PROPOSED TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 91, 17 April 1936, Page 3

PROPOSED TOUR.

AMERICAN ATHLETES.

VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND.

MANY BRANCHES OF SPORT,

In order to ascertain the prospects of support for an American athletic team visiting New Zealand and Australia next year, Mr. A 1 Maloney arrived in Auckland this morning by the Mariposa from Los Angeles. Last year he organised an American athletic team to visit Japan, and the tour was so successful that it proposed to widen the tour next year by visiting Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Manila, China and Japan. Mr. Maloney was anxious to know what support would be forthcoming in New Zealand, and to-day was endeavouring to get in touch with the leaders of various athletic organisations.

Mr. Maloney said that the plan for next year was to bring a team of 35 to 40 athletes 011 tour to feature American football, Rugby football, baseball, basketball, boxing, wrestling, and track and field events. They would be able to play exhibition matches where necessary, this applying particularly tp baseball and the American football code. The team would be particularly strong 011 the track and field side, as they would be able to include some of the leading American amateur athletes. It was provable that Holt, the sprinter, \\ 110 was considered faster than Eddie Tolan, would come, also James Thorpe, the great Indian athlete. Mr. Maloney said that it would be a good will mission to bring the various countries closer together. On the Japanese tour last year the Americans won in the American football events, but were beaten at Rugby. He did not think that they could field a team to seriously threaten New Zealand at Rugby, but he said that Rugby was now making fine headway in California, and they were beginning to understand and appreciate the play. The visitor said that outdoor sport in the United States had its distinct cycles. Football started in September, and concluded early in January. Then came basketball, to be followed by baseball, athletics and swimming. The professional clement predominated in basebull, but the football was amateur, also the athletics.

Mr. Maloiiey said that on the waydown 7000 dollars was guaranteed at Honolulu, and lie is hopeful that both New Zealand and Australia will do everything possible to make the contemplated tour a success.