TENNIS

I was present at Poho-o-Rawiri, Gisborne, for the opening of the tennis season on November 1, and must compliment the club on the way the opening was organized.

The attendance was good, and the Gisborne people were even then discussing prospects for the 1954 Maori tournament, which has been set down for Gisborne at Easter.

The postponed finals from the 1953 tournament at Rotorua will be the first matches decided. The additional attraction of two sets of finals for all events other than the ladies' singles—won at Rotorua by Miss M. Dewes—should ensure a good attendance. I am sure that the arrangements and hospitality will be up to the high standard usually associated with these capable and experienced hosts.

It was good to see so many young people taking part at the Poho-o-Rawiri opening but, to me, there was special interest in the presence of Mr N. W. Smith, Judge of the Tairawhiti Maori Land Court, and a one-time Wellington champion.

Maoris of the Bay of Plenty and all Wellington people will remember Norman Smith as one of the stars of the years immediately before the Second World War.

Judge Smith retains much of the guile and courtcraft that won so many tournaments in the past. His strokes are still beautifully produced, and I hope that the young players in Gisborne will take advantage of his presence and his interest, as I know he would be happy to coach some of the more promising youngsters.

Not many country districts have the good fortune to have a player of national class in their midst, and although Judge Smith may perhaps-have left his palmy days of competitive tennis behind him, his long experience and his knowledge of the game could well be used to advantage.

He is already coaching one or two youngsters who are showing distinct promise, and any others who have aspirations to higher tennis honours would do well to seek his guidance.

At the national championships played on the Stanley Street Courts at Auckland, two young Maori girls took part. They were Miss M. Dewes and the most promising junior, Miss R. Morrison.

This is the first time in my knowledge that Maori women have competed in a national field.

Miss Dewes had the difficult task of meeting Miss J. Burke in the second round, and although she was beaten 6–0, 6–3, we should congratulate her for a fine effort. Miss Morrison was one of the surprises of the tournament. She disposed of three seeded players in the first three rounds, and if she can maintain her promise she may one day be a New Zealand champion.

SHEARING

Shearing may not be commonly regarded as a sport. It is, in fact, hard, back-breaking work, but when it becomes competitive and world records are at stake, it becomes a contest in which I am sure all Maori sportsmen are interested.

It seems incredible that a man can shear 456 sheep in a nine-hour day.

In October I saw Godfrey Bowen, then the record-holder, demonstrating and coaching shearers on the Maori Affairs property at Brent's Farm, Rotorua, and if any young Maoris aspire to become world record-holders of the

future they would be well advised to attend one of these demonstrations. Mr Bowen is co-operating with the New Zealand Wool Board and the Young Farmers' Clubs of New Zealand in an effort to improve the standard of shearing.

He is a wonderful showman, and, unlike many ‘gun-shearers' he wants to help the new chum.

Manu Rangiawha, who attacked Bowen's record on December 21 at the property of the former record-holder, Mr P. de Malmanche, was a first-class man, but, although he had the same conditions and the same class of sheep as Bowen, he was unable to better Bowen's tally.

Nevertheless, 404 sheep in 7 ½ hours was a great effort, and many of our people will be disappointed that the strain of this arduous work forced his withdrawal when the record was so near.

This failure, however, only serves to emphasise the key point in Bowen's technique. His full control, almost gentle handling of the sheep, together with the gift of completely relaxed movement save him the strain and fatigue normally experienced by shearers.

RACING

At one time the Maori, with few exceptions, confined his interest in horseracing to an occasional flutter with the local ‘bookie’, and attendance at meetings somewhere near to his home.

The Otaki-Maori Racing Club in recent years has won a reputation for conducting one of the best country meetings in New Zealand, and has placed the Maori on the official racing map.

This progressive Club, under the guidance of men like Nepia Winiata, is offering stake money and attracting a class of field which would do credit to many clubs in the larger centres.

It is interesting to note, too, that the race cards for most North Island meetings now include horses owned by Maoris.

Some notable successes in recent times have been Mr George Asher's ‘Rareka’, with impressive wins at Rotorua and Franklin; Mr ‘Doc’ Tatere's ‘Maire’, which won at very handsome odds at Marton; and C. Renata's ‘Golden Eve’, which took the main race at Foxton on November 28.

Other prominent owners are Mr Emery, of Rotorua; Mrs R. Wehipeihana, of Ohau; and now I hear that Mr Wallace Tako, who went to England for the Coronation, bought a £900 steeplechaser in Ireland which he intends to race this season. I understand it has been aptly named ‘Royal Tour’.

