UNFORTUNATE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 20

UNFORTUNATE

NO ATHLETIC TOUR

ACTION TAKEN TOO LATE

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Atlhough opinions are divided on the question of embarking upon expensive tours by overseas athletes when the nation is at war, there has been no official statement countermanding the advice given in the early days of the war that sports bodies, among other organisations, should shut up shpp and make no endeavour /to carry on. Viewed in this light and because also of the celebration of New Zaoland's Centennial this year and the fact that financial assistance was available, from the proceeds of an art union, it is unfortunate that the management committee of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association has been unable to conclude successfully its negotiations for a national tour by an overseas team of athletes. !

There were hopes of securing a visit from a star American combination, but after a Ipng wait it was learned that the American Amateur Athletic Union was not agreeable to its first-class men going on tour this year because of the Olympic lames being set down for July and August. Then the war came, and shortly afterwards advice arrived from America stating that it was likely a team would be available if the Olympic Games were not to be held. No one knows yet officially whether the Olympic Games will be held or not, but as Finland now has her hands full and Helsinki, the venue selected for the big gathering, is being bombed, only a super-optimist would suggest that there is still a hope of plans be-

ing carried out. The N.Z.A.A.A., however, did not hesitate about the reply it should send to the United States. It felt that under the circumstances a team should nr' be invited from the U.S.A. AUSTRALIAN NEGOTIATIONS. Negotiations had also been entered into with the Australian authorities for a visit by an Australian team, although in this case no very definite step was taken until just before Christmas. Early in December, by a margin of only one vote, it was decided;to invite a team from Australia, but some time elapsed before the invitation was reduced to a practical form. It was -just before the holidays when it was sent, and at the time it appeared that there was little prospect of this belated application being successful. And it has not been. When S. G. Stenner, the Australian hurdles champion,- arrived in Wellington earlier this month under engage-; ment to the Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay Centre it w >.s learned that the New South Wales State championships are to be held on February 3. 10, and. 17, and it was plain from communications received from the New South Wales Association and the Australian Union that the New South Wales body was not willing to release any of its athletes for the tour during the period covered by its, championships. The athletes affected were D. B. Dunn and B. L. Ryan, sprinters, D. L. Miller,, hop, step, and jump, and E. J. Winter, pole vaulter, all of New South Wales, and G. Backhouse, middle-distance runner, of Victoria. It is understood that the Victorian Association would not have been prepared to release Backhouse for a similar reason.

The New South Wales Association suggested postponing the tour until after its championships, but a tour in March is too late for most of the centres in this country, and, in any event, in the earlier part ofr the month it would conflict with the provincial championship meetings and also the national championships. Under these circumstances, there was no other course open than to call off *the idea of a tour by Australians.

This, however, does not alter the fact that, if prompt action had beep taken after the decision to invite an Australian team was made early in December, it may have been possible to have made arrangements for several athletes to have come to New Zealand in company with Stenner for a three

weeks' tour in January and. still allowed them time to return to Australia for their State championship meetings. When the N.Z.A-AIA. invitation was sent it was. too late to arrange anything like that. '"''.■■•■".*

UNFORTUNATE FOR'LOCAL '_. ■ ■'■ CENTRE.•'■. '■ ■■■;.;■! ■/

!; It is a pity from the point <pf i view of the Wellington Centre •■ that the N.Z.A.A.A. decided upon a national tour. But for that the centre would have endeavoured to do something and probably ..would have succeeded in bringing two or three Australians over for a provincial tour this; month.

Now that there is to be: no overseas team, the Wellington Centre has set to'work to stage a worthy' Centennial meeting on the Basin Reserve on February 10 to augment several other big meetings to be held on the.Basin this season, including the New Zealand track and field , championships on March 8 and 9. Wellington people and visitors to the city, therefore^;will still be provided with athletic attractiona of a first-class order. . ..'•,-"■