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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 9, Issue 10 (January 1, 1935)

Rhodes Scholathletes

Rhodes Scholathletes.

With nothing but congratulations to the young men themselves, it is nevertheless a pity that our latest batch of Rhodes Scholars have relatively poor athletic qualifications. There was wisdom in Rhodes when he aimed at the all-round man. He wanted high intellect directed not wholly to scholastic and professional ends. He was after men who in after life would become public figures—not necessarily politicians, but men who would take a prominent part in the life of their communities if not in Empire affairs. His benefactions are intended to fit them for that.

Now, athletic excellence in a Rhodes scholar gives him opportunities to fit himself for a public career in a way that is denied to the brain worker pure and simple. And this is more true of excellence in track or field events than of any other sport, simply because of their greater opportunities for international contacts.

Take Arthur Porritt for instance. By reason first of his prowess on the track he held successively the offices of Secretary and then President of the Oxford University Athletic Club, but he was fitted to hold them down by his sterling qualities of mind and character. The experiences of such offices, with their responsibilities, led to his becoming one of the biggest figures in the organisation of University sport in the Empire. Further than that, the English Universities have become a very big influence in setting international standards of sportsmanship and goodwill. And Porritt's standing in this direction is now evidenced by his attaining the high honour of becoming a member of the International Olympic Committee, which is perhaps the one body to-day really achieving anything in the matter of international goodwill.

Just what influence sport can bring to bear will be pretty clearly shown in the near future. The fear of America, Canada and other countries not competing at the Olympic Games at Berlin in 1936 has already drawn promises of Nazi fair dealing with German Jews.

To come nearer home, Porritt, and, still more, his greater athletic successor Lovelock, have by their prowess on the track in many different countries, and their fine sportsmanship, done more to make New Zealand well and
The Cross Creek Railway Cricket Team, 1932–33.

The Cross Creek Railway Cricket Team, 1932–33.

page 37 favourably known abroad of recent years than almost anything that has been done deliberately to that end, and have certainly more nearly attained the ideal of Rhodes than all the other New Zealand Rhodes scholars combined.