EMPIRE GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 9, 12 January 1938, Page 11

EMPIRE GAMES

NEW ZEALAND TEAM

GOVERNMENT FAREWELL

The members of the Now Zealand team for the British Empire Games at. Sydney, are to,be tendered a farewell by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon, M- J, ,-Savage) and members of the Government at a .morning tea function in Parliament House' at 10 o'clock on Thursday of; next-week. With the exception of Miss D, Lumley (Auckland), one of the women athletes, the team will be leaving by the Wanganella later in the.day. Miss Lumley is travelling direct from Auckland with her mother arid twin sister.

After the Games are over the Aiickland members of the team are to sail from Sydney by the Niagara, leaving on February 17, and arriving at Auckland on February 21, Also on board the Niagara will be the Canadian representatives. The..rema.injng members of, the New Zealand team are to sail from Sydney on February 18 by the Awatea for Wellington, arriving" here on February 21.

ANOTHER ATHLETE?

It was learned today that there is a possibility of another athlete, Miss Edna Munro, of Auckland, being included in the team. When the athletic representatives were announced she was regarded by. some as being unlucky in missing selection. Since then, in a special trial in Auckland in the broad jump, she succeeded in breaking her N.ew Zealand record three times, her best jump being 18ft 5 l-Bin, compared with the New Zealand recqrd at present standing to her credit of 17ft lliin.^ After sending forward its nomination, the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association decided that it would not submit any additional candidates to the Olympic and Empire Games Association unless there should be any exceptional performances. In view of this decision and on the strength of Miss Munro's recent performance, the AucklandCentre has asked that her case be reconsidered, and it is the intention of the N.Z.A.A.A. council to do this and make a decision within the next day or two.

THE CANADIAN ATHLETES

While the Canadian team was at Auckland on Monday, and yesterday inquiries were made on behalf of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association as to whether the athletes would be available for" a short tour in New Zealand on their, way back to: Canada from Australia. The advice received to date is that the Canadians are anxious that they shall not be away from Canada too long, owing to their difficulty in obtaining additional leave. However, the N.Z.A.A.A. secretary, Mr. H. McCormick, stated today that there is still a possibility of some of the team being able to stop over, but that would have to be the subject of further inquiries, In any event, Mr. McCormick added, the manager of the Canadian team, Mr. M. M. Robinson, had suggested, and he thought it would undoubtedly be carried out, that the. Canadian athletes could compete at a sports meeting at Auckland on their return from Sydney.'

Such a meeting, if arranged, would' probably have to be held in the evening, but even so it should be a firstclass attraction.