SPORT CALLS 95,000.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 47, 17 June 1914, Page 3

SPORT CALLS 95,000.

RACING, RUCSY AND FI CRT. ■Sport was king on Saturday (Juno 6) states the Sydney Daily Telegraph) and his subjects, numbering 87,000, went unashamed to pay him homage. Twenty-one thousand, or more—the estimate is reckoned a conservative one—went to the racecourse to seek wealth and pleasure. Over 60.000 were at the Sydney Cricket Ground, looking on at the international profession Rugby match. And then, in the evening, the Stadium claimed 15,000. Union, Rugby, baseball, golf, lacrosse, British Association, Australian football, lawn tenuis, and other sport claimed the attention of votaries and spectators. It. would be but reasonable to credit them with 8000 spectators altogether, so that it might be said without exaggeration that 96,000 of the people of Sydney were either engaged in or looking on at sports at the week-end. Perhaps, when setting forth this statement, it is as well to add the words of Mr H. E. Pratten, president of the Chamber of Commerce, used in a recent speech regarding sport and work, it may save misundersiamliug. “It has been said of ns.” he declared, “that we make a play of work and a work of play. Well, it is a good thing that we make a play ol work, for wo appear to do very well st that, producing as wo do more head of the population than any other people. And as for the other—well, we are not ashamed of being a sporting people. We are at least entitled to our recreation. The man who can play well can also work well, and fight well.”