NOT A DOCTOR YET

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21939, 13 November 1936, Page 10

NOT A DOCTOR YET

Lovelock Corrects An

Impression SHORT VISIT TO CITY ON WAY SOUTH New Zealand’s famous athlete, J. E. Lovelock, is not yet a doctor, though he has been described as one throughout the Dominion. He was most emphatic during a short interview when he passed through Christchurch yesterday in denying his right to be known as “Dr. Lovelock.” This title, he said, had been bestowed upon him entirely in error. He had a Bachelor of Arts degree'at Oxford and was studying to be a doctor, but he had yet to pass his final examination before qualifying as a practitioner. “I really ought to be back working for the final examination now,” he said; “this wandering through New Zealand is taking up valuable time.”

The manner of his tour so far could hardly be described as wandering. During his 13 days in New Zealand he has travelled from Auckland- to South Canterbury, visiting most of the intermediate centres; and it was apparent when he arrived in Christchurch yesterday that the long journey and many receptions he has'been given had had their effect.

He was in the city only a few hours. At the boat he was met by Mr E, M. Todd, president of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Centre, and Dr. D. McK. Dickson, a

member of the executive. Immediately after breakfast he met the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, and after spending the greater part of an hour with him left at once for South Canterbury. He will return to Christchurch and appear at a complimentary athletic meeting here on Saturday week, November 21. Although obviously tired, Lovelock was as cheerful as ever on his arrival. Accompanied by a representative of the Department of Internal Affairs, he kept within the cover of his official programme and met few people during the morning. Schoolboy Athletics His chief interest since he arrived here has been secondary school athletics. On this subject he had some very definite opinions to offer during a short interview yesterday. He vigorously discounted the idea, generally accepted here, that a secondary school boy was likely to overdo his preparation for athletics. He was not ready to believe that schoolboys did any real training at all, and recommended that whatever time was available in the schools should be given to training for athletics. Boys, he said, were trained hard and long for football and stood up to it. He saw no reason whatever why they should not spend just as much time on athletics. It was in the schools, he said enthusiastically, that athletics could be taught, and it was there that New Zealand could well concentrate. He was prepared to give what assistance he could while he was here to the schoolboy athletes and to those in charge of theih. Basis of Training The general plan of training for all athletes and for all branches of athletics and for general health must, he said, be based upon two main points—common sense and moderation. These two were far more important than most people imagined. They dominated every moment of a successful athlete’s training. Enthusiasm frequently led people to embark upon a strenuous period of training which had ill-effects, but they must realise that in athletics, as in general health, the one rule was always moderation. This’ rule coaches should take particular care to impress upon the junior athletes, as it was a sure guide to success. With an interview with the Minister for Internal Affairs pending, Mr Lovelock was not ready to make any suggestion about the organisation pf athletics and the improvement of facilities in New Zealand. It is his opinion that more concentration might be given to coaching than to the provision of cinder tracks in the Dominion, and that more overseas teams should be brought here; but he said he realised that the expense was a high hurdle and the problem therefore an exceedingly difficult one for New Zealand. “Must go to Games” There could be no question whatever, he said, of New Zealand’s representation at the Olympic Games. It was absolutely essential that New Zealanders should go there, regardless altogether of their chances in competition. The games were founded by a man who intended to bring the nations together in friendly competition on an amateur basis, and' New Zealand must do its part to maintain them as such. It was exceedingly difficult, he ■would admit, for New Zealand to keep the pace with the overseas countries. He agreed with the New Zealand Olympic athletes when they said that the semi-professionalism and intense national enthusiasm for sport in the European countries made the task for the British teams hard, but even so the British principle of amateurism was worth too much to be sacrificed for success on the sports field. British teams should always staunchly support the Olympic ideal and always be represented at the games. The few moments he had oh the train did not permit any discussion of detailed advice to athletes and officials, but Lovelock said that he hoped to be able to offer, something of this wheri he makes his official visit to Christchurch. '