STRONG CRITICISM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 13 March 1936, Page 2

STRONG CRITICISM

ACTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER DEPRECATED AT CHRISTCHURCH ATHLETIC MEETING (By Telegraph—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “This is a very improper action lor an athletic official and one that shows bias.” A statement was made in these terms by Mr R. Beattie at a meeting of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Centre last evening, when he commented on the action of Mr W. F. Ingram, a member of the council of tlie New Zea land Amateur Athletic Association and the Olympic and British Empire Games Association, in publishing a statement to the effect that the Canterbury runner, V. R. Boot, had no chance of inclusion in the New Zealand team for the Olympic Games. Mr Beattie said the selection of the New Zealand team had not yet been made, nor bad Boot yet bad an opportunity of sliowimr his ability before the members of '.he Olympic Games Association. It was unfair and improper for an official to express an opinion in print before the athletes nominated for the team had gone through their trials. Mr Ingram had accused Bcot of jostling another runner during a race in the New Zealand championships at Dunedin. Actually Boot had not been concerned in tlie jostling and the referee had warned another man. It was decided to send a letter to the New Zealand Council, protesting against the action of Mr Ingram.