OLYMPIC SWIMMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 12

OLYMPIC SWIMMING.

CHARLTON'S TRAINER BACK. DEFENCE OF TEAM MANAGER. Mr. Harry Hay, tho swimmer who coached "Boy" Charlton for tho Olympic Games, returned to Sydney by the Orford last week. Mr. Hay, seen on board by a representative of a Sydney paper, made wholesale denials of rumours, published and unpublished, concerning Llie Australian Olympic team. There was no truth, ho said, in the statement that ho had offered to train tho women swimmers. Not until the team reached London had Mr. Le3. Duff, man agor of the team, asked him to coach Charlton. To make Charlton sweat, when he was suffering from a severe cold, ho (Mr. Hay) had sat up all night at their hotel in Amsterdam so that ho could keep tho blankets over "Hoy."

Although Charlton was out of true form for tho Olympic races ho would have reproduced his old form, Mr. Hay asserted, had Mr. Les. Duff consented to Charlton making a tour of other countries after the games. Mr Hay further denied ho had been called upon to appear beforo the Olympic Federation; but ho said he considered it likely ho would be asked to do so. Adverso criticisms of Mr. Les. Duff as manager of tho team, ho maintained, were illfounded. Mr. Duff, in his opinion, had done all that was humanly possible for the team, against heavy odds Charles 8. Pratt, managing-director of tho association, produced a deed in which one Dean assigned tho business to him. Ho understood accusod was only Dean's collector. Thoy formed Lhe business into a company and Dean's creditors were paid up. llinch was given a salary and had no authority From the association to receive loans to invest in its business. There were no entries in the books of money received trom Nitschke. Witness said ho gave accused a promissory note for £2OO last • December. Tho one produced in Court Was the same one, but-it had been altered, first to £260, and then to £IOOO. Hinr.h had no share in the association to transfer. Witness had told accused ho would get into serious trouble for altering the note, but accused, who said bo did it when drunk, said ha would find the money. At this stage tho hearing was adjourned until to-morrow.