N.Z.A.A.A. MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 153, 26 December 1936, Page 7

N.Z.A.A.A. MEETING

VISIT BY OVERSEAS TEAM

Owing to the delay by the Japanese athletic authorities in replying to the inquiry from New Zealand as to whether any athletes would be available for a tour of New Zealand this season, the cable from .Japan recently announcing that the distance runner Murakoso and a hurdler, Togami, can j come to the Dominion has placed the I New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association in an unfortunate position, in view of the fact that only a short lime before the association had decided to co-operate with the New South Wales A.A.A. in a tour by the two Americans, Poy Draper and George I Mackey. It is a great pity this sj,tua- j tion has arisent, but it is due' solely to the time which the Japanese allowed to lapse before advising the N.Z.A.A.A., whose cablegram was forwarded as far back as the beginning of September. It was only when it appeared that I the association would wait in valu for any word from Japan that the council decided to seize- the alternative offering of securing a visit by an overseas team by co-operating with New South Wales. The N.Z.A.A.A. Council has not heard officially, but.it has been reported by cable from . Sydney that the two Americans are expected to arrive in Australia at the end of this month. The council at the annual meeting this week decided that something more definite was necessary from New South Wales, for unless the tour by the two Americans, to which the council has committed itself, is absolutely assured it is not desired that the opportunity of having the two Japanese should be lost. Under the circumstances no decision has yet been made on the offer from Japan. It is unfortunate that the cable from Japan was so long delayed. A Japanese combination was the council's first choice, a*nd there is no doubt but that Murakoso, who represented Japan at the Olympic Games and ran fourth in the 10,000 and 5000 metres, and a good hurdler would be great draw cards. The cable asked for an, allowance of £1 per day, and this is something which it can be taken for granted the N.Z.A.A.A. would not countenance, unless of course it is meant that the £1 should also include accommodation expenses. * It has been suggested that even though the council has decided to cooperate with New South Wales in a tour by Americans the council ought to be able with advantage to "bring the Japanese to New Zealand as well, particularly if it is possible for them to be in the Dominion at the same time. Such an arrangement certainly would be a big attraction, but as the president (Mr. R. W. McVilly) pointed out this week there is the question of the expense that would be involved to be considered. The position, therefore, seems to be that the N.Z.A.A.A. havj ing undertaken through force of circumstances to co-operate with New South Wales, there is little likelihood of the Japanese being seen in New Zealand, except in the event of the N.Z.A.A.A. not being satisfied with the information or arrangements in connection with the proposed visit by the two Americans.