AUCKLAND SWIMMING OFFICIAL’S ACTION CAUSES A DISPUTE

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1950, Page 7

AUCKLAND SWIMMING OFFICIAL’S ACTION CAUSES A DISPUTE

AUCKLAND, March 10 (P.A.)— Information from the secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association (Mr Baxter O’Neill, of Christchurch) that the council of the association next Tuesday would consider whether or not to suspend Mr W. O. Stockley, chairmaff of the Auckland centre, for an alleged gesture of defiance of the council’s authority, has resulted in a telegram of protest to the council by seven members of the centre. “To avoid incalculable harm to the sport by an upheaval following any reprisals against Mr Stockley, we advise a conference by all parties or the immediate dropping of all the matters at issue,” the telegram says. Mr Stockley reported to the centre that he had received notification of possible suspension by letter from Mr O’Neill. In the letter Mr O’Neill said that he had been told that Mr Stockley had received a copy of an. appeal to the council by the North Shore Club against the centre’s action in holding the carnival to honour Auckland’s Empire Games swimming representatives on the night before a carnival scheduled by the club. In the circumstances, the question arose as to why no action had been taken to have the carnival postponed pending the issue of the appeal. Failure so to act was interpreted as defiance of the council’s authority and the council would therefore consider on Tuesday whether Mr-Stockley should be suspended or otherwise dealt with. After consideration of Mr Stockley’s report on the matter, members of the centre drafted and dispatched the following telegram to Mr O’Neill:— “The Auckland centre 1 protest against, the New Zealand Council’s action in singling out our chairman for punishment for proceeding with a carnival held to make presentations to Auckland Empire Games swimmers.

“The sport is tremendously indebted to Mr Stockley’s able administration, and m will not allow him to be victimised, either by suspension or any other penalty.” The telegram continues: “Furthermore, as the North Shore club has withdrawn, its appeal, we request that this matter be dropped. The council must understand that the Auckland centre wholeheartedly supports Mr Stockley and commends his actions at the games as being in the interest of sport and the public. His work for the games was outstanding, and we request that attacks on him must cease to avoid incalculable harm to the sport by an upheaval following any reprisals against him. We advise a conference by all parties or the immediate dropping of all the matter at issue.”