“Taranaki Central Press” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1937. AN UNCHIVALROUS RULE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 454, 23 June 1937, Page 4

“Taranaki Central Press” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1937. AN UNCHIVALROUS RULE.

The lesson of the defeat of the South African Rugby team by New South Wales is not the elementary lesson that very heavy men have little mobility on a sodden ground; it is the lesson that thirteen men cannot hope to beat fifteen men. The Springboks were weakened by the retirement of two men owing to injuries, and the stupid international rule which prevents replacements for injuries imposed a heavy 1 handicap on them throughout the match.

New Zealand has always permitted replacements at any stage of the game, for this policy tends to make the sport cleaner by eliminating a strong incentive to dirty play. As it is debarred from following this chivalrous rule in international matches, it might take the sporting alternative of dropping a man for every opponent who goes off injured. It would be better still to persuade the South Africans to agree to replacements in the interests of cleaner sport. MARAUDING DOGS The increasing prevalence of sheep worrying is becoming a vexing problem, and one that might well cause all dog owners a certain amount of uneasiness. The cases at Midhirst during the past few days bring the menace nearer home. With ewes in lamb worth in the vicinity of £3 each, and the liability for their loss through worrying resting on the owner of the dog, the" necessity for precautions is evident. Stratford borough is surrounded by sheep holdings, for the most part of small acreage, nevertheles carrying very valuable stock. It should be remembered that practically any dog, under certain circumstances, is a potential sheep-worryer. Even farm dogs, accustomed to working cattle and sheep, are capable of fnidnight excursions among the flocks. The urgent necessity of keeping dogs tied up at night cannot be too strongly stressed. To neglect this precaution is to risk the dog being shot, or facing a claim for the loss of valuable sheep.