VISITING ATHLETES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 13

VISITING ATHLETES

AUSTRALIANS WELCOMED AN EDUCATIONAL TOUR THE CENTRE’S ENTERPRISE The sporting community of Dunedin extended a warm welcome to the two Australian athletes —Gerald Backhouse and E. Best —at a func tion organised by the Otago Amateur Athletic Centre in the Grand Hotel yesterday afternoon. The majority of bodies controlling sport in its various forms were represented, and the warmth of the welcome and the eulogistic references to the qualifications of the visitors were impressive. The president of the centre (Mr C. W. Clark) was the chairman of a delightful informal function.

Such a representative gathering was a pleasing indication of the interest that was being taken in the visit of two very fine athletes, Mr Clark said. It was some time since the Otago Centre first considered the bringing of a team to Otago Its attempt two years ago was unsuccessful, but it had been successful this time. The main reason for the centre’s determination to organise such a visit was that teams brought to the Dominion by the New Zealand Association were not able to spend much time outside the main centres. It was thought that a great deal could be done in the country centres, and the purpose, of this tour was largely to encourage athletics in the country. After seeing the Australians in action at Milton on Wednesday evening, he was convinced that the team had been very wisely chosen. Messrs Backhouse and Best were great athletes and gentlemen on and off the track.—(Applause.) “You will win many races and, what is more important, make a host of friends,” Mr Clark told them. The Deputy Mayor of Dunedin (Mr D. C. Cameron), who was also representing the Dunedin Cricket League, expressed the city’s welcome, and congratulated the centre on its enterprise. Undoubtedly, the tour would be most successful. Messrs ,J. M. Fraser (representing the Otago Cricket Association), D. C. Jolly (representing the Otago Rugby Union), A. A. Paape (representing the Australian Association), E. C. Isaacs (representing the Otago Swimming Centbe), R. Caffin (Forbury Park Trotting Club), Campbell Dawkins (Otago Baseball League), H. A. Brough (Otago Rowing Club), and R. S. Black (the Caledonian Society) were some of the other speakers who added their welcomes and appreciations of the ability of the visitors. • „•

” .Mr Backhouse and Mr Best both acknowledged the welcome and expressed the hope that their tour would have a beneficial eifect on the standard of athletics in the country districts. That was the primary purpose of the trip, it was emphasised. “ Sport is not a business,” Mr Backhouse said. “We take part in it for the fun of it, and we have not come across to New Zealand to demonstrate any prowess that we might have but to do what little we can for the sport in this province.- I think the tour is a great idea, and I wish the Australian authorities would find themselves able to do more towards bringing some of your really great New Zealand athletes across to visit us more often/’