THE EMPIRE GAMES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 85, 20 January 1938, Page 2

THE EMPIRE GAMES.

CONTRACTS GERMAN MEASLES, MISS MITCHELL ISOLATED. WELLINGTON, January 19. It was found on the arrival of Miss M. Mitchell, javelin thrower, from Auckland to-day, that she had contracted German measles. Mr H. McCormick, manager of the New Zealand team for the Empire Games at Sydney, stated this afternoon that Miss Mitchell had been isolated and would remain in isolation in Wellington for a week, after which it was proposed to send her to Sydney. Some concern is felt by officials over the possibility of other members of the Auckland team, who were on the same train as Miss Mitchell having contracted the germ from her. If they have it will unfortunately be about the time the Empire Games begin that the complaint will make its appearance.

EXCLUSION OF MISS MUNRO.

APPEAL TO THE PREMIER

AUCKLAND, January 19

I The exclusion of Miss Edna Munro (long jumper) from the Empire Games team has resulted in a direct appeal being made to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) by the Auckland Centre of the Amateur Athletic Association.

A telegram dispatched by the secre-r tary (Mr Jenner Wily) appeals to Mi Savage ,in his joint capacities as Prime Minister and president of the Olympic Council, and “as the one man in New Zealand who would not consciously permit an injustice to he perpetrated to intervene on behalf of Miss Mun.ro, the Auckland jump champion and Dominion record holder, whose high-handed exclusion from the Empire Games has outraged public sentiment and aroused bitter feeling in all sections of the community here.”

The Centre asks Mr Savage to extend his best offices to induce, without loss of dignity to the reconsideration of the application in the interests of fair-play and the maintenance of the democratic principles of amateur sport in New Zealand. It points out that the only available boat leaves Auckland to-morrow.

PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY.

“CANNOT HELP BY BUTTING IN”

WELLINGTON, January 19.

“I am always glad to help anyone anyway I can, hut i cannot see how I can help by butting Into this,” said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) this afternoon, after the receipt of a long telegram from the Auckland Athletic Association, asking him to intervene in the case of Miss Munro. He had considered the matter after receiving the telegram, said Mr Savage, but concluded that it was not a matter where he should act. The only thing he could do was to refer it to the national executive controlling athletics.

BOOT'S FINE TIME FOR HALFMILE.

WELLINGTON, January 19

Appearing at an electric light sports meeting at Lower Hutt to-night, \ . P. Boot ran half a mile in lmin 54 l-ssec outside the New Zealand record.

G.* Quinn ran 100 yards in 10 l-ssec and the 220 yards in 22 seconds. Other competitors were Sharpley, Anderson, Allen, Sayers, Geddes, and Miss Straclian, who ran second from scratch in the 100 yards, the winner’s time off nine yards being 11 4-ssec. REPLACEMENT OF HUGHES STANDS. WELLINGTON, January 19. The New Zealand Cycling Association decided to-night that the decision to replace E. G. L. Hughes, of Auckland, in the Empire Games cycling team must stand.