GIRL SWIMMERS TRAINED IN “TYPHOID POOL.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18626, 30 November 1928, Page 5

GIRL SWIMMERS TRAINED IN “TYPHOID POOL.”

OLYMPIC TEAM MANAGER ASKED TO EXPLAIN

Dissatisfaction with th© management of th© New Zealand team at the Olympic Games was expressed at the annual meeting of th© New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association last evening, when it was decided that the Olympic Council should b© asked for an explanation of the manner in which the manager (Mr H. Amos) discharged his duties.

A letter from Mr J. Hodgson, the council's international representative, stated that when he received information that the council wished him to “exercise a fatherly eye ’ over the Now Zealand swimmers during their stay in Europe and that the New Zealand Olympic Council had approved of his appointment in that capacity, his first step was to seek training quarters; his second to state publicly that he was in charge of the New Zealand swimmers, and that anyone desiring to offer engagements should apply to him for them. Shortly afterwards he made arrangements for the Dominion swimmers to visit Southport and to train there. The only information that he had that the team was in London was given him by a friend, lie received no official information from Mr Amos. He wrote to Mr Amos, but the reply chilled him and he gathered that he was not wanted. Later, in conversation with the lady members of the team, he gathered that they were not as happy as they might have been. At the Games he learned that the girls had been training in a dirty pool which had earned the name “typhoid pool,” owing to its odour and nasty taste. The American and German swimmers were forbidden to train there. He was also astonished to find that the girls were not housed with the British girls.

Mr Hodgson said that during the time he was in Amsterdam he did not see Mrs Amos, the official chaperone, and if it had not been for Mrs Miller he did not know what the girls would have done. On the opening day Miss Miller was not well, and Mr Amos said it was a waste of time for her to swim. But she competed and did remarkably well in spite of this disability.

The secretary submitted the following statement regarding the arrangements made in New Zealand for Mr Hodgson to supervise the swimmers: “On March 8 last the Olympic Council was advised that Mr Hodgson would be available to look after the swimmers, and that, in addition his services would probably be available for other members of the team if required. The Swimming Association notified the Olympic Council that it proposed, subject to the concurrence of the Olympic Council, to ask Mr Hodgson to look after the swimmers.

“On March 9 the Olympic Council replied as follows: —‘My. council is in accord with vour suggestions that Mr Hodgson’s services be availed of in looking after the swimmers. We may even require him for the rest of the team, but of that I will advise you later.’

“On April 17 the Olympic Council, after announcing that Mr Amos had been appointed manager, stated: —‘Re Mr Hodgson, your representative in England: The council has decided to accept your recommendation and make use of Mr Hodgson’s services. Mr Amos will get in touch with him, and you might also officially write' him.’ “On April 26, Mr Amos wrote as follows: —‘I will get into touch with Mr Hodgson as soon as I arrive in England. If we find that his services will be of assistance to the swimmers in Amsterdam, my council will agree to pay his expenses over.’ “On the same date, the Olympic Council wrote:—‘The council decided that the matter of dealing with Mr Hodgson be left to the manager of the team, Mr Amos, who would confer with him on arrival in England. We feel satisfied that Mr Amos will make satisfactory arrangements with Mr Hodgson respecting his expenses to Amsterdam, and this will save you all worry in that direction.’

“ As a result of the concurrence of the Olympic Council, expressed in their letter of March 9, the Swimming Association wrote to Mr Hodgson advising him that his services would be required to look after the swimmers, and asking him to take the necessary steps to see that adequate training facilities, as well as coaching advantages, if possible, were provided. He was advised, also, that his services might be required to look after the rest of the team, but told that this point was then uncertain.

“ After receipt of the Olympic Council’s letter of April 17, the Swimming Association wrote to Mr Hodgson again, informing him that Mr Amos would accompany the team as managr, and that Mr Hodgson need not bother with anything beyond making the arrangements before mentioned for the swimmers.

“Mr Hodgson proceeded accordingly, and by the time the team arrived in England he had finalised all the necessary arrangements to provide them with the best of training facilities.”' The statement contained strongly worded complaints of the management of the team. Reference was made to the failure to get in touch with Mr Hodgson on the arrival of the team in England, and it was complained that the swimmers were left at the mercy of haphazard arrangements that offered no reasonable chance of their training properly. On the plea that there was no room for him in the official party, Mr Hodgson was excluded from the party. Though denied the opportunity of going to Amsterdam with the team, Mr Hodgson, when he arrived there, found training facilities for the girls, though by that time it was too late for them to be of much practical value. The statement concluded :-r

“ Both the Swimming Association and Mr Hodgson have been subjected to a series of indignities that, as far as most members of the Swimming Association arc concerned, will not be ac-

cepted without the liveliest resentment. Had the association known that the swimmers would have suffered under the handicaps that the management, if it did not impose, at all events permitted, it would not have allowed the team to depart. Had it been aware that the assurances of the Olympic Council regarding Mr Hodgson were to be ignored, it would not have been associated with the Olympic movement of 1928.”

It was decided that the secretary’s statement be sent to the Olympic Council, and that it be asked for an explanation.