OVERSEAS ATHLETES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 132, 7 June 1939, Page 9

OVERSEAS ATHLETES

CENTENNIAL YEAR

REPLY FROM AMERICA

"I think it is pretty hopeful that we will get a team from America and also from Australia, although I have nothing very definite yet," said Mr. H. McCormick, the lion, secretary, last night, at a meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Council, referring to the prospects of overseas athletes competing in New Zealand next season. Mr. McCormick said he had received a letter from Mr. Daniel J. Ferris, New York, secretary of the American Amateur Athletic Union, in reply to his letter asking what prospects there were, of a visit from a team of four athletes from America, preferably from the Pacific Coast, so as to reduce transportation costs. Mr. Ferris had replied that the policy adopted by the foreign relations committee of the American Amateur Athletic Union was to give the national champions the preference of all foreign trips. If the champion in any particular event was not available, the second and third place men were given consideration in order. The American championships would be held at Lincoln, Nebraska, on July 3 and 4, and if the N.Z.A.A.A. would let him know the events it was interested in, the matter could be handled definitely at that time, as the foreign relations committee would also hold a meeting at Lincoln.

"It is doubtful," Mr. Ferris" added, "whether our foreign relations committee will approve of any of our outstanding athletes going away on trips of this kind so close to the Olympic Games. While we will be glad to comply as nearly as possible with the request to send athletes from the Pacific Coast, it may be necessary to take athletes from other parts of the country."

Mr. McCormick said it was appreciated that probably the Olympic men would not be available, but even so it was felt that it should be possible to get an • attractive team to tour New Zealand. He said he would write again in time for the July meeting of the foreign relations committee giving further particulars of New Zealand's requirements. He added that he had also written to the secretary of the Southern Pacific Association of the American union, but had not yet received a-reply, nor had he heard from Mr. A. L. Fitch, the coach, who before he left New Zealand had promised to make some inquiries.

The council approved of full championship programmes without relays for senior and women athletes and a full championship programme for juniors for the athletic section of the New Zealand Centennial Games to be held at Auckland in January next.