UNHAPPY PARTY

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1928, Page 8

UNHAPPY PARTY

AUSTR AT JAN OLYMPIC TEAM.

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS

SYDNEY. November G.

Despite the protestations made at the time, it now seems that there was ample justification for the unpleasant rumours that wore circulated in reference to Australia's Olympic team. The publication of the report of the manager, and of interview with members of the team, has left with the public an impression that the tour was regarded in the light of a picnic by many of those who participated in it. ft is clear that there will bo no Australian representation at future Olympic. Games unless there is a xnorougn “clean up" and a reliable system is adopted which will ensure that money publicly subscribed is not wasted The two members of the team who have been accused of refusing to train while they were abroad have indignantly denied the charges of the manager (Mr Los huff). They are Tom Bolger the 'Victorian wrestler and C. S. Stewart middle-distance runner from New South Males. Mr huff said that Stewart spent most of his time visiting relatives in England The report of the manager has been endorsed l>v the chairman of the Australian Olympic Federation Mr James Taym.. and the Council has adopted both reports. Both men will now he reported to their respective organisations, and enquiries are hound to follow. Bulger said that he did everything possible to make himself fit for the Games. Tt was not refusal to diet tlinl accounted for his overweight, hut persistent had luck and illness He is astounded by the allegations, and In 1 intends to follow them up.

Mr Duff suggests more than he actually says when he emphasises the advisability in the future of the men and women members of the team, travelling separately to the Games, and being accommodated separately when abroad. lie .suggests very plainly that the girl swimmers were not amenable to discipline, and be accuses them of defying his instructions as regards diet especially on tlie voyage to England. Other accounts suggest that the girls wore carried away bv the social life on the great liner, and it is evident that Mr Duff bad practically no control over them.

The most serious allegations have been made by Boy Horton, who was the trainer of the Olympic team, and lie has made certain charges against the manager which seem to call for an enquiry and certainly do call for an expanation. Do lias caused to bo published bis diary of the tour, and the stories lie tells of high life on the Indian Ocean reflect not only on the team but on the manager and chaperon. Horton says that the lack ol control was such that an impossible task confronted him as trainer and masseur. He makes pointed reference to the presence with the team of Harry Hay, whose attentions, according to Horton’s diary oil May 2-ftli reads: “One girl has become the laughingstock of the team. She is the most fickle girl I have over met, and 1 have met a few. Nearly all the team have been ‘.sweet’ on her. . . The hoys draw cartoons depicting her exploits and her conquests among the males.” According to Horton, Mr Duff warned the chaperon, Miss Springfield, that she would have to be more strict with the girls. Horton described Miss Springfield as a. “nice woman.” but too trusting and inexperienced for bor position. Describing the stay at Ceylon, Horton says that several of the members of the team got “full”. The girls subsequently caused the manager great concern because they were over-eating and the manager told Horton, they were a lot of gluttons. The deck games, according to the same recorder, seem to have been of a boisterous nature, and ho had to attend to many members of the team, as well as the manager, for bruises. The girls also suffered from swollen ankles, the result of too much dancing. Horton also records the interesting fact that the team was warned not to associate in any way with the New Zealanders. He says that Mr Duff was apparently afraid of the New Zealand girl swimmers, and lie said that they were “not to he shown anything.’' The New Zealanders apparently asked Horton to massage them, and he said that lie would do so if he had the time. Harry Hay, it would seem, was encouraged by Mr Duff to pay attention to the team, although lie did not belong to the party, and this greatly annoyed the girls. One of the men members of the team caused a great deal of trouble by making “cannon Halls” which the girls threw at Hay while lie was pacing trie ueuiv. These and other unsavoury details are causing great concern among the public, and explanations are being anxiously awaited The team seems to have been a very unhappy one, facing defeat long before the arrival at Amsterdam, where the arrangements for its accommodation wore wretched.