ATHLETIC SELECTORS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 4, 5 July 1927, Page 6

ATHLETIC SELECTORS

FURTHER CRITICISM

ANOTHER TO BE APPOINTED

Ever since the personnel of the Selection Committee appointed to select a team to represent New Zealand at the next Australian and New Zealand Championships was announced, it has been the subject of c-t:eism by the Canterbury and Otago Centres. Further communications in connection ivith the matter were received at last evening'B meeting of the council, and after some discussion it was decided that an additional selector be appointed. LETTERS FROM CENTRES. A letter from the Canterbury Centre asked that a South Island selector be added to the Selection Committee, as it was considered by the Centre that this would result> the form of runnL to the south being made known to the coun-

The secretary of the Otago Centre advised that his Centre had passed the following motion:-« That the Otago Centre is not an favour of the four selectors already appointed, and considers that the selection Committee should either consist ot two men—one from each island, to be appointed by the centres in each island— or a committee of aye, one from each of the centres affiliated to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association." . The letter added that the Centre did not at any time suggest that four selectors should be sent through New Zealand to select the team but the contention was that the South Island should have direct representation on the.committee. The Wanganui-Taranaki^Centre supported the views held by Otago. \ letter from the Auckland Centre stated that at a recent .meeting it was decided to place on record the Centre's confidence in the New Zealand Council and its appreciation of the fact that whenever the Auckland athlete was worthy of selection nowadays he was not overlooked.

Mr. H. Austad (Canterbury) said .that it appeared that 'some.of the centres were not placing very much confidence in the council's choice of the Selection Committee. Personally, if he were on the committee he would feel disposed to resign, but as matters stood at. present he thought the wishes of the southern centres should be met as far as possible rather than there should be dissension. He moved that a selector from the South Island be appointed in addition to the four already chosen the southern centres to be invited to send m nominations for the position. ' Mr. V. Hugo: "Why is. it necessary to have such a lot of selectors? The team practically will be self-selected.' In my opinion one man would bo sufficient, or possibly two." . COUNCIL'S'AIM AND OBJECT. 'Mr. R. W. M'Villy said that the various centres the delegates represented either had confidence in the council or they had not. The centres should do the council the justice of believing that in everything and. anything it did only one aim and object was in view. That was the advancement of athletic sports in the Dominion as a whole, and to see that the Dominion was represented by the very best men. It was wrong in principle to introduce any parochial spirit. "We are here to represent and do our very best for athletics in -the Dominion," added Mr. M'Villy. "We • are not concerned whether the selectors come from Auckland, Wellington, Chnstchurch, or from the Bluff- or anywhere else. We have appointed selectors, wjio we think are qualified to form a definite decision and weigh up the qualities of the athletes. The men we have selected are men whom we believe will carry out their duties." Personally he did not object to a fifth selector^ On the suggestion of IVfr. M'Villy, Mr. Austad amended his motion to read: "That a fifth be appointed, all centres to be invited to; send in nominations."" Mr. H. Franklin (Otngo) seconded the motion. /

Mr. Hugo: "Another fly in the ointment seems "to be that there are nien on the Selection Committee who 1 arc" not members of the council. 'Everyone will endorse what Mr. M'ViDy has said, but I think had the council not.appointed men not on the council there would have been no trouble." \

Mr. M'Villy remarked thut- the centres had been invited to: send in sußgestions ns to the selectors, but "they had chosen to sit back and do nothing. Under the circumstances the council had adopted the only . measure possible.

Mr. Aiistntl's motion was passed.