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Mataura Ensign, 29 December 1911, Page 2

particularly tlie case in regaixrf? tnl Now Zealand members of tlie team. The Australian representatives had signed a bond to implicitly obey instructions, but the New Zealanders apparently recognised no such authority. Mr Coombes' comments upon this phase of the visit are interesting. "It is to me," he says in his report submitted to the Australasian Amateur Association, "quite apparent that we cannot hope for any marked success in contests of the nature of tlie Empire games unless there be more cohesion, more thoroughness as to detail, and more system as to procedure. Force of circumstances had admittedly much to do with what I may call our haphazard attempt to 'lift' the Lonsdale Cup (won by Canada), but the experience gained by my trip to London impels me to affirm that it would be far better not to be represented at such gatherings than to be represented by a team the component parts of which are more or less on their own. Owing to force of circumstances it is, of course, impossible to command success; but we must try to earn it by thoroughness of system and minuteness of detail as so clearly demonstrated in the case of the Canadian team. In my opinion it is absolutely imperative that in future all members of teams should travel together and remain together, at least until the games to be participated in are over. Certainly should the members of the team be together and under the immediate control of their manager or director during their stay in the country visited. Furthermore, it is absolutely necessary to have a captain or director of the team quite apart from the manager or secretary. The track captain of tlie Canadian team was a doctor, who also holds the position of director of physical culture at Toronto University. This officer stayed with his team and practically directed and supervised their every movement, and whose word was a law unto them subject to no appeal whatsoever. He was to be seen in the dressing-rooms at the Crystal Palace, with his sleeves roleld up personally rubbing down and massaging as weH as daily making a close study of the physical condition of each member of his team. It can therefore be imagined how the Australasian and NewZealand team fared with but two officials directing or endeavoring to direct affairs and the team widely scattered." Mr Coombes adds later: "The Canadians went to England as Canada, as it was Canada all the time and States or associations were never mentioned. There was one common fund for the whole team. I believe I am correct in saying that the Dominion Government paid the whole of the expenses of what was considered a national affair." When this report was read before tlie Board of Control yesterday Mr J. H. Pollock, a member of the Board, said he felt called upon to remark that in comparison to the size of New Zealand our Government was equally liberal. It had been approached and had been fai'seeing enough to recognise that the trip was likely to be of great value to the Dominion, and bad offered a subsidy of £1 for £1 up to £SOO. He hoped the affiliated unions in other States would be as fortunate in the future in this respect as New Zealand had been. THE OLYMPIC GAMES COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, Dec. 28. A conference of representatives of the different Olympic Councils of the States of the Commonwealth and of New Zealand was held to-day, Mr A. Marryatt presiding. There were present: Messrs Parkinson (Victoria), E. A. Brooke (Tasmania). A. G. de L. Arnold (New South Wales) and B. A. Guise (lion, secretary). Mr Coombes, representative for Austiralasia on the International Committee, was present as a guest. Mr Marryatt referred to the suggestion to set up a Central Council for tlie Avholo of Australasia. His committee, he stated, was opposed to this idea, and he suggested that the secretary might be appointed to act for Mr Coombes in relation to the various councils. Mr Parkinson moved: "That Mr Arnold be asked to take the position of correspondent secretary for the Olympic Councils." Mr Coombes thought it absolutely necessary that some secretary should be appointed. It was advisable that an Australian Council Board should be formed of the gentlemen present at tlie Council. The Council need not necessarily meet in New South Wales. It had been decided to send an eight-oar crew to the games. There would be an emergency man and a cox, making ten in all. There were also men at Home attending the universities who could be called upon if necessary. They had decided to send three swimmers at lea-sti, Longworth, Harwick and Healy, with Wickham for the diving. West Australia had decided to send Findlay for the King's Cup. There were a number of shooting contests at the games. 'They proposed, to request the Australian team to Bisley to visit Stockholm for the shooting. In Victoria there would be N. Brookes (tennis), J. L. Davis andH. L. Kelly. New Zealand had Hill, Wilding, Keddell and Champion, while there was a rurner in London in J. G. Skeet. In Tasmania there was C. McVilly (sculling), and W. A. Stewart (sprint runner) was in London. He had merely mentioned roughly those who had been chosen by their respective States and those who might be chosen. Australasia could get up a team of, roughly, 20 men. It was absolutely necessary that the team should travel together. Mr Arnold was appointed secretary to act as between the different councils. On the motion of Mr Marryatt it was decided that each centre should contribute to a fund towards the secretary's working expenses. Mr Marryatt moved: ' 'That the selection of members of the team be left to fhe Olympic Councils of each State and that they be recommended to ask the governing body of the sport interested to make the selection." After some discussion this motion was amended by the deletion of all reference to the governing bodies making the selection, and in this form was carried, Mr Arnold dissenting. The following motions standing in the name of Mr Parkinson were carried: That it be a recommendation from this conference to the Olympic Councils that a sum in proportion to the number of their representatives be provided to cover managerial, secretarial arid general expenses; that an immediate contribution of £2 2s per council be eari marked to cover the ordinary expenses