VISITS OF ATHLETES

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1931, Page 13

VISITS OF ATHLETES

NEW ZEALAND-AUSTRALIA. THE'OLD PLAN REVIVED. It is possible as.a result of a discussion which took place at Monday evening’s meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association that regular amateur athletic contests at intervals of two years between teams representing Australia and New Zealand will take place in future, beginning possibly with a contest in Australia next year. The subject was introduced by the chairman, Mr. H. I. Austad, who said that he wished to refer the council to a report which he had submitted about two and a half years ago after having conferred in Australia with three prominent men in the amateur athletic world. They had been very active in trying to inaugurate regular international contests between the two countries at intervals of two years. At the present stage, Air. Austad said, when the N.KA.A.A. was looking for a new form of attraction, they might well reopeq negotiations with Australia with n view to getting the original plan, formulaed some years ago, back again. . At the time of the original proposal the Australian body was not in a strong position, but it had since taken on new life. Mr. Austad thought that for the first meeting they could start, perhaps, with a team of four athletes, representing each country. Later the teams could be°mueh bigger. The undertaking could bo run without great expense, and he thought the outcome would be an improvement in the standard of athletics in thia country. It w,as a question, however, whether anything could be done in this respect next year, in view of the Olympic Games at Los Angeles, although, on the other hand, if Australia were prepared to invite a New Zealand, team, the proopsal might be put into action. Air. L. A. Tracy: What about the opening of Sydney bridge? r o , Mr. Austad: Yes, the opening of Sydney bridge; it might be done. . . The proposition met with general support from council members, and Air. H. Amos moved finally that the N.Z.A.A.A. should get into touch with the A.A.U. regarding the possibility of holding a biennial contest. The motion was carried. Speaking later in the meeting, Mr. J. O’Sullivan made a strong plea for closer touch being maintained for the good of the sport between the various centres, with the New Zealand Council active as an intermediary. Air. O’Sullivan thought that council members should get into closer personal touch with the centres, asking them to let the council know each month how athletic affairs were getting on. The main object of this was that any new ideas which had proved successful in one centre might be brought to the notice of the others. It could be ddne quite informally and would be of great benefit. The council was dealing too much with the official side of the sport and not enough with amateur athletics, Mr. O’Sullivan said. He thought that was the feeling among a great number of athletes at the present time. Mr. Tracy said that the biggest difficulty would be to get the centres to supply the information. Mr. Austad said he agreed with what Mr. O’Sullivan had eaid, but thought, it might be best if it were made the job of the various delegates on the council to find out what was going on and place the information before the council. In the discussion which ensued it was plain that the council approved of the principle of Air. O’Sullivan’s proposal. Affiliaton was granted to the newlyformed Marlborough Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club and gratification was expressed at the fact that an amateur body had at last taken shape in the district. The following were reinstated as amateurs: Walter Ballantyne, Wellington; Walter William Ballantyhe, Wellington; Kenneth Miller,. Dunedin; George Murland, Gisborne.