EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22343, 5 March 1938, Page 15

EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

* SIZE CRITICISED ACCOMMODATION AT SYDNEY CONSIDERED FAULTY tPBBSS ASSOCIATION TXLEOBAM.) HAMILTON, March 4. The opinion that the New Zealand Empire Games athletic team, comprising about 50 members, which was housed in one building at the Sydney Show Ground, was too unwieldy for the maintenance of perfect harmony was expressed by Mr A. J. Sayers, of Hamilton, the Dominion's quarter-mile representative, when speaking to Hamilton athletes. Mr Sayers considered that a number of entirely separate rooms, which, could easily have been managed, would have been a much more suitable and beneficial arrangement. All the male members of the New Zealand team, with the exception of the rowers, were housed in a large motor showroom on the' show grounds building, which was divided into cubicles each of which housed four athletes. The walls of these cubicles were only seven feet high so that any noise in any part of the building could be heard plainly in every cubicle. Excessive Noise It was unfortunate, but true, that some members of the team failed to realise their responsibility, and at times there was far too much noise at night and early in the morning for the comfort of other athletes. Mr Sayers stated that a stop was immediately put to this. The manager (Mr H. L. McCormick) brought the team together for a talk. In spite of these actions, however, a lack of consideration for athletes whose events still had to be decided was shown by some members whose contests were finished, Mr Sayers said that the track and field athletes were in no way to blame, any lack of consideration coming from members participating in other branches of sport. Mr Sayers mentioned several instances of lack of co-operation among the varying sections of the athletes. "It is a fact," he said, "that the night before some track athletes raced they found on going to retire for the night that their beds were filled with articles and their pyjamas were tied in knots, while in some cases sand was placed between the sheets in large handfulls." On the morning of the day on which V. P. Boot won the half-mile final, the Ashburton runner stayed in bed throughout the morning. He finally succeeded in getting off to sleep, only to be aroused again by singing and whistling. He had to shout out at the top of his voice three or four times before the offenders stopped their noise. Separate Buildings Suggested If the various sections of the team, boxers, wrestlers, cyclists, swimmers, and athletes, had been housed in separate buildings, the performances of the team would have been better than they were, considered Mr Sayers. As conditions existed, it meant that every one of the 50 athletes was awake practically at the same time, because as soon as some got out of bed, at about 7 o'clock or earlier, they set up a regular din, singing and whistling, so that after that hour it was impossible to get more sleep. There were numerous arguments and complaints among the various divisions of the team about the lack of consideration shown. FINANCIAL LOSS EXPECTED COMPETITORS DAMAGE FURNITURE * (tTKITED mISS ASSOCIATION—COrYBIOHT.) (Received March 4, 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY. March 4. Officials of the Empire Games anticipate a loss of £SOOO, but the Government's guarantee of £IO,OOO saves the situation. The gate proceeds aggregated £15,000. Considerable damage was done by competitors to furniture and bedding at the villages. England and New Zealand had readily paid their bills for damage, but Canada and South Africa have not yet done so. mm _ mmmmmmmmmmmm^m^mn