Poor Response To Games Appeal

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31098, 29 June 1966, Page 16

Poor Response To Games Appeal

The efforts of the Canterbury Amateur Sports Federation to raise funds to send Canterbury’s three category B sportsmen to the Empire Games at Jamaica have met with a poor response from its member - sports.

Last week’s collection was a bitter blow to the hopes of the organisers. Eighty-six boxes only were taken out, although several hundred were available. Athletics took 28, cycling 20, swimming 20, gymnastics 14, fencing two, and hockey two. According to Mr G. Towart, the secretary of the federation, at least 500 collectors were required if the target of £l2OO was to be met. He said yesterday that £613 2s 5d had been collected, of which £65 would be deducted for organising expenses. This left £650 to be collected.

Money collected must be in the hands of the New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association in Wellington next Wednesday. The £l2OO is needed to go towards paying for Miss T. K. Shipston (swimming) £425, D. D. Wild (small-bore rifle shooting) £425, and G. A. Pyne (athletics) £350. Pyne’s selection is still to be confirmed, but a final decision on this is to be made this week-end, at the latest. Mr Towart said the real reason the money required was not in hand was the failure of Christchurch sportsmen to support the appeal. An appeal might be made to business firms if the remainder

of the money was not forthcoming on Saturday, but what was needed was more collectors. The campaign could still be a success if enough collectors turned out, as the public were prepared to give money to a cause such as this. A Press Association message from Wellington says that the three Wellington B category representatives are faced with jthe prospect of paying their I own way. Only £B6 had been raised towards the target of £1275, a spokesman said. Circulars had been sent to all local bodies in the area asking for donations. Earlier 1700 circulars had been sent to business firms.