EMPIRE GAMES TO AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25589, 2 September 1948, Page 4

EMPIRE GAMES TO AUCKLAND

8-4 Vote Against Canterbury RIVAL CLAIMS OUTLINED From Our Own Reporter WELLINGTON, September 1. The 1950 British Empire Games will be held in Auckland. This decision was made to-night by the council of New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association. The voting of delegates was eight in favour of Auckland and four in favour of Christchurch. The council discussed the applications in committee. Canterbury’s claims, which were heard first, were put by Messrs T. H. Langford, W.- J. Cowles, and J. A. Stanley. Auckland was represented by the Town Clerk (Mr T. W. M. Ashby) and the secretary of the Auckland provisional committee of the 1950 Empire Games (Mr Alwyn Moon). Mr A. D. Bayfeild, who presided, congratulated Auckland on the manner in which its claims were presented. A permit for construction of an Olympic swimming pool was approved to-day by the building control subcommittee of the Cabinet, said Mr Langford. The conditions of approval were: that the authorities decide that the Empire Games be held in Christchurch; that the total tonnage of steel required in construction be imported by the Christchurch City Council from Belgium or such other overseas sterling source as might be approved, except Australia; that the total cement required be transported to Christchurch from Golden Bay independently of normal supplies reaching the Christchurch area. Mr Langford said all the provisions of the permit could be fulfilled. The pool could be finished by next March. New Rowing Course Details of.a new rowing course on the Avon river, plans of which were submitted, were outlined by Mr Langford. The new course, he said, gave a 2000-metre, 156-feet wide, all-weather run without parallel in New Zealand. It had been agreed that the Drainage Board do the excavation, and the city would buy the necessary land and provide seating accommodation. The proposal had been before the city for many years as part of a scheme to strengthen the boulevard and river. Referring to cycling, Mr Langford said that Timaru had possibly the best cycling track in the southern hemisphere, with accommodation for 25,000 people. “We consider that, it being Canterbury’s centenary, some part of the games could be held in centres other than Christchurch, but realise the desire to keep the athletes together may have some bearing on the matter, and leave the point to the council to decide.” he said.

Bowling facilities were unrivalled anywhere. Lancaster Park would accommodate 43,000 people and provided a track as good as any in New. Zealand, Mr Langford said. King Edward Barracks provided the largest indoor stadium in New Zealand. All other sports could be catered for. When the question of transport was raised, Mr Langford said that Christchurch was hoping that Harewood would be declared an international airport. Australian National Airways was prepared to put Skymasters on the route as soon as the Government gave the word go. In this event there would be a tremendous amount of Australian traffic direct to Harewood. No city was as fortunately placed as Auckland for various sports, said Mr Moon. There had been some criticism of Eden Park as a ground for track and field events, but this was unwarranted. The park was spacious and would allow for all athletic events. At least seven full lanes could be laid down. Track cycling could be held at the Western Springs stadium, rowing and sculling in the Waikato river at Mercer or at Karapiro Lake, boxing at the Town Hall or Civic Theatre, wrestling at Carlaw Park or the trotting ground, swimming and diving at the Olympic pool, Newmarket, lawn bowls at the-’Carlton green, fencing in the Town Hall, and weight lifting in the concert chamber. Plenty of training facilities were available. Guarantee of £50,000 It was estimated that the total public attendance in a week would be 173,000 with gross receipts of £29,000, said Mr. Moon. The city would guarantee £50,000 for the games. The suggestion was that a non-profit-making company of this amount of capital be formed with shares of £l. It was estimated that the whole sum could be raised in four to six weeks. Mr Moon presented a comprehensive plan proposed for the organisation and control of the games. “Auckland has up-to-date and more than adequate facilities to stage all sections of the games,” said Mr Moon. “We have the finance to ensure that there. will be no loss. We have the organisation to ensure that the actual holding of games will be a credit to the Dominion.” USE OF STEEL AND CEMENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, September 1. Notice to ask the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) whether, in view of the desperate supply position of steel and the grave shortage of cement and other building materials, the Minister would ensure that materials were allocated only for essential works, was given by Mr E. B. Corbett (Opposition, Egmont) in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Corbett in a note to the question said supplies of materials had recently been authorised for oil installations and yesterday the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) had told a deputation that he did not know whether it would be wrong for a swimming bath to be built in Christchurch (for use during the Empire Games). Mr Fraser had said the Government must accept responsibility for any decision on the use of steel and cement.