APOLOGY DEMANDED

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 27 March 1935, Page 11

APOLOGY DEMANDED

JOURNALIST’S' STATEMENT RESENTED ECHO OF ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS An article in a weekly journal stating that Coleman, the walker, was trained by Mr A.. G.. Whiting, who was one of the judges of walking at the New Zealand championships at Wanganui this month was the subject of discussion at the executive meeting of the West Coast Amateur Athletics Centre last night, it being decided to refer the matter to the New Zealand Council. In so far as the journal was concerned, Messrs A. Grant, M. H. Niccoll and L, O. Hooker were appointed • a sub-committee to frame a suitable letter demanding a withdrawal of the statement and an apology. Mr Grant said that it looked likes a slur on the Centre that a man should be appointed a judge of walking when one of the competitors had been trained by him. Mr Whiting said that the statement was untrue. He was prepared to swear an affidavit that be had never had anything whatever to do with Coleman in training or in telling him anything about walking. Mr Grant said that the judge’s appointment had been confirmed by the New Zealand Council, and had never been questioned. Mr Whiting: It is a slur on my reputation and I am going to have it cleared up. If the' Centre will not do something in the matter I will put it in the hands of my lawyers. The Centre has only to say it has no confidence in me and I will get out of athletics altogether. Mr Grant said that was not the question at all, as Mr Whiting would not have been appointed had the Centre had no confidence in him. >. Regarding the printed article, Mr Grant asked whether Mr Whiting would be satisfied with an absolute withdrawal. Mr Whiting replied that he would, provided it was given the publicity that the other article was given.