AUSTRALIAN HARRIERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27384, 9 May 1950, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN HARRIERS

Visit Held Desirable OTAGO NZAAA BRANCH ACTIVE A strong effort to bring about a visit by an Australian cross-country harrier team is being made by the NZAAA (Otago Centre). At a meeting of the centre last night it was agreed that such a visit would give a stimulus to the sport, which had been lacking in recent years. While amateur athletics were booming as a result of visiting overseas performers, harriers were being entirely neglected, said Mr J. W. Holley. If an Australian team could be encouraged to visit New Zealand, interest in the sport would be revitalised. Mr Holley then moved the following motion, which was carried unanimously:—“ That the Otago Centre is strongly in favour of a visit by an Australian team and that the NZAAA be asked as to what efforts it is making to arrange such a visit; and further that this centre advise the NZAAA that it is prepared to guarantee £IOO towards the visit, provided other centres do likewise.” , . Mr J. G. Barnes, the president of the centre, said that though Otago was not the “top-dog” in harriers now as it had been for many years, it could still show the rest of New Zealand that it was heart and soul behind the sport.