OLYMPIC GAMES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1234, 16 September 1911, Page 13

OLYMPIC GAMES.

SHOULD WE BE SEPARATELY REPRESENTED? SPORTS DELEGATES TIIINK NOT. In connection, with the proposal for New Zealand to be separately represented on tho Olympic Sports Committee in England, a meeting of representatives of various amateur sports bodies was held last ovening. Tho meeting was convened by llr. G. S. Hilt and tho chair was taken by Dr. A. it. .Newman. Tliero were present representatives of lawn tennis, golf, athletics, cycling, boxing, Rugby football, Association football, Australian football, and other sports. iir. A. Marryatt attended as a New Zealaud representative of tho Olympic Sports Committee. . Tho chairman explained that the object ot tha meeting was to consider tho question of having a permanent Olympic Sports Committee elected by the governing sports bodies in New Zealand with a representative in London. In referring to the question'of representation at tho Games, ho mentioned incidentally that he_ would like to see New Zealand's champion golfer sent' Home to represent tho country. ... Air. Hill moved: "That, in the opinion of this meeting, the time has now arrived when New Zealand should bo represented as a separate country on the International Olympic Sports Committee." Speaking to the motion the mover 6bated that the meeting was not calle'd in opposition to 'any steps that the Festival of Empire Committee might' 'lie taking in tlie saino matter, 1 but he desired to say that, in his opinion, tho Festival Committee was not properly constituted, as it was not representative of all amateur sports bodies in the Dominion. An argument that had been raised in Dunedin as to why. Now Zealand should have separata representation was that, if New Zeakuid spent iCoUO in sending her athletes Home, sjie should get the advertisement of any distinction which they gained instead of having it tacked'on to Australia.

Mr. Guiso seconded the motion pro forma.

Mr. Ijrkin asked if Mr. Hill'could inform tho meeting of the constitution of tho Olvnipic Committee. Mr. Hill referred the questioner to Jlr. Marryatt. jMV. Morryatt stated that the pnblications of tho Olympic Committee were forwarded to. him as the representative of New Zealand, and he would be pleased to show one of them to the meeting. Since ho had been acting as representative for New Zealand no Olympic spurts had bran held, but any doings of the commitljse whtch interested New Zealand were forwarded to him through Mr. Ojombes, the Australian representative. Ho was of one mind with Mr. Hili—that a separate committee should bo formed in' New Zealand—aiid steps were already boiug taken in that direction. He was not of opinion, however, that New Zealand should have separate representation at tho Olympic games. Her place vas with Great Britain, Australia and Canada—they shoiild be together, in any combat whatever, sport included. The Dominion, could not be adequately separately represented in aH those sports played by the British nation, and, even if they could find the neceesary' representatives, they could Hot find tho necessary money. Ho was suro that it was not practicable for the Dominion to be separately represented. As to the questibn of advertissnwjit, the speaker had the programme of the Festival of Empire sports with him, and it shewed all our own runners with the words New Zealand alons.'jtie their names, bm! the papers all referred to them as New Zealanders. Ho would oppose tks -motion. Strl Crombic (New Zealand Rugby Union) remarked that it appeared to him as if his presence at tho meeting was hardly necessary, as it appeared that was not included in the Olympic games. - • .'■■■' ' Mr 'Chaffey (pnlf) nsked if. in view of 'Df'; ; Newitiffi'a'remark about ;the golf champion, v.'lictht'r , . golf iWoj the programme. Tho chairman replied, that he was not aware that it wns. . Mr. Tord (Cycling Union) considered that it was .scarcely ' fair that Mr. Cnombes. representative of .the Olympic Sports Committee,.should have the right to reject anyona chosen by New. Zealand aa a membrr of the team. The chairman explained that Mr. Coombes only held tho power in, regard to the amr.teiir' status of a competitor. Tho committee had to have someone to say that each competitor wns an amateur, and Mr.-. Coombps- was tho delegate to-certify ti the Australian comnetitorc Mr. L. Baul (scrrptnry of iho Australian Game) thought that, if New Zea-

land could find the men to adequately represent them, and could also- find the money, it would be expedient that thoy should bo separately represented, but ho thought that Mr. Marryatt had struck tho right chord in his remarks. He spoke as an Australian, who had been at-ked to atlund the meeting. He pointed out that Arnst would bo no use to New Zealand at tho Olympic Games, as ho was a professional.

Mr. Dunn (Athletic) opposed the motion.

-Mr. J. H. Pollock (Festival of Empire Committee) agreed in all that Mr. Marryatt had said. He pointed out. that steps had already boon taken towards forming an Olympic Sports Committee in the Dominion. He opposed separate representation at the Games, but he was in favour of a motion being passed attirming the- principle (hat a committee should be formed in New Zealand. Ho would move as an amendment: "That the members of this public meeting " The chairman here pointed out that it was not a public meeting, and Mr. Pollock thereupon did not proceed with his amendment. '

Mr. Davis (Athletic Association) opposed tho motion, on tho ground that several of those present had no authority from their committees to vote on the matter.

Mr. Hill replied, and the motion was then put to the meeting. The mover only voted in favour of it, tho "noes" being omphalic.

The meeting concluded with a Tote of thanks to the chair.