SWIMMING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 31 May 1923, Page 7

SWIMMING.

ANOTHER SQUABBLE. AUTHORITY FLOUTED. PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM CHRISTCHURCH, Wed. In reference to a statement made by Mr Cliffe, honorary secretary or the Auckland Centre, arising out ot the threatened suspension of tfiat Centre in connection with the alleged irregular invitation to Sydney ladies to visit Auckland, Mr O’Neill, secretary to the Council, said that the statement made by Mr Cliffe altogether misrepresents the position. As long ago as March 7 the Auckland Centre had been informed that the method of arranging the visit of the Australian lady swimmers was irregular, and that an adequate explanation would he looked for.

“ As far as we have been able to ascertain the facts,” said Mr O’Neill, “we have not been aided in our quest by the officials in Auckland. In February negotiations were opened between the chairman of the Auckland Centre and Mrs Chambers, secretary of the New South Wales Ladies Association, for a visit by Australian lady swimmers to Auckland,, and these arrangements were carried, to tlie point where berths for two swimmers and Mrs Chambers had been made available before the New Zealand Council was informed of what was proceeding. On March 8 Auckland telegraphed to me asking that a formal invitation be cabled to Australia, as the Australian Union would not permit the girls to depart without such a formality. At that time I was net aware that the Australian Union had not been consulted by the New South Wales Ladies Association, and I therefore sent a cable leaving the matter of Auckland’s irregularity to be discussed later. On March 14 Mr H. R. Kelly, honorary secretary of the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia, stated that his union had not been consulted. The whale

rocedure, Mr Kelly said, had been most unsatisfactory, and in entire contravention of the existing understanding.” I feel confident,” concluded Mr O’Neill, “that the Auckland Centro bad nothing to do with these negotiations, and that they were entirely personal in character, leaving the Centro as much in the dark as the Council and the Australian Union. In repeatedly ignoring tlie demand for copies of the minutes, Mr CJiffo has succeeded in drawing bis Centre into the matter, but it is to be hoped that his Centre will now take a hand in the matter and insist on the rules being complied with by its officials.’