EMPIRE GAMES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19819, 6 January 1930, Page 13

EMPIRE GAMES.

THE MEETING IN CANADA. TOUR OF BRITISH RUGBY TEAM. (FROK OfK OVVH CORRESPONDENT.; LONDON. November 2.*. Mr C. \V. Paekford, writing in bis ''olumn of the "Sporting Life." mentions that he has received a letter from Mr M. M. Robinson, the chairman of the British Empire Games Committee of Management, Hamilton, Ontario. It appears from Mr Robinson's information that no feu-er than 52 of.in.il invitations have been extended to organisations within the Empire. :i list that has since been considerably augmented. Already aeceptanr<>s have been received from Newfoundland and British (iuianu, and this is regarded by the Canadians as extremely gratifying, for it will be the lirst time these tw.i members of the Empire family will have participated in international sport. The Committee of Management is thoroughly convinced that the Empire Games will assist instead of handicapping the Olympic Games, for, in the case of Newfoundland and British Guiana meeting with some success in the Games, they will be encouraged to send teams to the next Olympiad. "Apparently," says Mr Robinson, "some people in England are of the opinion that the Empire Games have been developed with the idea of creating opposition to the Olympic Games. There is no foundation for this; in fact, Canada is preparing now for the next Olympiad with a great, deal more energy than has ever been put into any previous effort." A Bond of Friendship. Canada desires that these Games should be established on a permanent basis, but they realise the difficulty of holding them in alternative centres of the Empire, as has ben suggested, at an interval of every two years. They feel that every four years would be a reasonable interval, so that the next Games would be held —probably in London—in 19H4. As I have written before (says Mr Packford), Canada must have the" whole-hearted support of every athletic organisation in the British Isles that has been invited to compete.

The presence of overseas athletes in this country is always welcomed, and enormous interest is taken in their various encounters with our own men. Cannot one visualise the enormous appeal it would make if, say, four years hence we were assured of a scries of contests in London between representatives from every part of the British Empire? That being so, it is our duty to support in every way the Dominion whose sporting vision has realised the possibilities of creating an even greater bond of friendship throughout the Empire by means of a series of attractive contests.

A Letter From New Zealand. "There is little doubt the Dominions are desperately keen on such matters," Mr Packford adds, "and, although I need no proof that this is so, it has been emphasised to me by a letter I have just received from a New Zealand friend with reference to the forthcoming tour of the British Rugby team to the Antipodes. Already the sportsmen of New Zealand are debating in all seriousness as to who should or who should not represent them in the Test matches, and there are apparently many different views as to this. "Quite a. strong feeling is evidently prevalent that Maurice Brownlee, who was over here in 1924, must captain the team. He may be a veteran, but it is argued that as he is still fit his great experience would be invaluable in such encounters. Mark Nieholls, George Nepia, A. E. Cooke, and several other members of 'the Invineibles' have already been suggested as being indispensable, and it may be that our men will meet or. the field quite a number of the men who made history over here, and who, since then, have visited South Africa."