CHAIRMAM RESIGNS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 17 June 1930, Page 10

CHAIRMAM RESIGNS.

SWIMMING CENTRE.

TROUBLE OVER BATH SUPERINTENDENT.

ACTION. OP WAITEMATA CLUB.

. Following the passing of a resolution by the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming . Association last night, "That the centre dissociate itself wholeheartedly from the attack made on the bath superintendent, Mr. M. Champion/by the Waitemata Swimming Club," Mr. J. Enwright said that he must dissociate himself from the Auckland Centre in future, and he withdrew from the nieeting. The question was brought up by Mr. R. B. Hardy, who protested against the remarks that had appeared in- the Press after a recent meeting of the City Couneil. It had appeared that the difference was between Mr. Champion and ' the swimmers of Auckland as a body. Speaking on behalf of the University Club, he said that they had never had any complaint to make about Mr. Champion. • He did not know about the other clubs, but he thought that such a, statement should not pass without comment if it were inaccurate. Xi the svviinn>e v s as a whole did not think that way, the remarks should be withdrawn. "It is a domestic matter between the Waitemata Club and Mr. Champion," said Mr. En wright. "The statements that appeared in the Press were taken from a City Council meeting. It does not concern the Auckland Centre. No Right to Butt In. "No one else has any right to butt in," said Mr.* Leo Kenny (Waitemata).' "It is a matter which the centre should consider," said Mr. J. Foy (Mount Eden). "Mr. Lundon, in bringing the question before the City Council, said that there was a, deep-seated difference between swimmers and Mr. Champion. I now take the opportunity to eay that there is no deep-seated difference. I resent the remarks made by Mr. Lundon that Mr. Champion enticed members of the Waitemata Club to join the Mount Eden Club. This statement must have been made at. the instigation, of some club. I

The first the centre heard ■ of. the-ques-tion was when Mr. Lundon, a man wh< speaks for his full ten minutes.on everj brought i£ up." "I assure you I have only spoken tc Mr. Champion to abuse him'roundly ant soundly," said Mr. D. Mulvihill (Waite mata). No member of the Waitemata Club had told Mr. Lundon of the trouble with the bath superintendent. "As regards the enticing away of members,' he added, "I say that he has made overtures to members to join the Mount Eden Club, and I can name, the people concerned, too." "Either the thing concerns the centre or it does not," said Mr. Enwright. "If it concerns the centre, let us have a special meeting to deal with the problem." Mr. Hardy said that the matter was important because there would be a special meeting of the City Council today to consider the matter/ If there-was no dissension between the swimmers and Mr. Champion they should say so. Should Not Be Rushed. "If Mr. Champion is against the Waitemata Club, he is against the sport as a whole," said Mr. Enwright. "This is a question which should not be rushed I through. A special meeting should be j called to enable the Waiteniata Club to biing forward evidence on the question of the dissension with Mr.' Champion; .before the centre dissociates, itself from the attack." , "The. centre should keep out of it. They know nothing about ir," persisted Mr. Kenny. "We should not hnve our rows brought out in the papers," stated M»\ P. Gilchriet (Ponsonby). "The whole thing should be thrashed out here before the public knows about it." ' "I am of the opinion that those who are on the side of Mr. Champion are the younger members of the centre, and I "suggest that Mr. Champion has been influencing them," said Mr. Mulvihill, amidst a storm of protests. "I ask for that statement to be withdrawn," said Mr. P. Stewart, and the chairman ordered Mr. Mulvihill to retract his remarks. t; Thc centre have no right to butt in on any domestic affairs of ours," reiterated Mr. Kenny. "If that js the position we will bring all.our petty rows before the centre. It shows that you have no confidence in the club by taking the side of a professional," he added. Mr. Enwright Resigns. The motion was then put to the vote, and when- it- was carired Mr. Enwright got up and said, "I must dissociate my-,

3- self from the Auckland Centre in future. o It hurts me when I think that men with y whom I have sat at\jneetings and wljoin I thought were sports, should abide by this 0 decision without giving the club a chance d to state its position. It hurts me' to i- think that I have' sat with hypocrites. a There are nten here now, and v they will e not contradict me, who have- voted for s the' motion, knowing that Mr. Champion " is definitely against the Waitemata - Club. Some of the men have even passed t remarks to me about Mr. Champion, and e have yet voted for him. ■ "I can have no further confidence, in e the centre as a body," concluded Mr. f Enwright, and he left the room, followed a by the three representatives of the, e Waiteniata Club, Messrs. Mulvihill, Kenny and Cunjiold. s "It* looks to me as though it was a 1 put-up job," said Mr. Mulvihill, as a. - parting shot. "At the last meeting we, ? had to rope in two Pressmen to make ] a quorum, and here to-night each club is represented in full'force." The deputy-chairman, Mr. D. }l Sheffield, then took the chair. Mr. Stewart - said that he did not intend his motion I to debar in any way the Waitemata Club i from putting its position before the 1 centre. ? "I hope time will heal the breach, and ) that Mr. Enwright will come back," said ) Mr. Sheffield in putting the motion, "That , the centre place on record the good and? i valable services that Mr. Enwright has done for swimming, and that he be asked . to reconsider his decision," before t.he [ meeting-. The motion was carried j unanimously.