ATHLETE HONOURED

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 74, 28 March 1930, Page 7

ATHLETE HONOURED

FAREWELL TO G. A. GOLDING A farewell afternoon tea to Mr. G. A. Golding, the champion Australian 410 yard: runner, who has been touring New Zealand, was'given yesterday by the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. Among those present was the. Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup). Mr. R. W. M'Villy, president of the N.Z.A.A.A., spoke of the high esteem in which Mr. Golding was held on and off the field of sport, and said that he was one of the best parformers on the track ever seen in New Zealand. Mr, Troup said he would like to add to the praise given to Mr. Golding. lie referred to him as one of the finest built men he had ever seen. He hoped that Mr. Golding would one day reside in .New Zealand, bo that he coulch race as a New Zealand athlete. Australian athletes, said (Mr. Troup, would always be. welcome ,in I New Zealand, and he wished Mr. Golding the best of luck in his attempts on records in the future. Mr. A. C. Kitto spoke, expressing the hope that the name of G. A. Golding would eventually, be added to the Australian team for; the Empire Games in Canada, although it had not been in the team cabled from Australia. Mr. J. Heenan, of the Olympic Council, expressed astonishment at the omission of Mr. Golding's name from the Australian team, and said that if it were not finally included it would be the greatest error ever made by the. Australian selectors. In New Zealand they believed in sending their beßt athletes away and having them return world champions. They would send Mr. Golding'to a championship meeting anywhere. He had made times for the 440 yards in New Zealand that had never been equalled by any New Zealander. He had also beaten the times o' a former great Australian runner, win) hail once in Athens beaten the world's best. Mr. Golding briefly replied, stating that he wculd always have the happiest recollecoions of New Zealand, and that he had met many fine gentlemen on and off the field of sport. 0.. behalf of 'the ■.Wellington Centre. Mr. Kitto presented the visitor _ with a greenstone paper-weight with a kiwi, and Mr. 11. Amos, who also spoke, presented a rug on behalf of the Wanganui-Taranaki Association. Miss Miller spoke on behalf, of the ladies. The function closed with musical honours for Mr. Golding. .