CHAMPION’S PLIGHT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8263, 28 October 1912, Page 8

CHAMPION’S PLIGHT

STRANDED IN STOCKHOLM.

HOW A NEW ZEALAND SWIMMER WAS TREATED.

Special to the '■Times.’'

CHRISTCHURCH, October 26,

Humors aro rife regaining the treatment of M. JE. Champion, tlio Dominion representative at tne Olympic sports (says the writer of swimming notes in to-night's “Kveuing Mews"). i’or some reason winch has not been explained, the money guaranteed by Mi ixarris, of the Mew Zealand Amateiu owimuuug Association, and the amoint subscribed and forwarded to the Olympic committee at Wellington, never reaoneu t/hampion while in Hugland or Stockholm, and only for the generosity 01 . Mr Wiliam .Henry, secretary of thc Uoyal Due-saving Society,* London, Champion would not have been able to compete at Stockholm. There were none of the funds forthcoming from Mew Zealand to finance Champion, ano 1 understand his own finances ran out. To put it mildly, he was living on the charity of his friends, and it is a wonder that he did sc well under such depressing financial mismanagement. Champion had a splendid time at the expense of those whom he came in contact with, but not at the expense of the Ulympio Committee of New Zealand, who no doubt will have to make some explanation to the council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association when this matter is discussed and dealt with. I have even a letter written by Champion, and. on© from Mr Henry, bearing out thee© statements; and as Chamixion has been back in the Dominion for several weeks it is about time that something was don© to recoup aim tor his out-of-pocket expenses. The money was subscribed and handed over to the Olympic Sports Committee at Wellington, and it appears strange that a Dominion representative should have been allowed to travel to Stockholm on his own limited means, and on those of friends whom he met in London. The matter will, I understand. be referred to at th© annual meeting of to be held next Thursday.