BOOT AND GILES

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 83, 7 April 1936, Page 6

BOOT AND GILES

CHOSEN FOR BERLIN

DECISION LAST NIGHT

A DELEGATE WALKS OUT

Following an hour and a half of solid discussion, during which the issue was advanced by stages by motions and amendments until .the .final result was reached, the Council.of the New Zealand Olympic and .British Empire Games Association decided at a special meeting last night to select V. P. Boot, the Canterbury athlete, and G. R. P. Giles, the Canterbury cyclist, as members of the New Zealand team to compete at the Olympic. Games at Berlin in August. The selection , was made subject to ■ the national, associations which nominated them (the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association and the New. Zealand Amateur Cycling Association) finding the total of. their expenses, which the council laid down must be in the hands of its. executive by April 20.. Since the annual meeting, of the Olympic Games Association a week ago, at which proposals to reopen the question of nominations with a view to accepting the nominations of Boot' and Giles were . defeated, there has been much criticism: of the attitude adopted, and during last week moves were made to have their cases reconsidered. The meeting last night was for this purpose. Those present were; Messrs. H. McCormick ;(chairman),; P. Coira, A. Williams, ,A.:D. Bayfeild, G. P Aldridge, F. M. Reid, W. F. Irigram, H. I. Austad, J. W. Heenan, A. C. Kitto, H. Amos (hon. secretary), S. S. Dean, C. Camp, H. Paton. ' - : POLITICAL PRESSURE SUGGESTED. According to the newspaper reports, said Mr. McCormick,.people in Canterbury had been tryinjg to bring political influence to bear1 in the case of Boot, alleging as their reason that the Prime Minister was the president of the Olympic Games Association. His own view of the representations to Mr. Savage was that they had nothing to do with the fact that he was the president of tlie association; but that they were purely a; political/move, and he personally very much deprecated a move of that kind. -It appeared to him1 that Mr. Savage probably thought the same' way about it, because no communication had been received from him. It was, quite wrong, he thought, for anyone to attempt to',bring political pressure to bear on the matter. Newspaper reports also showed that in Canterbury ; absolutely rash- statements had been made about the action of the association. For .example, one gentleman had committed himself ,to the statement that there seemed to be something unclean about the whole thing. . . ■ Mr. Aldridge: Not only in Canterbury. '•;.-.■

"Whatever decision the association came to, continued Mr. McCormick; there was nothing unclean about it. Mr. Camp said that the publication of the way members voted at the annual meeting was incorrect, and, supporting this, Mr. Paton said _ that he had been reported as not having voted on the amendment, whereas 'he had voted. . ... .■'... . .... ; .... ~

