PATRIOTIC SPORTS RALLY

Southland Times, Issue 24235, 19 September 1940, Page 8

PATRIOTIC SPORTS RALLY

Support By Clubs

PROCEEDS TO LONDON VICTIMS

The proceeds of the national fitness [ and patriotic sports rally which is to be held in Invercargill at Rugby Park on September 28 will be devoted to the fund for the relief of distress caused by air raids on London. This decision was made at a meeting of the committee controlling the rally last night. There was a large attendance of delegates from sports bodies. The area recreational officer (Mr L. W. Woods), presided in the absence of the chairman (Mr W. Grieve). The suggestion that the money raised be forwarded to London was made by Mr Grieve in a letter to the committee. Mr Woods said that he had been assured by the chairman of the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council (Mr J. R. Martin) that the council would agree to the proceeds being handed over through the provincial Patriotic Fund to the London fund.

Delegates from sports bodies and schools reported on the number of teams that would be entered and a large measure of support was promised. It was decided to open the rally with the primary schools’ sports at 1.30 o’clock and to start the parade at 2.15 o’clock.

Senior military officers had offered their services in the supervision of the march past, said Mr J. S. Filippini. Some sports clubs, said Mr D. K. Torrance, were holding their official openings on the date of the rally. He thought that more publicity could be given to an appeal to all clubs to keep the day free.

KEEPING DAY FREE The Department of Internal Affairs would be very disappointed if any clubs held their ordinary sports on the day of the rally, said the chairman. Several representatives present, he said, had indicated that their teams would be taking part in the sports, but not in the march past. He hoped that these representatives would ask their organizations to reconsider their decision. The march past and salute would form an impressive ceremony and he would not like to see it done half-heartedly. The rally would have special significance in view of the imminence of the large-scale training scheme for home defence which would be conducted on I a scale never before seen in New ZeaI land.

A suggestion that the Railways’ Department be approached with a view to having trains leaving Invercargill in the afternoon delayed for the convenience of patrons of the rally was made by Mr M. W. Grantham. He said he thought that if a request were made that the trains leave between 5.55 and 6.10 o’clock, it might be granted. The organization of train and bus services was left in the hands of the programme committee, ■ a suggestion being put forward that an effort be made to have buses delayed as well as trains. It was decided to accept the offer of Station 4YZ to broadcast the opening, the march past and some of the events during the afternoon.

The chairman said that he had extended an invitation to the Commander of the Home Guard (Major-General R. Young) to attend. He had not yet received a reply.