EMPIRE GAMES SWIMMING

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26204, 30 August 1950, Page 2

EMPIRE GAMES SWIMMING

CHARGES AGAINST MR W. O. STOCKLEY DECISION BY AUCKLAND CENTRE (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 29. Because of its belief that the “elementary principles of natural justice” dictated that the charges should be considered by an independent tribunal, the Auckland Swimming Centre has instructed its chairman (Mr W. O. Stockley) not to attend the meeting in Christchurch on Friday of the council of the New Zealand Swimming Association to answer four charges connected with incidents at the British Empire Games in February. Instead, the council is to be asked to set up an independent tribunal and to provide Mr Stockley with adequate time to adduce evidence in rebuttal of the charges. The centre also decided to request the council to postpone any action until its representations had been considered.

“We must take ud the cudgels bn behalf of our chairman,” said the mover of the resolution, Mr M. A. Shanahan. “It is one of the first principles that an accused person has the right of tripl at his place of residence or at the place of the action. In Mr Stockley’s case this is Auckland.” At Mr Shanahan’s suggestion, the centre also approved a remit to the annual meeting in October of the New Zealand Swimming Association calling for an inquiry into the actions of Mr Baxter O'Neill, of Christchurch, president and secretary of the association. in sending a memorandum to all centres and in sending a letter to the Auckland centre dealing with aspects of the charges against Mr Stockley.