SWIMMING.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17119, 14 April 1921, Page 9

SWIMMING.

CANTERBUKY CENTRE. A special meeting of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association was held last evening, to deal with certain statements alleged to huvo been maae ley Mr S. Hollander, representing' the Old Boys' Swimming Club. Mr S. Hollander wad a newspaper report of a discussion which took place at a recent meeting of the <ommittoe ot" the Centre. The speaker was absent from this mooting. In the report referred to it wag stated:—Mr I). Coulter said that a member of tho Old Boya' Ciub had approached the jvareut cl a, High School boy, who was a member of the East Christ-church Club, and told him that if his ton did not join the Old Hoys' Club he would have his privileges iaa .in old boy cut off when he left school. The East Christchurch Club had niado this bey a swimmer, and he should remain with them. The Old Boya' Club wanted swimmers, but would not teach boys to swim. When, however, th2 boys reached good form with other clubs, the Old Boys' Club wanted them. It such things were going to be done, the sooner the Centre got rid of the Old Boys' Club the better it would be for swimming. Alter discussion, Mr CYgjlter said that the name of the member waß Mr S. Hollander, who, he eaid, had received a letter from tho headmaster of the Boys' High School authorising him to approach old boya of the school in the manner in which he alleged Mr Hollander had done in the case under discussion. A motion that, the matter be discussed in committee was lost. Mr Coulter' said that his allegation, was that Mr S. Hollander had asked Mr Dalton, senior, whether his boy was going to swim for the Old Boys' Club or East Cnristchurch in "the Hollander Cup contest. He would mako a statement regarding the matter privately, but he was not going- to deal with the matter at that meeting. The chairman said 'the headmaster of the Boys' High School had given him authority for Mr Coulter to male any statement which he wished to make.' Some discussion took place as to' what accusations actually wero made at tho committee's meeting. Mr C. Atkinson said he had asked Mr Dalton to come to the meeting thajt night, but ho had failed to appear. Mr Coulter had seen him in .the meantime. Their ease accordingly failed, and there was nothing to do but to withdraw tho remarks mado regarding the Old Boya' Club. He moved accordingly. The chairman said he • thought that, as the East Christchurch CJub had failed' to prbvo its case, and their witness had failed to put in an appearance, th» matter automatically fell through. It would bo nice, however, if tho East Christchurch Club expressed its regret at the remarks having been made. The club's delegates had net acted in tho best interest of the club—:thoy should have had something concrete to go upon before maiking the allegations, which were an imputation against n very honourable club. Mr A. Hollander said his club was quite prepared to, let the whole matter drop, and Accept the apology. Mr Coulter denied that he had stated that Mr Hollander had received a letter from the headmaster of the Boys' High School authorising him to approach old boys of the echcol in tho manner suggested, or that he had said that Mr Hollander approached Mr Dalton and tried to get him to make hia boy join the Old Boys' Club. ,' -In explanation of the incident which led to the charges complained about, Mr S. Hollander stated that he had never .approached Mr Dalton. Mr Dalton had spoke A to him one evening, and in reply to a question ho had told him that the Old Boys'.' As:ociation would later on be spending money on club rooms, and boya who had not taken their share in the school games and swimming might not get the full benefits., of the Association. He denied the accuracy of the. newspaper reports. He had never approached b?ys stating that ho had a letter from the headmaster. Mr Dalton «ras very sorry the matter had been brought up,, and had written to the speaker authorising him to state that he had never approached him in the manner suggested, • Some discussion then took 51 ,a09 n ' 3 to whether tho matter should have been referred to a special meeting of the Centre. Mr W. Eade said he had moved that tho matter should be referred to a special meeting, bo that all those concerned could be present, and have the matter threshed out before the whole Centre. After .further discussion, Mr Atkinson moved: "That the East Christchurch Club having failed to prove the charge against tlio Old Boys' Association hereby withdraws tho same, and expresses, regret for having made the same." \ The motion was seconded by Mr G. Rich, and carried. The chairman said that, in '.future, if one club had a- grievance against another, if they camo to him in his official capacity ho would go into the matter, and take good care that it was net dragged up. at a Centre meeting. A discussion j their took . place on certain criticisms made against the chairman by Mr L. A. G. Rich. .' - . Mr Rich alleged"that he had been "sallied up" by the chairman for his selection of a representative Canterbury polo team to play against Otago. A3 selector, he tried to do his best. Tho chairman said that Mr Rich was entirely incorrect in his statement. He had merely suggested to him that, as the carnival was a Boys' High School one, it would have been courteous to select some playero from the Old Boy*' Club. He had not tried to dictate to Mr Rich'. After the matter had been deait with at some length, it was unanimously decided to ask Mr Rich (who left the room ,durinjr the discussion) to reconsider his resigrlaton as polo selector for the Centre The following amendment to rule 36 of tho Centre was carried :-"Ko programme shall be passed by tho Centre unless same includes at least one inter-club race for men, of 100 yds or longer distance. Relay races not counting."