ATHLETIC TEAMS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 29, 3 August 1926, Page 5

ATHLETIC TEAMS

VISITS FROM OVERSEAS ENCOURAGEMENT OF LOCAL TALENT. The question of visits to New Zealand o£ overseas athletic teams was discussed at a meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last evening. A letter was received from the Wellington Centre asking the council to consider inviting a' team of athletes from Britain. The secretary of the Canterbury Centre advised that he had l:een "instructed to press for the commencement of negotiations for a visit from American athletes on the lines of last season. His centre suggested that Ritola be approached, together with a well-known sprinter or Middle-distance man, such as Barber, Locke, or Helfferich, or a prominent jumper such as Osborne. The chairman (Mr. F. Wilton) said it would have to be borne in mind that Athletic Park probably would not be available for any big athletic meeting nest season, owing to the erection of a new grandstand. "We would then be forced into the hands of the City Council," said Mr. Wilton, and that would add to our difficulties. My own opinion is that we should not make a point of having tours from overseas teams each year. We should concentrate on encouraging local talent. Besides, if we are going to have teams each year we shall have to come to some better terms." Mr. Wilton referred to the large amount of work which had to be attended to last season. A paid officer to attend to the business should be appointed. It was not fair to ask honorary officers to carry on the work that accrued from overseas tours. Such tours made big inroads into the time of the members of the council in general. He thought the council should give its attention to local matters for at least one season. Mr. L. A. Tracy considered that unless a team was invited to New Zealand this year, when the public was behind amateur athletics, and when the council had some money, it might be a little difficult to get athletes out later. He thought the council should go ahead this year and invite a team from. Britain. Provided there waa some definite agreement between the council and the centres, he did not think the tour would entail as much work as last season. "I would be pleased to see even two or three athletes out here. If the council could get Lord Burghley to come, the whole of Wellington would want to see him jump the hurdles, just for the novelty of it." Mr. H. Ansted: "I think we should leave over the matter of inviting a team h-:e this season, and concentrate our time, effort, and money in encouraging local athletes." Mr. Wilton: "No other amateur association attempts visits from overseas annually. Nowadays the opinion is expressed in some quarters that sport is being overdone. We do. not want to do anything that is going to turn the public against us. After all the nursery of amateur sport is in the clubs, and the main object of this association is to foster sport in that direction." After some further discussion it was decided to hold the matter over until the return of Mr. E. Guy, who is now in Australia with the New Zealand athletic team.