Perhaps the best-known figure in Maori racing at present is owner-trainer Eric Ropiha, formerly of Otaki, and now of Woodville. He has become in the last two years one of the most successful trainers, with good performances at most meetings, and a brilliant New Zealand Cup win with the former good stayer ‘Conclusion’. His own horse, ‘Wally French’, raced under lease, and Mr McColl's ‘Finito’, have been consistently in the money, and it is not too much to suggest that one or the other could have collected one of the coveted cups or classics this season.

There have always been a few Maori jockeys, and some have been at the top of their calling. Ashley and Roy Reid, who both lost their lives on the track, were champions.

Bill Broughton, one of the best ever, has some Maori blood. So has Grenville Hughes. There are many more, but of the young ones I would like to mention Mokaraka, of Rotorua, whose splendid judgment and careful riding was very largely responsible for Balgarvie winning the big steeplechase on his home course at Labour week-end.

Broughton, as well as being one of the outstanding horsemen of our time, is also president of the Jockeys' Association.

GOLF

At the New Zealand Championships, T. P. Jones, of Taumarunui, again qualified for the Amateur Championship play-off, but after a win in the first round was eliminated.

In the Amateur Plate he produced good form to reach the final. He eliminated Glading, an ex-New Zealand representative, and went down in the final to Jeffries, who will represent New Zealand in England this year.

Farmer, of Gisborne, is a young golfer who played a steady game last season, and I forecast that he may produce a few surprises at the next Maori tournament.

He and Rongo Halbert took part in the Bay of Plenty championships at Whakatane, and Farmer went through to the final. He was beaten by Thornton, of Rotorua, who is one of the best of New Zealand's country players.

While speaking of golf I am sure that those who attend the annual Maori tournament will be interested to learn that Toki Carroll, genial official at most recent tournaments, is now in the King Country.

For some years Toki has been stationed at Raupunga, near Wairoa, as a Maori Affairs Department farming supervisor. He will now be stationed at Te Kuiti. All golfers will wish him good fortune in his new district.

SWIMMING

I am sure that all Maoris will have read with regret the announcement of Moana Manley's retirement from competitive swimming.

This talented young girl was, next to Jean Stewart, the Olympic medallist, our best backstroke exponent. We were looking to her for an Empire Games win at Vancouver.

Miss Manley, however, retires with the best wishes of all our readers.

CRICKET

Why do so few Maoris play cricket? I play, myself, and have often been asked this question. Quite frankly I have never been able to find a complete or satisfying answer, because on the face of it so many Maoris have all the physical attributes which help to make the good cricketer.

A good eye, innate sense of balance and timing, a flair for ball-games, and an almost uncanny gift of ‘style’ seem to be the lot of most Maoris. These characteristics, together with team spirit, patience and self-discipline, are the main requirements of the good cricketer.

I do not like to think that it is because of the last two that the Maori has little interest in the game, but it must be said that his natural tendency is often towards the spectacular. He prefers the sudden blaze of action with slim chance of success to the more cautious digging-in tactics, which leave honours even and delay a decision to another day. These tactics to-day are all too common in big cricket, but sometimes, for the team's sake, cricket demands this cautious, self-effacing technique. Our friends from Fiji who toured New Zealand this summer, play a completely uninhibited game with great success, and I believe the Maoris would also.

Most Maoris who do play, and even those who have reached the top grades, have a most cavalier approach. Although they may not win the regard of the purist, they delight the spectator.

Few people in Wellington would deny that Jimmy Ell was, in his day, the most fluent and attractive stroke producer in the country.

Jimmy made his share of ‘ducks', but he also got his share of centuries, including the Wellington record score of 291. I understand that John Smith, of Kaikohe, is a competent cricketer as well as a fine Rugby player, as was his brother Peter, the news of whose death saddened us in January last.

Most of our people live in rural districts, where the good pitch is unknown. Most who do play in the country have to depend on coir matting over uneven turf, or over concrete, often with a rough outfield.

With more of our youth now attending pakeha district high schools and city colleges, however, the number of Maoris playing cricket is increasing. A few are breaking into representative cricket, and among these are the Sciascia brothers from Levin, Hemi, from Waikato and Auckland, and Taiaroa in this season's Otago Brabin Shield team. I would like to hear of any others.

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Seven students—most of them Maoris—were successful in the new University degree subject, Maori Studies (Stage I), which was introduced in 1953. Maori Studies replaces Maori, which dealt simply with the Maori language. The new subject is much wider, and besides the study of the language it includes Maori culture and history.

The course forms part of the new anthropological department of Auckland University College. This year it is intended to provide also a more advanced course—Maori Studies (Stage II).

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The Cambridge branch of the M.W.W.L. arranged a catering stall for the day of the Queen's visit to that town, the proceeds going towards the new community centre.