ANOTHER MEET SUGGESTED

Southland Times, Issue 24027, 18 January 1940, Page 2

ANOTHER MEET SUGGESTED

Caledonian Society’s Position RECOVERY GAMES TO BE CONSIDERED A decision to call a special meeting of the Caledonian Society of Invercargill next week to discuss the possibility of holding another sports meeting to restore the society’s financial position was made at a meeting of directors of the society last night. The society, it was stated, had suffered financially when the centennial games last week were marred by rain. A report and estimated balancesheet for the games was presented. The superintendent (Mr Ellis Sutton) reported on competition in various sections and said htat thought hampered by weather the programme was handled efficiently by the officials in charge. The society, unfortunately, had suffered heavily from a financial point of view but it was considered that the decision to carry on was a wise one in view of the many northern competitors of which each section was well represented. Possible means of restoring the society’s financial position were discussed and a suggestion that a recovery meeting be staged some time in February was well received. A special meeting was arranged for early next week to discuss this project. The directors expressed themselves as confident that such a meeting would be well supported as last week’s games would certainly have been if conditions had been favourable. The president (Mr John MacGregor) was chairman and there were present: Messrs Ellis Sutton, V. S. Vial, J. Matheson, W. Murdoch, R, D. Donaldson, F. Sharp, A. St. C. MacGregor, H. C. Kelly, J. M. Mackintosh, F. Waldron, W. Robinson, A. E. Cocker, W. Young, H. Insall, A. McDonald, F. Sutherland, D. W. Anderson, T. M. Rankin, P. Scott and M. C. Wilson (secretary). TOUR BY AUSTRALIANS ABANDONED. POSTPONEMENT OF VISIT NOT SUITABLE (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Januai'y 17. The management committee of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last night decided to abandon the proposal to bring an Australian team of athletes to the Dominion this season because of the New South Wales athletes not being available in the first half of February, during which the New South Wales championships are to be held. The New South Wales Association suggested that New Zealand should delay the tour till after February 17, but the centres in New Zealand from whom replies have been received were not favourable to this course on the ground that it would be difficult to arrange suitable meetings. A request from the Hawke’s BayPoverty Bay Centre for an extension of the 21 days period allowed by the international rules for a tour by the Australian athlete, M. Stenner, was declined on the ground that, apart from other considerations, it would be likely to establish a dangerous precedent, especially as the number of provincial tours by overseas athletes showed signs of increasing. It was stated that Stenner had been given a permit .by the Australian Amateur Athletic Union for a sojourn in this country not longer than 21 days. J. P. Bates, E. L. Parker, W. J. Sommerville and A. Waters were reinstated as amateurs.