Sports Federation Replies To Centre Criticism

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31111, 14 July 1966, Page 16

Sports Federation Replies To Centre Criticism

“We have done this on the last two or three occasions games have been held,” said Mr H. C. Blazey, the president of the Canterbury Amateur Sports Federation, when replying yesterday to criticism by the Canterbury Cycling Centre of the federation’s allocation of £5O to each of three Canterbury men who will attend the 1966 Empire Games at Kingston as officials.

The three men concerned are Messrs A. J. Donaldson, manager of the swimming team, J. A. Mclnnes, a wrestling judge and official, and G. R. Young, an athletics time-keeper. After considering a statement by Mr H. F. Litolff, its delegate to the federation, the cycling centre decided at its meeting on Tuesday evening to lodge a strong protest to the federation. “New Zealand officials attending the Jamaican Empire Games are almost as important as the competitors,” said Mr Blazey. “They have a job to do for New Zealand too, yet they are expected to pay their own expenses. “We have paid towards the costs of officials before and we helped to send a wrestling official to Tokyo. “I really cannot understand cycling’s objection and I do not think their case is a sound one, taking all the factors into consideration,” he said. “If Mr Litolff was unable to attend the meeting he had the right to appoint a proxy."

All three officials denied making personal requests to the federation for assistance. Mr Mclnries said he had not been present at the meeting and would be paying his own fare to Jamaica. The allocation had come as a complete surprise to him.

Mr Young said Mr Litolff 1 had been misinformed. He ; had made no request and expected to pay his own fare. 1 “There are two things I 1 would like to make clear,” 1 said Mr Mclnnes. “I was in : Oamaru when the meeting : was held and, although Mr Litolff said I was not referee-, ing, I am going as senior • international referee and j judge.” , Mr Donaldson said the £5O j would be added to the Games - team’s costs as a direct con- 1 tribution. “I had no part in ■ the application for assistance . through the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association.” , Minutes Of Meeting ( The minutes of the meeting . of the federation on July 4, ' which '*The Press” was advised would not be open to the public, at which the three allocations were made, read: “The request from the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association for financial assistance towards the expenses , of Mr A J. Donaldson, the ' swimming sectional manager ; of the New Zealand team, which had been deferred from ' last meeting, was next con- ' sidered.

by invitation as a wrestling judge and referee. “Members present were of the opinion that all three cases were deserving, and that if anything was done, similar amounts should be allocated to each of the three. “On the motion of Messrs J. H. Drummond (swimming) and B. R. Walker (rowing) it was resolved: That grants of £5O each, to assist in defraying their expenses in attending the 1966 Empire Games at Jamaica, be made to Messrs A. J. Donaldson, J. A. Mclnnes and G. R. Young.’ ” At the meeting of the federation, apologies were received from both Mr Mclnnes and Mr Litolff.

“It was pointed out that Mr G. R. Young was officiating at the Games as an athletic time-keeper, whilst Mr J. A. Mclnnes was attending