OLYMPIC FUND

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 18

OLYMPIC FUND

Administration Criticised Victimisation of the present generation of athletes by the policy of the New Zealand Olympic Council in the administration of the fund raised by public subscription was alleged at the annual meeting qf the Miramar Boxing Club last night. The opinion was expressed that no time should be lost in pressing for better provision for future, occasions when Olympic teams were being sent overseas, so that New Zealand would be more strongly represented. “Now that the New Zealand team has departed to represent its country at Berlin it is time to ventilate the difficulties under which they left,” said Mr. J. C. Troy in bringing the question forward. He stated that there was in existence a fund which was raised by public subscription. He contended the policy of investing that sum and leaving interest only for defraying expenses of teams was victimising the present generation. It would be readily conceded that this year's team was not representative. It was not because of a dearth of talent that the Olympic team had been small, but because the interest on the invested funds of the council was insufficient to pay the expenses, and the principal could not be touched. That it was contended was a grave injustice to the present generation of athletes and did not encourage the highest standard in sport.

It was decided to forward a letter on the lines of Mr. Troy’s remarks to the New Zealand Boxing Council, asking it to take the matter up with the Olympic Council. It was felt that the matter should be taken up at the earliest opportunity so as to ensure stronger representation in Sydney in 1940.