Christchurch To Fight For Empire Games

Chronicle (Levin), 7 September 1948, Page 3

Christchurch To Fight For Empire Games

Press Associatioi p

( Per

CHBISTGHURCH, Sept. 6. The Christchurch Empire Games Promotion Committee will appeal im-* mediately to the Council of the New Zealand Olympic and Empire Games Association against the decision of its executive allocating the 1950 fixture to Auckland. Steps are. being taken to have a special meeting of the council requisitioned _ by at least five members as required by the constitution. Ali national sports bodies will be asked to diseuss the question and to ensure that their f'ull qnota of delegates attonds the proposed meeting of the Empire Games Council. The Canterbury claims will be sent to each association. Canterbury centres of these sports bodies will be asked to foster support for these claims in other provinces. Before deciding on the appeal the Empire Games Council will be asked to send representatives to Auckland and Christchurch to examme the faeilities offered and the organisation proposed at first hand. , The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr. E. H. Andrews) will call a mass meeting in Cathedral Square on Priday in the lunch hour to ascertain the views of citizens on the appeal. 4 All these decisions were made at a special meeting late this afternoon after the committee had heard legal opinion on the grounds for an appeal from Mr. C. S. Thomas. The meeting decided to go into committee to permit a free statement of views. The points made in the discussion were reported afterwards. An examination of the New Zealand Empire- Games Association eonstitur tion indicated that those who adopted it never envisaged the ff'xture coming to the Dominion as no specifie reference was made to the council 's powers in circumstanc'es sueh as the present, Lt was stated. The executive was direeted to refer all its decisions to the council. In answer to criticism that Canterbury should accept a referee's decision in the allocation of the Games, the meeting said that there was always a provision for appeal against a mistaken decision. The proposition that Auckland ;s population would ensure rnaximum attendances at the Games, was not accepted by the committee. It heid that all available acc.opimodation would be filjed wlierever the Games were held and that Christchurch could offer accommodation for more spectators and better faeilities for all sports. It was again emphasised that thve original^ Zealand was made by groups diseuss-' claim for the Games to be held in New ing the' Canterbury centennial ceiebrations several years ago.