which they are nominated .‘for the whole of the l&s.t three months of the year 1928. The regulations also point out that the two events for high school pupils ard special /events, for special prizes, (tonatwil for the purpose, and that no cham/.,ionship points are awarded for these; races. Owing to the large nutmber of entri/as received the committee, which hds already given a great deal of time a'nal thought to the work, realises that ’it; will have as much as it esn manage to get the sports run off smoothly, and the co-operation of parentis is expected ratlier, than criticism founded On lack of. knowledge through failure to make inquiries from represtentaHves of schools or head teac,her ( s;