SWIMMING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15920, 4 May 1912, Page 17

SWIMMING.

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL. THE OLYMPIC GAMES DISCUSSION. The Council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association met last night; present—Messrs G. Harris (in tho chair), H. S. Williams, K. Bassett, G. Reese, 0. Kent,,G. Parsonson, H. Wauchop, and N. Goldsbury (secretary.)

By invitation, Messrs W. E. D. Bishop, R. Buchanan, and G. R. Rich, representing the Canterbury Centro waited on the Council to hear a statement regarding Champion's expenses at the Olympic games regarding which a deadlock had occurred.

The chairman said that, in reply to his personal guarantee of £SO towards Champion's expenses, the New Zealand Olympic Council had written, stating that the Swimming Association had not nominated Champion .till March 4, and only Wilding and Hill had been nominated. Later the Swimming Association had guaranteed an, adequate sum, and the Olympic Council had declined to undertake the liability unless a sum of £175 was guaranteed for Champion. Subsequently Champion had arrived in Wellington with a return ticket to London, but he had been advised not to proceed until his expenses were guaranteed. He had afterwards sailed in the Athenic, stating that he would compete in the English championships and visit the Olympic games. • Mr Harris said that in reply to the letter he had withdrawn any suggestion that the Olympic Council had treated Champion badly,' but he had pointed out that ho regarded it as strange that whereas £2OO had been asked" for both Wilding and Hill, £175 should bo required for Champion. A letter was read from the AVaitemata Club, stating that the Club had subscribed £IOO for Champion's expenses, and had expended it on a se-cond-class return ticket for Champion (£66), and a purse of £4O for Mrs Champion. The Club thought that the demand of £175 was exorbitant, and suggested that if Champion could not compete at Stockholm, lie should be nominated for the All England Championships. The secretary stated that he had written to the Olympic Council stating that, as Champion had a ticket to and from London, it did not seem reasonable that a further sum of £IOO was required, as the Council had stated. He had suggested that the Olympic Council should immediately take steps to nominate Champion. In reply to his communication a letter was read from the Olympic Council in Wellington stating that all arrangements with reference to the Australasian team were made by the Sydney representative (Mr Coombes) in Sydney, who had estimated the expenses of each man at £l5O. In addition the Council had to pay £lO per man towards the managerial expenses, and in Champion's case an additional allowance of £lO for out-of-pocket and training expenses on his way to London. Accommodation and training expenses 'at Stockholm and London might oxceed tho amount estimated, and in that case the Council would bo called on to make good any deficiency. Mr K. Bassett said that tho Olympic Council had calculated on sending the men Home first-class, and should make a reasonable deduction on that account. The chairman said that Champion was on his way to England, and the Council should see him through whatever the cost.

Mr Parsonson said that Champion was now in the same position as Wilding, as ho was, in effect, in London. If Wilding's expenses from London to Stockholm and back wero to he only £35, as stated by the Olympic Council, it was strango that Champion's expenses should ho £IOO. The chairman said that if the Swimming Council wanted Chamnion to go to Stockholm it should accept tho Olympic Council's terms and have an argument afterwards, if it had to come'to that. Ho was afraid that the Association could not nominate Champion over the head of tho Olympic Council. After further discussion it was decided to telegraph to the Auckland Centre askine whether, as had been stated, it held a sum of £SO towards Champion's expenses, as Mr Harris's guarantee of £SO was contingent on Auckland's subscribing: a like amount It was agreed to adjourn ponding'.,, conference! between the chairman and Mr A. Marriott, Chairman of the Olyinpic Council, who. will arrive m Christchurch to-day.. A sub-committee was set up to canvass for subscriptions.