Australian Criticises Training Facilities For Empire Games Athletes

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 January 1950, Page 5

Australian Criticises Training Facilities For Empire Games Athletes

AUCKLAND, Last Night. (PA).— Strong criticism of the training facilities for Empire Games athletes at Papakura Military Camp is expressed by an Australian journalist, Ken Moses, in the Melbourne “Sun News Pictorial.” Moses is at present in Auckland. His criticisms were cabled to the New Zealand press tonight. Mr K. S. Duncan, manager of the English and Welsh teams, was astounded to learn that he and his fellow officials were “openly hostile” as stated in the “Sun News Pictorial.” Mr Duncan said that he and his offiicals were well satisfied with everything at Ardmore, including the training track and facilities at Papakura. He was most anxious that this be made known.

When interviewed at Ardmore, the Nigerian sprinter, Olowu, denied he had put his foot into a hole, or that the state of the track had anything to do with his muscle injury. Asked how he pulled a muscle, he said: “I just felt it go.”

When Moses’ comment was referred to Donald Finlay, the English hurdler, he said that after he had finished his run-through, two hurdles, not four, were down. One of these had been blown over by the wind before he reached it as the hurdles had been set up without weights. Furthermore, he had arrived in New Zealand only that morning.

“The track at Papakura is perfectly good for a grass track,” he said.

The manager of the Canadian team, Major John W. Davies, the assistant - manager, Mr T. D. Lord, and the track and field coach, Bruce Humber, all denied that the condition of the track at Papakura had anything to do with their decision not to compete last Saturday. It had been agreed before they left Canada that they would engage in no pre-Games competition, they said. •

“As a coach who has been using the training facilities at Papakura for the longest period, I would like to say that I am completely satisfied,” Humber said. “Grass tracks all have certain limitations, but I am quite happy about this one.” Asked to comment on a statement that Mrs Tyler had landed on her shoulder because of a faulty run-up, Mr F. J. Coyne, general secretary of the English team, said she usually landed in this fashion. She had asked for the pits to be specially deepened to save her from injury. the public.

“Have the coal owners asked the Minister fora greater global sum than the Coal Act provides, and Is the Minister contemplating giving them a greater global sum? “These are questions requiring to be answered. If the Minister continues to refuse to answer the public will be entitled to conclude that the answers are in the affirmative.’*