EMPIRE GAMES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 111, 23 February 1950, Page 3

EMPIRE GAMES

REPLY TO AUCKLAND CRITICISM MR KIRKLAND GIVES HIS ACCOUNT (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Feb. 22. A protest at wliat they termed unfair criticism at the manner in which the swimming section of the Empire Games was controlled was made today, by three Invercargill men who were swimming officials. They were the director of swimming (Mr J. C. Kirkland), the oilier judge (Mr J. A. Yule), and the chief starter (Mr A. J. Kingsland). Their comment was made on a report that the Auckland Swimming Centre had complained that Auckland officials were not encouraged to give suggestions and that the administration alone was below standard. Mr Kirkland said it \va‘s unfortunate that the Auckland Centre had taken this attitude. No doubt the other officials concerned were, like himself, awaiting with some • amusement, the communication from the Auckland Centre. Until it arrived they did not know with what they were accused." One part of the report was true. Certain Auckland officials had been excluded from the final organisation but it was as well to remember that the running of the swimming section of the Empire Games rvas originally entrusted to the Auckland Centre with Mr Rex Moore as controller. After the 1949 New Zealand championships, which were to be conducted as a trial for the Empire Games organisation, the New Zealand Swimming Council took the handling of the Empire Games out of the hands of the Auckland Centre and made appointments from other parts of the country.

Auckland Officials Dropped

Again this year the Auckland Centre was entrusted with preparations for the Dominion championships and Empire Games trials, but visiting officials on their arrival had to set to work in short time to carry out practically the whole of the preparations. Later two more Auckland officials, the president ,of the Auckland Centre and the chairman of the Auckland Centre committee, were dropped from the organising committee. “This is the inside tosry of the gradual exclusion of Auckland Centre officials from the Empire Games organising committee,” said Mr Kirkland. “It may further be stated that far from helping the Empire Games these gentlemen in the latter stages did a great deal to embarrass the. organisation in control.” His statement must not be taken to mean that there were no efficient swimming officials in the Auckland district, continued Mr Kirkland;. A great many of them worked as officials at the Empire Games to the thorough satisfaction of the organisers.