CROQUET.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1007, 15 February 1912, Page 3

CROQUET.

In a recent issue under this heading, we published the following paragraph: “There are sufficient players to compete in a a doubles tournament and it is hoped that the other court will be put down for next season. Perhaps the ladies could assist the club by a special effort in order to get the court put into order.” At the courts yesterday the secretary read the paragraph, which, he said had given offence to a number of ladies, and he wished to disclaim having written it, and added that information concerning club matters should come from the “ fountain head.” We desire to take all responsibility for the insertion of this as well as every other paragraph, which appears in this paper. We can assure the “number of ladies offended” that the secretary is as innocent of that wretched paragraph as a new born babe, and we take the outpouring of their indignation, imaginary or otherwise, upon our own miserable head. To those offended we tender our sincere regret, for in penning the paragraph offence was farthest from our thoughts. What was in our mind at the time was that if the other croquet lawn were put in order, it would provide games for those who now have to wait, and possibly the ladies would assist the club to this end by a special effort, and at some future date. We momentarily overlooked the fact that the ladies are at present working like Britons in a special effort to assist the club’s finances and, no doubt, this paragraph inferred that a further burden would be put upon their shoulders. Perhaps we should have suggested a men’s working bee. Anyhow, we have no desire to work the willing horse to death, and if the indefatigable secretary had unburdened the trouble to the editorial “fountain bead,” we should have set the matter right in no time instead of which we have heard the rumbling of an earthquake and, 10, a mouse has been brought forth !