EVANS NOT ELIGIBLE

REINSTATED PROFESSIONAL

Ever since D. Evans, the young Taihape runner, capped a season of notable achievements by winning two titles at the New Zealand amateur athletic championships at Wangamii last month, and a suggestion was made that he should bo sent to the forthcoming Empire Games, there has been discussion as to his eligibility to compete in Canada in view of the fact that he is v. renstated professional. Evans is ■ the idol of the Wanganui public, and ample evidence was supplied at the recent championship meeting that an appeal for funds to send him abroad would be likely to meet with good support. It was pointed out in "The Post" last Saturday that the young Taihape runner was ineligible to compete at the Games and this is borne out x in information forwarded to Mr. L. Cohen (president of the Wanganui-Tara-naki Centre) at his request by Mr. L. A. Tracy, honorary secretary of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association.' Extracts from Mr. Tracy's reply, which was read at last evening's meeting of the Athletic Council, are as follow:.— ■

... "I regret to inform you that Evans will not be eligible to represent New Zealand at the British Empire Games. The general rule applicable to the British Empire Games states that an amateur is one who conforms in every way to the definition of an amateur as laid down by the International Olympic Committee. It also goes on to state: . . .

"Anyone who has been classed as a professional at any time in any sport cannot compete at the British Empire Games. "In relation to the Australian versus New Zealand meetings, which will probably be held in the future, I have found nothing which will debar Evans from competing. It is certainly strange that the International Olympic Committee should lij,y down this provision, but I must point out that the International Olympic Committee is a self-appointed body, over which no association has any control. "With reference to the second paragraph of your letter, Cecil Griffiths, the English half-miler, was unable to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games, by reason of the fact that he was at one time a professional athlete." .

The fact that although Evans has been reinstated as an amateur in New Zealand and has been the outstanding "find" of the season, he cannot compete at either the Empire or Olympic Games must come as a disappointment to the Taihape champion. Evans, having got so far this season, was ambitious to climb further up the ladder, and it is rather unfortunate that he is debarred from competing in Canada.

The case of the American, Joie Ray, has been mentioned in the discussions that have taken place regarding Evans's eligibility, but it is not similar to that of Evans. Apparently Ray signed some papers to turn professional, but did not actually run as a professional, and was allowed to compete at tho Olympic Games. Since that time, however, Ray has run as a professional.

Mr. I. W. Cameron, tho champion swimmer who went over to Australia from New Zoaland early in tho year, has been selected as a member of the Australian Empire Games swimming team, according to a eublo just received by his brother in AVelliiigton.