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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1936. Volume 7. Number 5.

Dallying With Delegates

page 3

Dallying With Delegates

My Co-re. and I at lst cornered Them. "Something fit to print," we murmured. "News, Prospects, Stars—Wellington are clamouring-yes, we know you're busy—but for old "Smad's sake?"

They took counsel of Each other—"Shall I?" "No, you." We pretended not to notice. The One of Them refused to give Evidence.

"Any use our adopting a blackmailing attitude?" we asked sinister-like.

"No—I'll talk," shouted the Other of Them rapidly. "Er-well, dash it, you ought to know we've got the best team ever-you ought to know—" His voice trailed off as he caught our accusing glare. We made a threatening gesture.

"But seriously," said he, brightening, "I do think we have, perhaps not the best team ever, but a goodish team—yes, rather a goodish team."

Athletics.

"My turn," I muttered to my core. "Athletics?"

The great man struck an attitude. "Steele's definitely good," he stated. "And then there's Stephenson over longer distances-great promise shown-Borrie inthe hurdles and Gus Pike walking. lastly Maskell, Cropp and Watt will give them something to think about.

Tennis.

"And Tennis?" my co-re. looked hopefully in the air.

"Well-um-well-er, dash it all-the weather has rather-I mean to say-militated-you know. You know." Suddenly shouting again, "But the Basketball are showing good form-figures not yet available, but we expect them to arrive in Wellington"

My co-re, and I let loose a sycophantic chuckle. We patted One of Them on the hear, disdained to recognise the Other, and took our departure.

Our further ramblings produced this.

Boxing

"There is only one Old Blue in the team this year," said the secretary of the Boxing Club. He Chuckled hoarsely. "that will fool 'em," he explained, "because it's a good team and up to standard. And Vosailagi," he went on earnestly, "he's fighting heavy-I was going to get you to tell them about him. It's all right so long as they don't annoy him, see? But if anyone starts trying to knock him about or anything."—This apparently is a warning.

Rowing.

We went to see the Eight in action, but after we heard that they persisted in doing their stuff at 6.30 am. with a stiff sea-breeze blowing, somehow, we lost our dash. After all, we know our place, and the holier moments of these supermen passed unprofaned by our shrinking presence We see them once a year on the average, and in times past we hardly dared to take our stance near the finishing line.

My co-re. pointed out that it was tactless to bring Swimming in just after rowing. "Ichabod, anyway," I said, and he thought that summed it up. So we few words of encouragement about the youngsters.

"Neville might do well," he said, "and in the breaststroke events, both women's and men'—" he smiled happily, but on our couplingthe name of Auckland with the matter of women's freestyle, subsided. The relay brought a ray of qualfied hope.

Shooting.

The Shooting team has been observing weather conditions, studying the prevailing rains and all that sort of thing. Fears are expressed that the day may be fine and under unfamiliar conditions they may notdo themselves justice. Portable showers may be arranged.

Envoi.

"That's all," said the co-re.

"What aboutthe Delegates?" I rejoined.

"Oh well-er-quietly confident or or something"

"Green, quiet," I said, "Chapman confident."

"Smad" has it that the usual ghillies, haymakers, standard-bearers, and cads will accompany the team. Withoutquestion the teawork is Terrifie!