HONORING WEBB.

Evening Star, Issue 12743, 17 August 1907, Page 6

HONORING WEBB.

TO THE KDITOII. Sir, —Aro you not a little severe in your sub-leader in last night’s issue regarding Sir Joseph Ward’s entertaining New Zealand's ■■champion oarsman of the world” ? If I remember right, you agreed with the Government entertaining the “ All Blacks” on their return, therefore why not the champion of tho world of one of our best sports? Probably* y*ou are not aware that rowing was, in his younger days, Sir Joseph Ward’s special relaxation. He was capain of the Bluff Rowing Club, and was' stroke in tho first amateur six-oared race held at the Bluff regatta in the 70’s, when he “put. down” the hitherto victorious Invercargill six-oared crew, of which I had the honor to be a member. Knowing '3 I do that you do all you possibly can to encourage clean and manly sport, I must say your remarks rather surprised ino.—l am, etc., A. T.M'Pnn. August 17. [Our chief objection war, to the special adjournment of the House of Reprcsen;i,lives in honor of Webb’s 'arrival. Sir Joseph Ward’s personal interest in rowing is beside the question ; it was as Prime Minister and Leader of the House (hat he took action on Thursday. We do not think that a fair comnarison can be instituted between the “ All Blacks ” and that of a professional oarsman, but even in the former instance we should not have approved of a parliamentary adjournment. Mr Tapper only does justice to the ‘ Star ’ when he says wc do all we “ possibly can to encourage clean and manly sport,” but there is a happy mean in ail things, and we do feel that the action of the Government and the Legislature on this occasion had an absurd and incongruous element. —Ed. E.S.]