THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2997, 23 August 1911, Page 63

THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

SEPARATE REPRESENTATION FOR NEW ZEALAND. It seems strange that those who are responsible for representatives of the Dominion competing under the flag of another country have not made any effort that New Zealand should be recognised as a separate country in all international contests. It is true that the matter hao been spoken, of on one or two occasions, but no effort has been made by the supreme governing bodies of athletics to alter the position. Why should New .Zealand obscure the prowess of its brilliant athletes who should havo the opportunity to stand or fall in all international coiripetitiona on behalf of their country? Wo have as all-round material as Australia. New Zealand is not Australia, and it is unfair that they .should combine to compete against any other country. New Zealand, it is said, leads the world in legislation, an.d is recognised as an important unit of Great Britain, and it is unnecessary weakness to lean, up against any other country in the matter of athletes. If any honour is to bo gained it should bo credited to the country to which it belonigs. Under tho present'conditions New Zealand assists another country to get all the advertisement in addition to the honours of the competition. When tho All Black" team went abroad it did not need the hall-mark of "Australasia." New Zealand got all tho advertisement. I hat visit will not be easily forgotten by tho people of Great Britain. As it is at present in representation at the Olvmpio Games, winch are held every four years in different parts of the world, New Zealand is bracketed with Australia under tho denomination of "Australasia." Such an arrangement is to the manifest detriment of the Dominion in as much as our atnletefi competing at these games are classed not as New Zealanders, but as Australians, and any credit or honour accruing to New Zealand is thereby lost. It is thought that as New Zealand athletes have in the past proved themselves more than a match for Australians in many branches of outdoor sport, the time has now arrived when, at all future Olympiads. New Zealand should bo placed on an equal footing with other nations of the world, instead of being merged with Australia. A preliminary meeting to discuss the mattor locally was convenrd for Tuesday evening. His Worship the Mayor, who considers the position of national importance, had signified his willingness to preside. As all sports bodies in the Dominion may be at some future date more or lees interested in tho Olympic Games, it is desirable that the meetinGr should be thoroughly representative of all classes of sport in this city, and that their respective governing bodies should be urged to take united action towards securing the patriotic object above indicated.