ATHLETICS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 July 1933, Page 6

ATHLETICS

N.Z. TEAM FOR EMPIRE GAMES. [per press association.] WELLINGTON, July 3. A further step toward sending a team to the Empire Games, which will be held in England in 1934, was taken by the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, tonight. It was decided to ask all centres to appoint their nominees foi the games. A notification was received from the New Zealand’ Olympic and British Empire Games Association that no assistance could be given in financing the team, as its funds were heavily overdrawn in order to send a team to the Olympic Games last year. The people of the United Kingdom seemed generously prepared to foot part of the bill for sending a team, observed the Chairman, Mr R. W. MeVilly, referring to the offer of £lOOO for steamship fares. He thought New Zealand should get better results in that way than in having games here or in Australia, say one in ten or fifteen years. From a financial point of view alone, it would be out of the question to have games in New Zealand. Mr McVilly said that the Council would not accept the nomination of any athlete who could not do credit to the country’s sport. He could say definitely that there would be no ladies in the next team.

AUSTRALANS’ VISIT. A tour of New Zealand by Australian athletes next season was discussed by the Council. Canterbury was the only dissenter among the letters from the centres favouring the tour by Australians rather than a team from America. Mr R. W. McVilly said Canterbury might be persuaded to alter its attitude. The majority of the members were in favour of an Australian team, which undoubtedly would be cheaper. TROPHIES FOR SCHOOLS. Reference was made to the Herbert Smith Trust Fund, under which £lO,OOO was provided to be expended on athletic trophies over a period of seven years. The Secretary of the Association (Mr L. A. Tracey) said the trust had now three years to run, and between £2BOO and £3OOO remained unexpended. No capital grant could be made, but the. trustees would be pleased to receive applications for trophies; but they could not, be for existing competitions. Trophies would only be given for something new. It would be a good plan to apply for trophies for competition among primary and secondary schools in the various centres. A sub-committee comprising Messrs H. J. Anstad and F. Reid was appointed to consider the question, of the fund.