North-South War Over Empire Games

Chronicle (Levin), 11 September 1948, Page 3

North-South War Over Empire Games

CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 10. Resolutions calling on tlie Council of the New Zealaud Olympic Asaociation to reverse the executive's deci8ion in awardiug the Empire Games to Auckland and asking Auckland to support Canterbury 's -request were subiiiitted to an open air protest meeting held in Catliedral Square in the lunch hour today. Despite the rain a larg'e crowd lieard the Mayor .(Mr. E. H. Aridrews) and other speakers outline Canterbury 's case and explain why they eonsidered Canterbury had been uni'airly dealt with. Ano'ther resolution called for a referenduin of national sporting bodies as a prelimiustry to reopening the question of the ven'ue. : .The Mayor said that the large attendance in spite of the bad weathei indicated the extent to which citizens had been roused. ''You all know that if it had not been for Christchurch, the Games would not have come to New Zealand and right througliont the proceedings Christchurch has been mentioned as the venue. Only after all the preliminary arrangements had been made did Auckland put in its cMim a year after Christchurch had made its claim. "Some people say we should be sports aud let the decision rest," said the Mayor amidst cries of "No" from the crowd. "But I am not built like that. If a highwayman knoeks me down and takes my purse I do all I can' to get it back. In this case I'.will- do; everything I can to get justice — that is what we" want. . We have been badly' let down." He thought it was un-. sportsinanlike of-' Auckland to" have Adopted such tactics. '• ■ 'Besctfbed as "•a shocking example of, bad. tjaste" by one member, the Buller.Brogress League .deeided, at its meeting last night \to prqtest to the Empire ■Games Assoeiatioh gt the allocation of the-Einpire Games to Auckland. It was eonsidered that as Ganterbury was celebratipg its centenary in 1950, the Games should defiuitely be held there and nowhere else. - -