Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8819, 22 May 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

THE tedium of the Navigation Conference was not unrelieved by some lighter incidents, one of which is related by the correspondent of an Australian paper. A resolution was proposed by Mr Bclchex' to prex cut the employment of Lascars on vessels trading with Australasia, and the conditions regulating their employment were explained by a representative of the Indian Office, who said that, speaking broadly, they could not bo retained beyond the latitude of 38 degrees north. Ho added that temperature also counted in fixing the' zone of employment, and an examination of the isothermal lines showed that the British Isles could be included although a portion of them was beyond 38 degrees north. The delegate supposed that all present understood that isotliormals wore lines drawn on the map through all places whore the average temperature was the same. He however, reckoned w ithout Sir William Lyno, for when the colonial visitors proceeded to discuss what ports would he excluded hy the 38 degrees south, it was found that Hobart, though further south than this -would ho saved from exclusion hy the isothermal line. Hero it was that Sir William Lyne. who knew nothing of isothermals broke in with “What! Ice? Whore there is ice there should he no Lascars. ” The faces of his comrades lit up ‘like a flash and they were ready to explode. The imperturbable gravity of Mr Lloyd George and the Home delegates however restrained them, and the proprieties were respected. Such a mistake may cause a smile, hut it lias also a more serious side. The total lack of edm cation shown by ignorance of the meaui»g of common English words should disqualify a man from posing as an instructor of others on political mattws. If wo forbid a man to take charge of an engine unless he lias a certificate cf competency wo should also prevent the management of our Empire being entrusted to men who have not made themselves fully acquainted with the business they undertake hy means of a careful study of wluit has been attempted in the past. The statesman who has no knowledge of history and political economy is certain to go far astray, oven though ho is blessed with lungs of leather and a self-confidence as of brass.

THE proposal to send Home a professional football team to play against the clubs of the northern Union has aroused fresh interest in the old question of amateur and professional sport. There will always bo persons who are desirous of introducing the element of gain into what should be purely a matter of recreation and exercise and the yearning for records works strongly in their favour. It is obvious that men who can devote their whole energies to training will, as a rule, prove victorious over rivals who treat running or football or cricket as merely a relaxation for their spare hours. We can sympathise with the desire to produce the very host results in sport, but when, as in many cases, professionalism kills out the amateur it is best to be content with slower times or loss skilful players. The tendency to-day is to'the formation of a special class, who make a business of sport and exhibit their prowess to applauding crowds wiio contribute large sums at the gate for the privilege of viewing the spectacle. The progress of professionalism is, moreover, coincident witli an increase of hotting and of sundry shady proceeding:; which have made some forms of sport a by word for dishonesty and swindling. Wo fool assured that all who desire to see clean and healthy sport will do well to set their faces sternly against every encroachment of the professional. The days arc gone when, as in the Olympian games in Greece, men ran or wrestled for a crown of olive or laurel leaves as the only prize; but wo can do something to check the desire to make money the all powerful element in what should be mere friendly rivalry. As to the proposed team for England, those who joiu it will do so with a full knowledge that they will thereby put an end to their football in Hew Zealand, but no doubt many of them will regard this as a light deprivation iu view of the money they hope to make from the tour.