Athletics COST OF TOUR BY AUSTRALIANS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28604, 5 June 1958, Page 5

Athletics COST OF TOUR BY AUSTRALIANS

Southland Denies A.A.A. Allegations

(New Zeatana Press Association) INVERCARGILL. June 4. An emphatic denial that Southland had defaulted or was remiss in making payment of the expenses of bringing the Australian team of women athletes to New Zealand last summer was made tonight by Mr J. Matheson, president of the Southland Centre, of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. He was referring to a Press Association statement from Wellington saying, that because Otago and Southland had not paid the Australian Athletic Union about £BO which they owed as part of the expenses of the New Zealand tour, the union had decided not to put up money for future tours.

Mr Matheson said the cost of bringing and returning the athletes had been paid. The expenses included 10s a day for each of the athletes. The tour cost about £4OO, most of- which was Southland’s responsibility. Southland had organised the tour.

About a month after the tour, the Australian union had asked for payment of £6O spent on the assembly of the athletes in Australia, an expense not hitherto known to Southland.

The Southland Centre immediately sent the cheque to the N.Z.A.A.A. A week or so later, it was returned with a request that Southland arrange exchange details. At the first meeting of the Southland Centre, the exchange was duly arranged. Now the N.Z.A.A.A. has asked for the cheque again, so that can attend to it. “We are only too keen to have these matters wound up.” said Mr Matheson. “The statements from Wellington are irresponsible and tactless, and cannot do Southland or Otago any good unless they are refuted. That is the sort of consideration we get in bringing the be§t athletes to New Zealand.”