The point had been made in Canterbury, said Mr. McGormick, that Boot's nomination had . been turned down purely, because it was late. That was not so. ,In his /.opinion ihe people primarily to fclame;'for Boot's, non-in-clusion were the' Canterbury Centre; Mr, McCormiok th^n referred to the suggestions-he had-madi? to1 give Boot a trial or trials over Olympic distances after his two wins at the national athletic championship meeting. He had suggested that the trials should not be rushed and that the conditions for Boot should be picked and that' if necessary an application should be made for an extension of time for the holding of a trial. That, however, had not been done. This perhaps was beside the point; the point he wished to make was that Boot had not been turned down purely on the technical point that his entry was in late. The other associations that had put in.'their entries in time had to be considered from the point of view of the expense to them. It "was necessary to draw the line definitely, and in his opinion the association had decided along those lines, rightly or wrongly. Mr. Austad said that he wanted to dissociate the ■ N.Z.A.A.A. from anything that might savour of political influence being brought to bear in Boot's case. In view of Boot's performances lately the N.Z.A.A.A. felt now that there was no question that Boot was up to; Olympic standard. At the same time his association wanted to see justice done to the other associations, and if necessary' was prepared to contribute up to £130 out of its own funds towards the cost of sending Boot, should he be selected. It was believed that the rest •of the money could be found in Canterbury:, Mr. Austad moved that the nomination of Boot be reconsidered. He then dealt with the voting at the annual meeting, which he said showed some members to have been "gloriously inconsistent." AN APPEAL TO THE CHAIR. Mr. Ingram, who seconded the motion, contended that the N.Z.A.A.A. had played the game by only sending forward the nominations of men absolutely up to Olympic standard. He also referred to the way some members had voted at. the annual meeting, his remarks in this connection being taken exception to by. Mr. Camp, T who appealed to the chairman for a withdrawal of them.'- •.. ■.."■.• Mr. Ingram at first said he would not withdraw his remarks, but eventually, after the chairman had intervened, he agreed to do so. Mr. Heenan moved as an amendment the nomination of Giles be incorporated in the motion. He did not think one should be dealt with without the other. He felt,, as he had felt at the annual meeting, that in not accepting any late ■ nominations they might be leaving out of the' team the two men who had the best performances to recommend them. Mr. Dean seconded the amendment, whereupon Mr. Austad said he would be quite happy to amend his motion on the lines suggested. He did not want it to be thought that he was thinking of Boot alone. Mr. Paton raised 'the question of whether the N.Z.A.A.A. had taken into account the possible effect upon Boot of shin soreness as a result of his competing on cinder" tracks. Mr. Kitto said he thought the report of Dr. A. E.- Porritt after the British Empire Games dealt more .with the case of T. G. Broadway than anyone else. Broadway did not have Boot's physique, said Mr. Kitto, and it was his opinion that Boot would stand up to any track work. Speaking on the motion as now amended, Mr. Kitto pointed out that the boxers were being sent solely on the word of the New Zealand Boxing Association. Boot and Giles bad times and performances to their credit which compared favourably with those recorded overseas, and yet the question was raised whether they should go. Mr. Kitto said he also took the stand that if someone turned up tomorrow and put up a great performance he also should be considered. In reply to Mr. Williams as to whaf. was to be the position ol the men

already selected, Mr. McCormick said there was no suggestion that their j selection should be disturbed. A DIFFICULTY. A little later the chairman said he felt it' his duty to point out that the annual meeting, which was a meeting of the council and the officers of the association, carried the] recommendations of the executive, and one' of the recommendations was that no further nominations be accepted. The council had no authority to overrule a resolution of the annual meeting, but that difficulty might be overcome.

