VINDICTIVE, SAYS MANAGER N.Z. Water Polo Team Restricted

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30678, 18 February 1965, Page 18

VINDICTIVE, SAYS MANAGER N.Z. Water Polo Team Restricted

(N Z. Press Association—Copyright) HOBART, February 17. The New Zealand water polo team arrived in Hobart yesterday unaware it had been prevented by the Australian Swimming Union from playing official games.

The team had hoped to compete in the Australian water polo championships, starting in Hobart on Saturday.

The A.S.U. decision that the New Zealand team would not be invited to play any official games in Australia was received in Hobart on Monday, the secretary of the Tasmanian Amateur Water Polo Association (Mr G. Martin) said last night.

The A.S.U. secretary, Mr Berge Phillips, was severely criticised for the decision by the managercoach of the New Zealand team, Mr B. E. Tremaine.

He said he had not been told of the decision until today, in Hobart, and described the action as vindictive and a move that would not improve relations with the New Zealand Swimming Association. He said he would confront Mr Berge Phillips when he arrived in Hobart for the Australian swimming championships. “Against us for Years” “Mr Berge Phillips has been against us in New Zealand for years,” Mr Tremaine said. “As soon as he arrives in Tasmania I’ll see what this ‘Mr Swimming, Australia’ is and whether he is trying to push the sport ahead. It seems he has foresaken swimming and water polo. “Mr Berge Phillips knew we were coming to Australia a while ago and penalised us because we did not notify him earlie* “The Tasmanian Amateur Water Polo Association is more than willing to help us, but its hands are tied by some wallaby sitting in Sydney.” Told Last Year In Sydney today, Mr Berge Phillips, answering Mr Tremaine's criticism, said that New Zealand was told last year it would not be able to play.

The first he knew of a New Zealand water polo team coming to Australia was when he received a cablegram from the New Zealand Swimming Association at 9 p.m. on Sunday.

“I received the cable late on the fourteenth requesting permission for a team to come ; to Australia on the sixteenth. I immediately cabled back to New Zealand—within 20 minutes—and said: ‘Sorry, can’t do it.’ ” Asked why the New Zealand team could not compete ' now that it was in Hobart, Mr Berge Phillips said: “It is i quite simple. They haven’t ; been invited 1 “Under F.I.N.A. rules —the world swimming authority— 1 when an international team I wants to compete in another country they first have to receive an invitation, and then : it has to be confirmed. This i has not happened. “The New Zealand team can’t play in the Australian i championships as they well I know,” he said. 1

“Last year the New Zealand water polo authorities asked if they could start, but they were told it was impossible because of the size of the programme,” Mr Berge Phillips said. He said that with six State teams in the championship the water polo programme went on for 10 days. The inclusion of another team would mean an extra two days added to the programme. “It was decided last year that they could not come and they were well aware of that.” He added that a New Zealand swimming team had been invited to take part in the championships and that they would compete. “There is no question of discourtesy to the New Zealand Swimming Association,” he said.