LOVELOCK ITINERARY ALTERED

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 45, 17 November 1936, Page 8

LOVELOCK ITINERARY ALTERED

Earlier Departure

DESIRE TO AVOID RISK OF HEALTH BREAKDOWN

. An alteration in the New Zealand itinerary of Mr. .1. E. Lovelock, the champion runner, was announced yesterday by the Minister of Internal Affairs, lion. W. E. Parry. Owing to the strain of constant travelling and public appearances, in many eases several times a day, together with the shipping strike in the United States of America, Mr. Lovelock finds it necessary to depart from Auckland by the Aorangi on December 8, instead of four days later as originally intended. “This rearrangement of Hie period of the famous New Zealand athlete’s stay in ids native country causes to be deleted engagements prior to his arrival in Rotorua from bis return North Island itinerary,” said Mr. Parry. “On leaving Wellington on Wednesday, November 25, Mr. Lovelock will proceed to Rotorua, via National Park, instead of by way of the Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay, Poverty Bay and the Bay of Plenty. “I have no doubt,” added the Minister, “that Mr. Lovelock himself would have been willing to keep to the prearranged programme if it had been practicable at all. The Government, however, feels that no risk of a breakdown in our visitor’s health can be taken. From the beginning a four or five days’ holiday in Rotorua was contemplated and this cannot be forgone. Naturally people in those places now excluded from the itinerary will be very disappointed. They will, I feel sure, accept the inevitable in a proper sporting spirit and recognise with the Government that, brief as it has been, Mr. Lovelock’s visit has been of inestimable value to New Zealand as a whole, and not merely the sporting section of it.”