MISSING A VISIT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 10 February 1926, Page 7

MISSING A VISIT

MANAWATU AND AMEEICAN

ATHLETES.

Dissatisfaction with the allotment of dates for appearances of the American athletes at sports meetings in the Dominion has been expressed by the Manawatu Amateur Athletic Sub-, centre. When the itinerary was drawn' up in the first place a, date was offered for a meeting in Palmerston North, but as this, as well as another, was unsuitable, the Manawatu Sub-centre was omitted from the programme for the tour as finally drawn up.. Against this treatment the sub-centre protested to the New .Zealand Council, and the matter was referred to the Wellington Centre. It came under notice at last night 'a meeting of the latter body.

The letter of protest stated, inter alia: —"While we recognise that it was essential that the arrangements .in connection with the tour should be made as early as possible, we stDl think that there was ample time for your body to i submit to us another date in place of the 22nd January, which we had to turn down owing to strong counter-attractions. . . As a matter of fact the Wellington ; Centre asked us to take the 23rd January nine days after we had turned down, the 22nd .January, and this date, too, had to be rejected owing to a continuance of the counter-attractions. . . As this subcentre is doing its best in the interests of amateur athletics and as our operations last year resulted in a sum of over £10 being £orwarded to, the council throngh the Wellington Centre, we think that we have not received proper' treatment. A desire was also expresse,d.,in the leter to seje the Ameri-j caii attiieteia in action' aft; Paljnerston' North, :and further application was made for a date, the sub-centre having agreed 'to a guarantee of £25. ,

In explaining the position, the" president (Mr. A. C. Kitto) stated that unfortunately al^ other available dates were fixed, various clubs or centres having accepted. "I -.realise that Manawatu need some help," he said, "and perhaps it was unfortunate that we were rather .hasty in fixing the dates. However,'they were offered the 23rd and could not accept, and Masterton would not give up' its second da,te; so that, the position iri which Manawatu was'placed could not be helped:" ;

It was decided to reply expressing regret that there was no opportunity/ of a visit by the American athletes to Palmerston; North. •