‘Games Will Put N.Z. On The Map’

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 11

‘Games Will Put N.Z. On The Map’

The 1974 Commonwealth Games at Christchurch will put New Zealand on the map in a way that has never happened before, Colonel J. I. M. Smail, proprietor of the “New Zealand News,” in England, say’s in a letter to “The Press.”

Colonel Smail, who says that Christchurch owes a great debt of gratitude to Messrs R. S. Scott, E. H. Willians, M. F. Hunter, H. T. Dean, H. C. Blazey and N. B. Ullrich, suggests that the city also holds a “mlni-Expo 70” in conjunction with the Games. “This would benefit Christchurch tremendously,” he says. Colonel Smail was born and educated in Christchurch. He

is Mayor of Berwick-upOn-Tweed, a town about 60 miles south of Edinburgh. In his letter, Colonel Smail says that some people who were worried about the effect the Games would have on their rates would become “more ferocious” as they saw a roof being put on the stemming pool and the monev mount up, Colpnei Smail Said that the team that promoted the successful bid for the Games had not needed to ask people to vote for Christchurch. More than 30 African delegates had said they would vote for Christchurch because they were so impressed with what the city had to offer, the film, and the team’s enthusiasm and effectiveness. “This is quite remarkable, when it is considered that only two votes were against Christchurch—one, obviously, from Australia, and the other from England because of the time and fencing factors,” he says. “No-one has been more popular in Commonwealth circles than the Christchurch delegation and they deserve the fullest praise of everyone,” said Colonel Smail.