WOMEN’S PART IN ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 269, 10 August 1938, Page 10

WOMEN’S PART IN ATHLETICS

Questionnaire Sent To Wellington Centre CAN COMPETITION BE HARMFUL? The question of whether women should compete in international athletics at meetings also open to male competitors and other aspects of the same subject cams before the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association at a meeting last night. The following letter was received from the council of the New Zealand association: —

“The question of women competing at Olympic and British Empire Games has been raised from time to time in this and iti other countries and suggestions have been made that it would be desirable for women to have separate competitions apart from the men. The council requests that centres give careful consideration to the question and advise the council of their conclusions.. The following points are mentioned merely as an indication of some aspects deserving consideration : — “(a) AVhether or not it is advisable that women should have separate control of their own branch of the sport; if not immediately practicable, then as soon as possible. “(b) It is .understood that at least one country has decided not to send mixed teams to the games in future. “(c) So long as women athletes are under the control of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association are they not entitled to representation the same as male athletes? “(d) J. E. Lovelock has expressed himself as being opposed to women competing in international competitions such as the Olympic Games. “(e) AVhether or not high class international competition is harmful to women." Comments made on tlie various questions set out in the council’s letter by Mrs. A. D. Rowse, lady officer to the Wellington Centre, were read to the meeting. Mrs. Rowse stated that she did not think the present time w r as opportune for separate control. Athletics at present did not have a large following, and any further split would tend to reduce that following. A fair section of the crowds attending athletic meetings liked to see women competing. Some might not, but while both women and men were competing the followers of each would attend. Share in Control. “I do think that something should be done to give women control of their own section of the sport.” Airs. Rowse’s report continued. “In Wellington at present the women have no active voice in the management of affairs, and I suggest that now is an opportune time to set up a women’s subcommittee to make recommendations to the Wellington centre in matters pertaining to their participance in athletics. Ido not suggest that they as yet should be given any form of control. A baby must learn to crawl before it walks.”

Referring to question (b) which she takes to mean whether there should be mixed teams, Airs. Rowse commented as follows: “I do not think that the teams should be mixed, but that there should be two teams under separate control. Also control of the wonlen’s team should be fairly strict and members advised before confirmation of their selection is given of the conditions under which they will be placed while away. If this point was made very clear before a team departed much unpleasantness afterward would be avoided.” Airs. Rowse considers the statement contained in question (c) indisputable “so long as they come up to the standards required.”

In answer to question (d) Mrs. Rowse stated that she would like to know whether Lovelock made that statement from observation as a male participant at the games or from knowledge gained as a medical student.

The final question was dealt with by Mrs. Rowse as follows: “This is more a question to be answered by qualified medical men after a careful study of the subject, as it is not one to be treated lightly and discussed without full and careful investigation. As far as athletics are concerned I do not think that they, as indulged in at present, are any more harmful to women than games such as hockey, basketball, tennis, etc.” At the suggestion of I the president, Mr. A. U. Kitto, it. was decided to defer discussion of this subject until the next meeting in order to enable delegates to give it careful consideration meanwhile.