TO MAKE US KNOWN

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1049, 11 February 1911, Page 6

TO MAKE US KNOWN

. « BY ATHLETES AT EMPIRE FESTIVAL. DEPUTATION TO THE PRDIE • I MINISTER. Tho Prime Minister was deputationiscd yesterday by representatives of various branches of sport relative to a suggestion that tho Government should monetarily assist tho sending Homo of a team to represent tho Dominion at tho Coronation festivities. Thero wcro present Messrs. W. Johnston (secretary of the Now' Zealand Swimming Association), T. Shields (referco of tho Swimming Association), K. Bassctt (member of tho Council of the Swimming R. M'Villey (president of tho Wellington ' Boxing Association), A. Marriott (president of tho New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association), and Messrs. A. L. Chaffoy and J. H. Pollock (members of' tho Council of tho N.Z.A.A.A.). -. Tho Mayor, Mr. T. Wilford, M.P., in introducing tho deputation, enlarged on tho desiro ot tho deputation. Most of tho various portions of tho' Empire would be competing at tho Festival of Empiro Sports gathering. Ho recalled that a sum of £2500 had been placed upon tho Estimates last session for advertising at tho Coronation festivities, and ho suggested that thero could bo no moro effectivo way of bringing Now Zealand to tho fore than by sending its best athletes to corapeto at this great gathering. .Ho recalled tho advertisement that New Zealand had in Arnst, tho world's champion sculler, who had como into such prominenco of lato by beating tho English .champion, Barry, on tho Zambesi, Tli<> Dominion also had the 100 and 220 yards Australasian champion sprinter inWoodgcr, and in Champion, New Zealand had a wonderfully lino swimmer, who '.had practically swept tho boards at tho swimming meeting now in progress in Wellington, during which ho had established now-records. In addition, thoy had men liko. Harding, tho Now Zealand half-ffiilo champion runner, and other good performers in Dr. Haskins and Kcddell, and tho champion tennis player of tho world in Wilding, at tho present timo in England. Funds wero necessary to send a selection .'of-theso men to compete at tho Empiro sports gathering,- and tho -deputation urged that, ns an advertisement for tho Dominion, tho Government might defray some part of tho cost. -.. > Mr.-Marriott, the president of tho Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, who was ono of tho deputation, said that though tho' association was strong in membership it was weak in funds. However,, it would.bo willinp to contribute its sharo of tho cost of sending a team Homo if tho Government would assist. Mr. R. W. M'Villey, representing tho Council of tho New Zealand Boxing Association, said that tho project of sending Homo a team mot with; tho hearty approval of tho council. Tho secretary of tho Now Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, (Mr. Johnson) .remarked that when Mr. Henry, the founder,of tho Lifo Saving Association, was out hero ho had strongly-' advocated tho sending Homo of a team of swimmers to compcto at tho festival Ho had considered a team would easily hold its own, and his association was keen on a representative swimmer being included in tho team. It was advanced by Mr. Pollock that after tho expenses of tho festival had been defrayed tho surplus would go to tho King's. Hospital, .London.., Ho also said that 'though' unabto-to* bo , present in tho deputation, Mr. F. 31. B. Fisher, M.P., the well-known tennis player, had, at a meeting held tho previous day expressed his full sympathy, wjth tho objects of tho deputation. • Sir Joseph Ward, in replying, said that if the deputation '/ould set out in writing what expenditure was likely to bo involved, and say how much it proposed to contribute towards tho cost, ho would bo in a position to consider tno matter. Ho could not deal with such an important proposal without having full particulars. Ho was strongly in • favour of helping in tho direction of seeing that Now Zealand was represented, and ho would be glad to receive the'fullest .information'on tho subject. Ho addod, however, that tho vote of £2500 referred to by Mr..Wilford was nlaccd on tho Estimates to defray tho" cost of an exhibition of our products. • -■ '