A.A.A. Orders Probe Into Halberg Run At Kaitaia

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30103, 10 April 1963, Page 20

A.A.A. Orders Probe Into Halberg Run At Kaitaia

(New Zealand Press Association)

WHANGAREI, April 9.

The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association is investigating an appearance by the world record-holder, M. G. Halberg, at an athletics meeting in Kaitaia without the sanction of the Auckland Centre.

The Auckland centre referred the question to the N.Z.A.A.A. It had not received answers to several questions put to Northland. Auckland had asked: Why a letter advising that Halberg would not be able to compete was not acted on? If a permit was granted the Agricultural and Pastoral Association to stage the meeting. Whether any of Halberg’s expenses were paid. Copies of letters between the two centres were discussed by the New Zealand association, along with a newspaper article written by Mr A. L. Lydiard, Heiberg’s coach. Some of the facts in the article were not correct, said the Auckland centre. Telegram Sent

Mr C. A. Blazey, the chairman of the N.Z.A.A.A. meeting in the absence of Mr H. I. Austad, said that the first question had been answered. The Northland centre had replied advising that a telegram had been sent to Kaitaia saying that permission had been refused. “If Halberg competed

against the will Of his centre, surely it is a matter to be decided between him and Auckland,” said Mr Blazey.

The N.Z.A.A.A. found that Auckland was justified in seeking an answer to the last two questions and decided to request the Northland centre to provide them. Auckland’s letter to the N.Z.A.A.A. said that permission for Halberg to compete at Kaitaia was not granted because there was a legitimate meeting being held on the same day in Auckland by a club that had done a lot of work in raising money to send Auckland’s representatives overseas to various games. Risking Status

The centre had not wanted to ris the amateur status of one of New Zealand’s top sportsmen by allowing him to compete at a meeting which had not been granted a permit, and accordingly felt they were justified in asking if Halberg had received any expenses.

The Northland centre secretary, Mrs Z. E. Pierce (Dargaville), said today: “Halberg ran an exhibition at a gathering organised to help promote a new athletic club.

“In view of the nature of the meeting the Northland centre did not think it necessary to inform the N.Z.AA.A. and readily gave Kaitaia permission tn stage it “Nobody is making any money out of this. Naturally Halberg’s travelling expenses were met by the people who wanted to start a new club.”

Mr A. D. Magee, chairman of the newly-formed Kaitaia Amateur Athletic, Harrier and Cycling Club, said that those who were trying to organise athletics in the far north would be most disheartened at the attitude of the Auckland centre. “Halberg did not know he had been refused permission to race until he stepped off the aircraft at Kaitaia,” he said. “There was immediate agreement that his run should be merely an exhibition one.” Mr Magee said he felt badly let down by Auckland. He believed the organisers of the event made every attempt to regularise the appearance of top line athletes and others.