POOR PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 125, 23 November 1923, Page 3

POOR PROGRESS

OLYMPIC COUNCIL'S APPEAL

NEW ZEALAND'S REPRESENTATION AT GAMES.

Further reports' concerning the appeals for assistance towards raising funds lor the dispatch of a team to the Olympic and Empire Games were made to the New Zealand Olympic Council last evening, and they were far from a satisfactory nature. There was a feeling among members that the time and attention being given by them to the matter was being wasted. Those present at the meeting were as follow: Messrs. A. T. Davies (N.Z. Amataur Athletic Association), chairman, A. J). Bayfeild (Rowing Association), W. J. Ferkins (Football Association), W. F. Hornig (Rugby Union), A. Q. Headerson and Professor F. P. Wilson (Lawn Tennis Association),, and C. G. Camp (hon. secretary). It was reported that at Dunedin some of the sports bodies had declined to identify themselves with the movement to raise funds for sending a New Zealand team to the Games, and the Mayor of Dunedin had written stating that very little could be expected in the way of financial support in that town. At a public meeting there the following motion had been passed: "That this meeting considers that no representative should be sent to the British Empire and Olympic Games unless he or she is a recognised champion, and that the association at Wellington be asked to send further particulars as to the team which it was proposed to send." Much more satisfactory were the advices from Gisborne, where £50 had been guaranteed. When other centres gave confidence in the matter of launching a scheme, Gisborne would undertake to raise a sum of £120, including the guarantee. There was also a suggestion from Gisborne that a national shilling fund be started. A request was made that the fullest publicity shoulfr be given as to the number of athletes intended to be sent and the' different branches of sport they were to represent. Reports of the association's doings should be of a brighter nature. Bright appeals and outlooks should bring better results than continued downhearted reports as have been coming through.' s Other replies were of an indefinite and discouraging nature. The chairman staged that there were 64 clubs affiliated to^the N.Z.A.A.A., and each would undertake the sale of art union tickets. A proposal was made by, the chairman that the finance committee be authorised to go ahead with the art union scheme on a modified scale with prizes of £50, £25, £10, and £5 fbr v I' four> at*d fi% Prizes of £1 each. That amount was covered by the guarantees in hand, and he thought * 7^^Li? oubt tha tickets would brine in £4000. Owing to the number of appeals the larger scheme appeared to ha ve^ become a nightmare to the affiliated bodies, who. were afraid that an enormous amount of work would devolve upon them. In reply to a question by Mr. Ferkins, he stated that the cost for each man sent would be about £400 Mr. Camp urged that the' council should assert itself as, the final selection tivl "'* i tru]y representative of the sports bodies. After much discussion a decision was made to circularise the various bodies to the effect that if funds sufficed the sporte to be represented would probably be as follows: Field sports 1, hurdler or .printer 1, long-distance runner 1 swimming 2, boxing 2, rowing 2 or 4 "was decided not to proceed with the queen carnival, but to proceed with preparations for the art unk>n AtTe next meeting it would be definitely decided whether the council would proit%Tt£ "^ot ia ™c *"««>*