ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 63, 8 December 1926, Page 12

ATHLETICS

AMERICAN TOUR ABANDONED DECISION OF NEW ZEALAND 'COUNCIL At the monthly, meeting of the council of the Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association held last night, it was decided to abandon the proposed visit to New. Zealand this season of the two American athletes. Members were ot the opinion that under the circumstances it would only be courting disaster to proceed with the tour. ~ , Tn discussing' the tour, tho president (Mr. R. W. McVilly) stated that the council was now in a position to arrive at a decision on the matter. It eeemea perfectly clear to him, and no doubt to the other members of the council that, at the present time it was not possible to go further ahead. “First of all. said Mr McVillv. “apart altogether from the difficulty of obtaining suitable competitors. that is. competitors who would atlrac't a crowd to sports meetings here, if is laid down hv the American authorities that foreign tours shall only be of davs. That makes it absolutely impossible for an American tour to be n financial success. The .only thing we can do at the present time. he continned “is to abandon the idea of getting Americans or anybody else from afibad . this rear. We have done the possible to do to carrv out the desires of the centres as conveyed to us in correspondence in regard to their willingness to give guarantees. Wo would not be doing our

duty to the centres if we pursued this matter any further. If it were decided to go on with negotiations it would be well on in January before we got these men here, which would give us only about six weeks to run a tour through New Zealand. • . In supporting the opinion of tho chairman’s remarks, Mr. Guy thought that Mr. Krogness, the council’s representative in America; should Be cabled to immediately, advising him of tho cancellation of the tour. He considered that the council, however, should be alive to tho position that had been created. “I think we should get in touch with Australia,” added Mr. Guy, “and ask for a report from our delegate who was at the international athletic conference as to the attitude he took yp. We should also ask what steps are going to be taken ,in providing against this. It is impossible to make tours of 21 days pay. If the limit of tours as laid down now is not altered international tours of any kind will ,be out of the question. Mr. L. A.’ Tracy said that the dele-

gate in Australia liawHhtcd against the 21 days’ tours; T Mr. McVilly then referred to the valuable services rendered by Mr. Krogncss to the council. He said Mr. Krogncss had been indefatigable in his efforts to bring negotiations to a satisfactory issue. He had been up against insuperable difficulties. Mr. McVilly then moved that the tour be abandoned and that Mr. Krogncss be thanked for his negotiations on behalf of tlie council. This was carried unani- | mously.