OLYMPIC COUNCIL

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11648, 12 October 1923, Page 3

OLYMPIC COUNCIL

A TEAM FOR ENGLAND ? UNSATISFACTORY POSITION DISCLOSED AT MEETING. “LIVE REPRESENTATIVES’* A meeting of the New Zealand Olympic Games Association was held last evening, Present: Messrs A. T. Davies (in the chair), P. N, Bundle, R. B. Wheeley, A. D. Bayfield, D. R. Menzies, A. <i. Henderson, and G, Camp (hon. secretary). INCORPORATION. The chairman said it had been found . that it was impossble for the association to become an incorporated body. It meant that eveTy member of every club of each branch of 6port had to register tinder the association, and it could not be done. It was decided to take no further steps ia the matter. , FINANCE. The chairman outlined the steps which, had already been taken in the matter ot raising the necessary finance.' These ia> eluded the running of an art union, the prizes in which would be of a total value of JBI2OO, including several mineral specimens, and the total revenue was es-j timated at JEIO,OOO. The chairman said the difficulty was to get sufficient money in hand to cover ■ the cost of the prizes. ’They should 6et 1 up a citizens* committee to aid the council in the matter, as was usual when Dominion athletes were being sent away. Ho did not think there would be any difficulty in getting the necessary guarantees. It was agreed to appoint such a committee. WILL IT BE A FIASCO? Mr Henderson pointed out that thei* were only six present out of fourteen, and he would rather she them drop the thing rather than make a fiasco of it. It seemed as if the sports bodies themselves were not keen on it. The chairman said that had been his experience from the start. Half-a-dozen had had to do the brunt of the work. Mr Henderson asked if a team had ever gone away to time, and in a condition to do itself justice. . In reply to a question, the secretary said that four bodies were represented that evening. Mr Bundle said the Dominion should be represented at Paris, and all should throw their weight into the work, taking a broad outlook. The chairman said he wanted to see the best Dominion representative* sent to the Olympic Games and the British Empire Games. It would be a good thing for the country, and would advertise the Dominion. THE CLUBS’ RESPONSE. In reply to the letter sent to the clubs, the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association had guaranteed <£2s towards the art union fund; the Swimming Association had promised <£so; the N.Z. Rugby Union had referred it to their affiliated bodies; the New Zealand Football Association replied that they had no funds to enable them to give a guarantee. The chairman said the Athletic Association would no doubt run a meeting to raise funds for the association. SUPPORT OR DISBAND.

Mr Henderson moved that the various sports bodies be written to, stating that owing to the sparse attendance the Olympic Committee did not feel justified in going ahead unless more support was forthcoming; that another meeting be held shortly, and asking them to send a live representative; failing that, thut the Olympic Council be wound up. The chairman: It would, not be much credit to this Dominion if we could not find sufficient support, even in this city, to raise funds to send representatives to such an important gathering as the Olympic Games, and especially the British Empire, Games. He thought they should get a secretary in each centre to take the matter up. Mr Menzies thought they could try and get the local committees, revised in each centre. Mr Bayfield seconded the motion pro forma. Mr Camp said the sports bodies should have been in the forefront in taking some of the financial responsibility, but they had practically left it to the council. The chairman agreed that it was hardly right that the sports bodies should have left such important financial business to half a dozen bodies. Mr Bundle said he could not speak too strongly of the neglect of those delegates who accepted office and would not accept any responsibility. Why did they accept office ? It was deplorable that such a state of things should exist, and the attention of the association* should be drawn to it. The. chairman: Unless the} come along and take a share of the work they cannot expect to keep an efficient secretary. It was decided to write to the sport* bodies asking them to send a live tentative to the next meeting of the council. PUBLIC MEETINGS. agreed to arrange for Olymnio

Committees to be set up in each of the oentres, and also at New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Napier, Timaru, Wanganui, Invercargill, and other towns. When the committees are formed, the Mayor in each town is to be approached with a view to holding a public meeting to appoint a citizens’ committee to further the object. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the council on Friday, the 19th instant.