College Blues

One problem which has been exercising the minds of College Club executives greatly in the past few years, is the problem of "Blues." With the growth in the numbers of V.U.C. Clubs, and the increase in their playing strength, it is only natural that more "blues" should be gained yearly, but there is no doubt that at Victoria College too many "blues" have been awarded in the past, and the value of a Victoria College "Blue" is being cheapened.

One solution to the problem, out of the many suggested appeals most. That is that there should be awarded at V.U.C. a "half-blue" as well as a "full-blue." The "half-blue" would be awarded in the case of the average player, who at present gains the "full-blue" merely through playing throughout the year in the senior team, and the "full-blue' would be given only in cases of undoubted outstanding merit. The "half-blue" could also perhaps be awarded to men who, through lack of top ability or some other circumstance, have not reached the ' Firsts" in the sport, but over a period of years, both on the field and off, have laboured hard for the Club in question, and whose services under the present system receive no recognition. The "half-blue" would certainly give recognition to such outstanding workers for a College Club, and it is not here suggested that such "half-blues" should be scattered around haphazardly, and the Blues Committee should demand some standard of athletic excellence, which after all is the main test governing the award of a "blue."

However, with two such distinctions available the Blues Committee would then have to examine closely the records of anyone nominated for a "blue" or "half-blue," and with a conscientious Blues Committee there should not be the wholesale grabbing of "blues" by Clubs oblivious whether or not their performances warrant it.

As an example of the way in which "blues" and more "blues" are sought, this year the Tennis Club despite the fact that their representatives page 115 —their men-for years have cut a sorry figure in the Annual Tournament, sought to have the number of their "blues" for men to which they were entitled increased to eight. Eight tennis "blues" in one year! To the writer's mind, a "blue" should signify that the player in question is well up to the standard required by the Senior Grade of the Sport concerned, just as a "N.Z. University Blue" at present signifies that a man is well up to "representative standard." There has been no cheapening of the New Zealand University "Blue." But who will say that that is true of the Victoria College distinction. A Club has a senior team, of say, eleven players. Five are not eligible. Therefore the remaining six are nominated for "blues" and frequently get them. The team has done well, perhaps due to the performances of the five ineligible men. Why give the other six "blues"? At present the Club fears that if they are not nominated, it will mean a severe curtailing of its "blues" in the future, and so its Committee grab all they can.

Show recognition to your senior team by all means, a "half-blue" will do that as well as give due reward to a faithful Club worker, but don't cheapen the one distinction that in 'Varsity sport should be most sought after.

The Blues Committee comprised Mr. R. J. Nankervis (Chairman), Miss J. M. Dunn, Messrs. T. G. Hislop, C. B. Allan, W. S. Harris, H. R. C. Wild and D. M. Burns.