OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1939, Page 3

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

THE RUGBY CARNIVAL (To the Editor. Sir, —Regardless of weather conditions militating against expected larger public attendance at the Park Oval than proved the case, I would in all friendliness, as an old-time follower of the game of Rugby in Masterton and elsewhere, like to say a word or two about what seemed a poorly organised affair in general. To see nearly as many bandsmen —Municipal and College Pipe players—as Rugby players, and ex-players, marching in the procession through Queen Street on Saturday afternoon, gives hockey and baseball enthusiasts no cause to grumble at the gradually increasing popularity of their forms of athletic pastimes—not to mention Association game players, and patrons as well, who (in combination) could easily have made a more convincing display of things than our Rugby boys did, on this carnival occasion at least.

As things turned out, it might after all have been better to have reversed the order of procession by starting at the Park Oval gates (so close to the Municipal Bandroom for a start) and proceeding to the Cameron Memorial Park playing grounds (via Queen Street) and there staging a _ worth while witnessing senior (and junior) Rugger match, between opposing club teams, as a preliminary curtain-raiser to later matches yet to be seen by patrons of Masterton’s once one and only game, which (say what you will of other forms of sport) is still the game of games for stalwarts to play in, attendances a thing apart. After witnessing the School, and Municipal, and Show Jubilee processions and the more recent Keep Fit Week, and Wairarapa College Carnival processions, I hope no one will 'say Mastertonians can’t stage a really good procession, provided those inaugurating it are not only willing to work zealously towards its success, but even personally take an active part therein. Our town is sufficiently populous even to patronise more than one counter attraction, at the one and same time, and still make a good show of each, so who is really to blame for Saturday’s almost fiasco turn-out if not our today’s Rugby enthusiasts themselves? In any case, let them, and those few who really did take part in last Saturday’s march through Queen Street, say “Hats Off” to the two bands (brass and pipe) which at least played their excellent part. —I am, etc., “ON THE BALL.” Masterton, April 22. CRITICAL AMENITIES (To the Editor. Sir, —Your old-time and more cheerful correspondent, “Jim Fogan,” says “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” —i.e., a hole in the wall is a hole in the hill—so we’ll let it go at that. I also accept his volunteered more (explicit statement that, when having his ablutions, the soap gets in his eyes. If one were so egotistical as to think anybody outside our two selves cared a rap for our individual opinions about baths, crematoriums, or holes in hills, or walls, or anything cropping up by way of correspondence column contributions (enabling us two scribblers to butt in, as it were, and turn it into a private family scrap) I could —with editorial permission—keep it going until even “Jim Fogan’s” soapsud-mixed hole in the wall (or the hole in the hill, or any other name he chooses to call it) becomes a really, and not a dream. My chief reason for thus adding to your own and readers’ common misery at being this subject so much over the asked, is my scribbling opponent “Jim Fogan’s” misconstruirfg of my prediction as to his being in the confidence of “men who gets things done,” into “the men who gets things down.”. Not being a member of his possible keg party supporters who appear to be filling his nightly bath-tub with home brew (or near beer) and causing extra large frothy soap bubbles to get in his eyes (when his “think-box” is working at its best) I can but conclude “Jim Fogan” and they are the men who gets things down rather than “done.” —I am, etc., “PROCRASTINATION.” Greytown, April 22. This correspondence is closed.—Ed. WOMEN & SOCIAL WELFARE (To the Editor.) Sir, —When I read “Anxious to Help’s” letter in Saturday’s “TimesAge” I felt in sypathy with her, for one cannot help seeing that some things are wrong in this country of ours. As women have an equal share with men in the government of the country and something more than an equal share in social influence they must take their meed of blame. No doubt we should look for a lead to women’s organisations and I wonder if it is fair to say that we look in vain? If one ever thought that people could be made sober or chaste by Act of Parliament some of us have lived long enough to discover the utter fallacy of such a hope. The laws which are on the Statute Book to regulate the sale of alcoholic liquor are in any case as much honoured in the breach as in the observance and women’s organisations may feel the utter futility of passing remits which, if they became the law of the land, would meet a like fate. It would be interesting to hear from themselves what the young people really think ought to be done about it, if they think about it at all. Is it true to say that abstemiousness has gone out of fashion and that licence is now the vogue? and is it. as one is often told, "just a passing phase?”—Yours, etc., A. WAKE. Whakataki, August 23. THE NEED OF BATHS IDEAS OF A "YOUNG ’UN.” (To the Editor.) .Sir, —I am a young married man and the father of children. Like the average swimmer I visit the baths when the water is warm. At the baths I see champion swimmers in action and envy their splendid physique. I regret that I had not been encouraged to swim more in my childhood as I am certain that I would be stronger and healthier today. Swimming has proved itself to be the most enjoyable and beneficial exercise known, by the physique it gives to those who swim regularly. I cannot understand “Ratepayer's" attitude towards new baths. His attitude suggests that he cannot swim and is not a father. Does he realise that may bo he will not be with us in a few years, that it is the younger generation that will have to \ pay for these baths It is pleasing

to know that our worthy Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, realises the necessity for better baths. We are fortunate in having a go ahead borough engineer who knows exactly which type of baths is most suitable for our modern town. I Tepid baths as described by Mr Mabson would put Masterton (a town with few attractions) on the map. Additional revenue from the New Zealand championship events, tourists, footballers using showers every practice night, and hundreds of Mastertonians who will not swim in our present baths, should all help considerably in their upkeep. Nevertheless these baths should not be regarded as a paying proposition, but a gift to the Masterton public to encourage physical culture. That the baths be tepid is most important. No longer dependent on the weather, swimming will become an all the year round exercise. “Ratepayer” mentioned tepid baths in Wellington that -were not a success. These baths were small, evil smelling and dirty. They should have been condemned long before they were closed. “Ratepayer” did not mention the crowds that flock to the tepid baths at Invercargill, Auckland and Rotorua —towns with hundreds of other attractions. Members of the medical profession are loud in their praise for tepid baths. For example, Annette Kellerman, aged 54, a childhood cripple wearing iron braces, now acclaimed the world’s greatest swimmer and the most perfect figured woman; President Roosevelt. Johnny Weismuller, and in New Zealand Mona Leydon, other examples of what swimming, can do for cripples.—l am, etc., “GET FIT AND STAY FIT.” Masterton, April 24.