Visit Of Athletes From Overseas

Northern Advocate, 18 October 1947, Page 8

Visit Of Athletes From Overseas

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. This Day. A message from Auckland stating that the United States athletes Mel Patton and Herb McKinley, a negro, ana the Australian athlete John Treloar may visit Auckland in February was referred today to the president of of the NZAAA (Mr L. A. Tracy). Stating that it was the first intimation the New Zealand council had of the proposal. Mr Tracy pointed out .that any such invitations must be approved by the NZAAA and extended to athletes through their national controlling bodies. He doubted whether Patton would be able to come owing to the established practice of the American Amateur Athletic Union not to permit their athletes who were Olympic prospects to- travel in an fOlympic year. “Also I am certain that if athletes from other countries are available to appear in New Zealand the management committee would take into consideration the fact that the Otago Centre last year was unfortunate in not having an appearance by J .Fulton (United States) and Treloar." he said.

The management committee. I am sure, would make every effort to secure appearances of any such visiting athletes in Dunedin. This would be especially appropriate during the coming season in view of the forthcoming Gtago centennial celebration."