PRESS CRITICISED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 107, 18 February 1950, Page 5

PRESS CRITICISED

EMPIRE GAMES COMMENT “WILD STATEMENTS” « (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) (Rec. 10.351 SYDNEY, This Day. The General Manager of the Australian Empire Games team, Mr H. S. Wilkes, to-day took to task sections of the Australian Press for publishing reports criticising administration of the Empire Games.

Mr. Wilkes said that a lot of wild statements had been published in some Australian newspapers about inefficient administration in Auckland. There was no need for this unjust criticism. Every allegation of bad administration had been satisfactorily explained by the Auckland-officials.

Mr Wilkes said: “The Australian participants at the Games were more than satisfied with the conditions at the camps in New Zealand and the facilities made available to them for training. As far as Australia was concerned, everything in New Zealand was 100 per cent.” At an exhibition athletic carnival at Hurstville suburb last night, the crowd of 5000 gave an ovation to Jack Holden, winner of the marathon at the Empire Games, who. insisted on running in the two miles despite blistered feet. Holden finished a lap behind the leaders, with the soles of his feet bleeding, and had to be assisted .to the dressing rooms.