SWIMMING DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 14

SWIMMING DISPUTE

UNIVERSITY "BLUES" CASE AUCKLAND GIRLS WIN APPEAL [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday The New Zealand University tournament committee at the Easter tournament did not award New Zealand "blues" to two of the championship events in the swimming section. The award was withheld on the grounds that the two girls concerned were not eligible for "blues" in that they were not members of the Auckland University Swimming Club at the required time, as provided by the rules. The two girls appealed, and Mr. Roy Twynehain, Christchurch, was appointed arbitrator. Mr. Twyneham has upheld the appeals, stating that the girls concerned were members in the academic year of the tournament, and therefore were entitled to "blues," which had now been forwarded by mail. THe arbitrator made a note on the award that the evidence, and the admitted facts, disclosed that in the past tournament committees had been guilty of carelessness in examining and checking the qualifications of candidates for "blues." It was recommended that in future greater care should be taken. Competing as official representatives of the Auckland University College, Misses Mary Gillies and Jean Thomson won the 50 yards free-style and 100 yards ladies' breaststroko championships respectively at the inter-uni-versity tournament in Christchurch. They were not awarded "blues," their right to these having been disputed by the Auckland University Swimming Club, which claimed that they were ineligible to represent the college through not being declared members of the club.

Miss Thomson is a declared member of the Grammar Club and Miss Gillies of the North Shore Club. They appealed on the grounds that, according to the rules of tlio University Council, their payment of a fee of one guinea at the beginning of the present academic year entitled them to membership of ull sports clubs in the college.