Christchurch Favoured For Empire Games

Chronicle (Levin), 1 September 1948, Page 7

Christchurch Favoured For Empire Games

WELLINGTON, August 31. Although the decision on the loeatioti of the Empire Games rested with the X'ew Zeaiand Olympic and British Empire Games Assoeiation whieh meets tomorrow, he thought thoy shOuld, if possi'ble, be hehl in Christehureh as part of the Ganterbury Provinee 'S •eentennial celebrations, said the Priine Minister, Mr. Fraser, tonight. He was replying to a deputatiou of twelve' nieumers of J'arliament from Auckland City and provinee, who had waiteti on liini asking that the games be ailotted to Auekland. i\Ir. Fraser told the deputatiou he had said quite detinitely that if faeilities eould reasonably be provided in Christehureh, the Games should go there as part of the eentennial celebrationP. Had Auekland been eelebrating its eentennial thcn he would have favoured its; clainis. He did not know .whether it'Uvould be wrong... for u swinuuing bat-h to be l.iuilt in ( 'hrislehnreh. It" •would have to be weighed up with the iniportanee of the ovrasion to that eity. The Government would have to aeeept responsibility for any deeisioii to-usesteel and eement. "It- is unforlunate that -we caine liere when your — 'uiind is already made up,'' said Mr. T. E. Bkinner, M.P., whuu replying to Mr. Fraser. Mr. Skinner suggested. it might be possible to split the events up and hold the ■ iv(wi?iTg {wnbswjmwiirg in Auckland.' ■ '