Mr. Heenan said that if the motion before the meeting was carried he proposed giving notice of motion to convene a special general meeting of the association to revoke the resolution passed at the annual meeting and adopt the present one. ; j The motion that the nominations of Boot and Giles be reconsidered was then put to the meeting and carried with . two dissentients—Messrs. Paton and Bayfield. The chairman did not vote. Mr. Paton moved that the nominations be referred to the executive committee for its report and recommendations. Mr. Heenan said he thought that was a refinement, and that the meeting had to decide one way or the other. Mr. Paton did not persist with Ins suggestion. The next step was a motion by Mr. Camp that the nominations of Boot and Giles be accepted, and this was seconded by Mr. Heenan. The motion was quickly passed, and the meeting then proceeded to the question of the selection of Boot and Giles as members of the team. ' THE ACTUAL SELECTION. Mr. Heenan moved that Boot and Giles- be selected as members of the team, and that the national associa-tions-concerned be notified that their liability per man was altered. Mr. Camp seconded the motion. "To this motion Mr. Reid moved an amendment that Boot and Giles be selected subject to their national associations finding the total of their expenses. , Mr. Dean seconded the amendment. Mr. Ingram said he thought that the Athletic Association would be only too pleased to make the necessary arrangements, but the position might be somewhat difficult for the Cycling Association. Mr Amos said that the Cycling Association had only £25 in its overseas fund, but he thought the full amount required to send Giles could be obtained in Canterbury. Mr. Dean: They will get the money in Christchurch. Speaking, as he said, from the point of view of equalising things up, Mr. Bayfield stated that on. principle he did not think it was right that men who were considered up to Olympic standard should get into the team on ■more favourable terms than others. Mr. Heenan: That is why I moved my motion Mr. Coira supported the views of Mr. Bayfield. As a matter of principle, he did not think it was fair that the associations nominating Boot and Giles should be asked to find all the money. If a team was to be sent all should be treated on an ecjual footing. Although in the past he had advocated the spending of some of the principal, Mr. Dean said he felt now that the trustees of the Olympic Games Fund were probably right in conserving that fund and applying the interest from the money to sending teams abroad. A similar position as had cropped up this year might face the council again some time. 1 After the chairman had read a tele-1 gram in support of Giles's nomina-. tion he said if appeared from that ] that tho. money would be forthcoming 1 to send Giles in tho event of his selection. Mr. Heenan then said that with the consent of his seconder he would withdraw his motion; As the seconder of this motion, Mr. Camp expressed the view that the association had a responsibility in. the matter which it was not fulfilling. He 1 said he thought the association should bear either a definite or a set propor- j tion of the expenses; I Mr. McCormick said he was in fay-; our of Mr. Reed's amendment, on the ground that the nominations of Boot and Giles had been late. It seemed to him that national-associations had not always taken proper steps to sort out O^rmpic material in the proper time. Such associations should be penalised and should be shown that the Olympic Association was not' going to be put in. the position of having nominations coming in after the closing date. There was, of course, the possibility of a man putting up a performance afterwards which entitled him to consideration, but he thought that if proper steps were taken by.'the national associations that would seldom happen. He did not think proper steps, had been taken on this occasion. ■ Mr. Camp at this stage said he wished to move a further amendment to Mr..Reed's- amendment, to the effect that the1. Olympic Games Council should provide ;■ £50. for each of the two men now nominated. . j After considering the position, Mr. McCormick said he would accept such an amendment. '. .; •. Mr. Heenan said that with respect he would move that the meeting disagree with the, chairman's ruling. Mr. Camp, said■■' Mr. Heenan, had seconded his motion, and in effect he was moving an amendment to it. "Mr. Camp," added Mr. Heenan, "can only move his amendment by way of a substantive motion if the motion he originally seconded goes through unaltered." ' MR. CAMP LEAVES KOOM. The chairman said he had ruled in the matter, but as there was no seconder to Mr. ' Camp's proposed amendment the chairman's ruling was not further challenged. Mr.' Camp, however, after stating that he declined to vote, rose from his place at the table, and, after remaining in the room a few seconds, • left the meeting. Mr. Reed's amendment was carried, namely, that Boot and Giles. be selected as members of the team, subject to other national associations finding the total of their expenses, and, becoming the motion, it was also carried, without opposition. The meeting, after briefly discussing the financial aspect further, decided that the money should be in hand by April 20. Speaking on behalf of the Boxing Association, Mr. Aldridge congratulated the N.Z.A.A.A. and the Cycling Association on the selection of Boot and Giles; There appeared to be an impression that the boxers in the team were not up to standard. Those making the comment were casting a reflection on the Boxing Council, which considered its nominees were up to standard. The criticism had gone further, and to his mind there had been a cruel insinuation that if; the boxers succeeded at the Olympic Games the standard at the games would be very poor. The Boxing Council had made arrangements for its nominees to train in England and if they did not measure xip to standard the boxing authorities would have to say they were "a little bit poor in their judgment." The nominations had been made in all good faith. Mr. Austad, on behalf of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, thanked Mr. Aldridge for his congratulations and all members for the support accorded to Boot's nomination. His association thought highly of Boot, and it was not.at fault for not having sent in his nomination earlier. NO NEED FOR BACK-PATTING. Mr. Kilto said he did not think there was any need for patting one an other, on the back. If . Mr. Aldridge in his remarks was referring to

anything ho had said he thought he was totally wrong. Mr. Aldridge: No, I wasn't. Mr. Kitto said'that the statement he had made was that the boxers were taken purely and simply on-trust. Mr. Aldridge: You will alvyays have to take them on trust. After Mr. Amos had spoken on behalf of the Cycling Association, the { meeting, which had had big moments, terminated. j