sport Review

Fijians as Top

Rugby Executives

From Norman Baxter THERE is a “new look” about Suva rugby control this season following a reported behind the scenes move among the Fijians during the off-season. The Fijians apparently decided that it was about time they had a go at run ning their own rugby so set about putting most of their own officials into the key positions.

Some of their moves were suc cessful, and a solid pro-Fijian bloc did not show any sign of a split when it came to electing the president, who this year is Ratu K. K. T. Mara, better known for his cricket prowess, instead of Mr.

Les Martin, who had worked hard for rugby for many years.

Ratu Mara becomes the first Fijian to hold this position in Suva.

As Ratu Mara secured 20 votes, it was assumed that each Fijian nominee for a key post would revive the same number. But the Fijian candidate for the secretaryship dropped to 16, and only scraped in by one vote.

That there was a split in the ranks became apparent when there was a tie for the office of treasurer and

the newly-installed president gave

his casting vote against the Fijian candidate.

The Fijians lost badly with the vice-presidents (only one out of five) and overall, if the manage ment committee ever comes to a vote on racial lines the will of the Europeans is likely to prevail. But such a situation is not likely to arise for the Fijians and Europeans have always worked well together for the good of rugby.

What About a

S. Pacific Olympics?

From a Special Correspondent in Rabaull THERE’S a chance that the South Pacific might get its own Olympic Games, if a suggestion put forward here at the Fourth South Pacific Conference can geie through a baffle wall of half-a-j dozen South Pacific Governments..

Dr. Sahu Khan, an Indian dele-; gate from Fiji, suggested that an Inter-Pacific Sports Tournament should be held every three yearsa This was one of the best ways o;< “quickly overcoming insularity”, htj said.

Mrs. Teupokoina Morgan, of thu Cook Islands (who, incidentally, wau one of the most attractive delegates; at the Conference) supported thtj Indian suggestion, and said the 11 Cook Islands were already holding their own sports meetings and werr certainly ready for overseas meet-; ings.

There are plenty of inter-Territory events in the Pacific, of courses Tonga and Fiji for years have been competing at football, and there is; a South Seas Boxing Championships This more general sports plan would be a good one, but what happens U it will depend on how the six mem-, ber Governments of SPC react.

Lae's A A Raises

Fun and Money

From Pat Robertson SCORING 190 points out of 8 possible 195, Mr. Alan B. King? driving a 1958 Morris 1000, won the first organised motor spon* event ever held in Lae, New Guinea, on April 19.

The sport was a “Treasure Hunt”

One of the first swimming carnivals to be held in Suva for some years—apart from the school carnivals —was organised by the Junior Chamber of Commerce recently. This group of prize-winners receiving the Pan American Airways Inter-House Relay Trophy from Mr. C. Stinson include from left (almost obscured) Warren Clarke, Jim Kerrigan, Denis Raddock and Jim Sutherland—the captain of this Mosquito Hockey Club swimming team. —Stinson.

Since New Zealand introduced the Marching Girl to Fiji last year the sport has taken on. Th[?] Coralettes shown here are the latest, and not the least good-looking, of the teams to have beet[?] formed in Suva. —Stinson.

ised by the newly formed tiobile Association of Papua 'Jew Guinea, and funds were buted to the Red Cross i Appeal. a compliment to the com -3 that the entrants—all blase ypes—entered into the fun of hase and “had a wonderful n competitors collected all the equirements of the chase, nesting sidelight to the hunt, the manner in which some ; items were collected, and in lion obtained. r ictoria Bitter bottle label was d, and as this brand of beer ot been seen around town for ile, one furtive character was searching for the right kind Dttle in the local brewery. on duty got tired of answer le ’phone to requests for the limit outside town —a question everyone should know. (It’s ►h). A request for the name of re engine took many visitors 3 fire station, tors’ ’phones ran hot with is about the “Chondropython and mechanics at Qantas ir were interrupted so many with questions for the regis n number of the Drover air that they printed it on a and had a native stand with the roadside for all to read, jnd and third places, with joints, were decided by the )f a coin. Mrs. A. W. Boyle placed second and Mr. V.

Morgan third. Mrs. Boyle also won the Best Lady prize.

The finishing point was the Lae Bowling Club, where there was a cold beer and a hot barbecue.

The Automobile Association of Papua and New Guinea is run on similar lines to Automobile Clubs in Australia, and although a com paratively new organisation, has already achieved benefits for motor ists in the Territory.

Rarotonga Golf

Takes Off

r[E Rarotonga Golf Club opened its 1959 season on Easter Saturday, under the patronage of the Resident Commissioner, Mr.

G. Nevill, who was accompanied by Mrs, Nevill.

Mr. lan Forbes, the president, drove the first ball on what is probably the only combined airfield and golf links in the South Pacific —and, maybe, the world.

Sakiusa is now

the Ex-Champion

Middleweight champ of New Caledonia, the Mare islander Doudie, once again showed his superiority over the South Seas ex-champ Sakiusa, the Fijian, who now hands over his “South Seas championship” belt.

Critics declared that Doudie had “a slight superiority” over his rival.

[?]ap in the hat is Don McColm, manager Bisianumu Experimental Station, outside [?]oresby; the horse is Prince Gaekwar, [?]lown in Australia as winner of a dozen events, including the Adelaide Cup, but [?]stined to finish his career as a Terri- Prince Gaekwar is one of three race bought by the Administration recently improve Territory stock breeding.