A SPORTSMAN’S NOTEBOOK

Evening Star, Issue 21078, 15 April 1932, Page 14

A SPORTSMAN’S NOTEBOOK

GLEANINGS FROM SPORT [By H.P.S.] The subject of New Zealand’s representation at the Olympic Games is a bit* one indeed, and one can recall m the past that squalls have arisen from New Zealand’s participation in the Olympiad. The arguments and controversy that followed the return of the New Zealand team from the 1928 Games were regarded by many dominion sportsmen as a distinct setback to the Olympic movement, and now before the team has been finally selected to represent New Zealand at Los Angeles a tew months hence, there have been recriminations up and down the country, more particularly concerning the selection ol tho athletic and rowing teams. . Tho New Zealand Anlateur Athletic and Cycling Association’s Council appointed Messrs P. W. Breen and T, Henry to select the athletes fit for nomiuation, and the two men to whom the task was entrusted are regarded in the athletic world as being thoroughly competent to make a thorough success of the job. Mr Breen especially has devoted a lifetime to athletics in Otago, He is one of the provinces best known administrators, has visited numerous New Zealand championships, track and field, and cross country fixtures, and is a man who is acknowledged as being a rare judge of an athlete’s capabilities. . , . Yet, that their appointment has been nothing else hut a farce has been shown by the manner in which their recommendations have been overridden by the New Zealand Council. It seems apparent that the council adopted the attitude from the outset that ir tho report of the selectors did not please it the council would go ahead on its own and make its own nominations for submission to the Olympic Council. The selectors had no recommendation to make at all concerning a lady competitor, and yet the council nominated Miss Thelma Kench in preference to J. W. Savidan, F. J. Grose, and A. A. Cameron, absolutely ignoring the selectors’ definite recommendation that Savidan should have been the first man selected. No complaints will he made concerning the nominations of A. J. Elliott and S. A. Black, for both have proved their worth, but how the coun- j oil can explain its flouting of the selectors’ recommendations in regard to tho other men would be interesting. There is no need in this column to go into the qualifications of the various men . recommended by the selectors, but it is certainly a matter that all centres should take up as to why the council has seen fit to thoroughly go past the report of its own selectors. The council seems determined to persevere with Evans, and even adopted the unconstitutional and discourteous expedient of arranging a trial for him without even consulting the selectors. Further, the council’s nominations were made public before those of the selectors appointed for the purpose, and they had an opportunity of expressing their views on them. The whole affair savours of Mussolini-like methods, and not for a very long time has there existed, in the south, at any rate, such dissatisfaction with the way the governing body has acted. Action should be taken, and if satisfaction is not obtained then consideration might even be given to a suggestion that has already been made in some quarters that there should be some change in the headquarters of the association.

While on tho subject of the Olympic Games, one cannot but help referring to the astounding revelations that were made at last week’s meeting of the Otago Rowing Association concerning the method of selection of the New Zealand eight and of the way in which the trial raco was arranged. Otago’s record in the interprovincial eights need not be laboured, but even the most casual observer would think there was something wrong when only one man was selected from this year’s victorious crew, especially as tho three others who were available have all been members of Otago’s winning crew for some years past. New Zealand has always rallied loyally to the support of the rowers when appeals have been made for funds to despatch the team, but in face of the astounding selection this year tho public has every right to ask itself whether it is justified in contributing on this occasion. Otago is not the only centre that has expressed dissatisfaction with tho mode of selection of the New Zealand crew, and the following paragraph from the New Zealand * Observer ’ (Auckland) seems to express the thing neatly:— “ Marlborough supplies four men to the New Zealand rowing crew, Otago (which has far and away the best record of any province in recent years) one, Wellington one, Hamilton one, and Canterbury three. Marlborough’s predominant representation is difficult to understand, as there is not a really outstanding oarsman among the four. The general impression among rowing men is that the selectors were swayed by A. M. Halo, of Marlborough, who is notoriously parochial in his outlook.”

The stir that has been created by the recent nominations make one wonder if thei’e is not a good deal in what was stated by the athletic selector, Mr P. W. Breen, last week that more good might be done by utilising part of the money spent on despatching teams to Olympiads in bringing coaches to New Zealand to raise the standard of the various sports here. This may not be applicable to rowing, for New Zealand has shown herself to be in world’s class, but so far as such sports as swimming and athletics are concerned there is something in it. and under prevailing conditions serious thought might bo given to the matter.

The difficulty experienced by boxing associations in bringing two good men together was the subject of pert comment by Mr Harry Divers, secretary of the Otago Boxing Association, last week, and he suggested that whenever negotiations were entered into with two men of any class a certain amount of “ hedging ” invariably took place. Upfortnnately those who have had much to do with the boxing game know that

this is only too true, and it is a state of affairs confined not merely to N.ew Zealand. But the position becomes accentuated here because of the fact that, especially at the present time, good professionals of drawing ability are scarce, and the proposal that has been considered by the Otago Boxing Association that in tho absence of worthwhile professional attractions regular amateur tournaments should be held has a good deal to recommend it. Besides the fillip it would give to amateur boxing, it must be remembered that unless something more is done to raise the standard of amateur boxing there will in a very short time ho a deartli of good local men to fill professional boxing ranks, and without the local Eroduct the importation of foreign oxers loses some of its value. The only prospect of attractive professional contests in sight is that some of the boxers who may visit Australia this season may come on to New Zealand when they have fulfilled their engagements on tho other side.'

No one will deny the valuable work that is being done by the men who give up their time to referee Rugby matches Saturday after Saturday, but the proposal of the Referees’ Association that the Appointment Board should consist of five non-playing members of the association could scarcely expect the support of the Rugby Union without very strong reasons being adduced for its adoption. Tho Rugby Union is the governing body of the game in Otago, and its members are appointed directly by delegates from the clubs. Therefore it seems only logical that the union should have a say in the appointment of referees to control tho games, and there does not seem to have been any complaint from the players in regard to the system at present in vogue. Tho union would probably have the support of players in rejecting the proposal as it did, but in approving of the suggestion that no member of the association should be eligible for interprovincial or other outside matches unless ho had acted in at least five club matches in a season the union acted only reasonably, for it would ho unfair if some official who had acted only intermittently was to be appointed to some of tho important games when they happened along. The Referees’ Association is doing very fine work here, but it cannot complain at the Rugby Union for desiring to keep the control of the game in its own hands. • * » » A good story is told in ‘ The Ring ’ concerning Kid Lavigne, who went oyer from the United States to fight Dick Burge, a good English middle-weight, in London. The Kid looked like a big, blonde baby, and the Englislunen could not believe that he had a chance with the heavier and more dangerous-look-ing Burge. The British lords who were such supporters of boxing were not slow when it came to wagering. It was the custom to bet with the finger. One finger raised meant a hundred pounds. When Lavigne found the odds against him were 4 to 1, he decided to have a little wager on himself. Catching the eye of one big bettor, the Kid raised five fingers as he sat waiting for the gloves to be laced on his hands. He thought he was betting 500 dollars against 2,000 dollars. As the Englishman understood it, Lavigne was wagering £SOO against £2,000. Lavigne knocked out Burge and was paid something like 10,000 dollars, which was a pleasant surprise. Almost every American at the fight had a bet on the Kid, and their triumph was complete.