ATHLETICS AND WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 239, 4 July 1940, Page 3

ATHLETICS AND WAR

Open Championships To Be

Discontinued

ENCOURAGING JUNIORS

A decision to discontinue national open championships for the duration of the war was made at a meeting of the mangement committee of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association this week.

“I listened last night to a broadcast by a man who has done everything he could to preserve peace,” said the chairman, Mr. R. W. MeVilly. “Reading between the lines, there is no question that things are far more serious than we out here have any conception of. I am not suggesting that the Empire is not going 'to win—l think it is going to win—but this is the attitude I take: every man who is fit to bear arms is required overseas, and he wiil be required overseas as quickly as possible. Where the smack has got to be given is in that old little island, and when it is given there they have to be in a position, having given our friend the once over, to get quickly over the other side of the Channel and give it to him there. For that they will want men.”

He thought that the interests of the sport would be W'ell preserved by continuing to encourage juniors.

Mr. H. McCormick said that if national championships were held it would mean that athletes would have to get probably up to a week’s leave at a time when leave of that kind was not justified. Mr. D. Woodfield referred to the need of bridging the gap between the juniors and men called up for service. It might possibly be about eighteen months before soldiers ballotted for wore called up for service. He suggested that the championships could be held and referred to as "war period” championships. Mr. M. R. Watterson said that perhaps tile championships could be held, and the proceeds devoted to patriotic purposes. The motion was carried on the voices. It was pointed out that the junior and women’s championships would not be affected. It would mean, however, the cancellation of the August cross-country championships.