N.Z. OLYMPic COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1602, 20 November 1912, Page 8

N.Z. OLYMPic COUNCIL.

(>i in - ANj^TJA'L;'E'EPDRT.: '', la the annual report of the': Olympic Council of New Zealand, to ba presented at the ; , annual meeting on November 27,; the council refers to the'nomination of Champion and the subsequent diuiculties which .arose in. connection with his expenses, aQ d makes the following statement:—ln January the associations were invited to send in their nominations. On March 4, Hill and Wilding being duly •nominated by their respective associations, were finally selected. Tho council was in direct communication with Champion, but insuperable difficulties at that 'time prevented his nomination. It was not until April 15 that Champion's nomination by tlio New Zealand Swimming Association was received. The council was not aware that' ho was going to the games until he arrived in 'Wellington witn hjb> return ticket to London, and having ho Uirplus funds with which to pay his expenses, communicated with the New Zealand Swimming Association,. and finally decided to nominate him for the; Olympic Games on .the New Zealand Swimming Association guaranteeing his expensesestimated at iGlOO." Champion sailed from 1 Wellington ou April 19. On May 22 a cheque for*i£so on account was received from the New Zealand Swimming Association, and this was sent on, to Mr. A. G. do L. Arnold (Sydney/on Juno 21—the council waiting for the balance so vthat the, whole amount could be remitted at the'one time; -.The sum of '<825 was subsequently received from the New Zeajand Swimming Association at, the beginning of August, and tliis was forwarded on .to Mr. Arnold. Steps are now being taken by,the council to ascertain from Sydney on what date and to whom'was the money sant. The council wishes to point out that tho whole troublo was due to' the delay in'sending in Champion's nomination.- ' While on the question of Champion's expenses, the council wishes to placo on record its appreciation, and thanks for thj assistance rendored by Mr, -Wm. Henry, of the' Royal Life-Saving Society, who very kindly advanced the manager of tho team sufficient money to meet Champion's expenses from London, to Stockholm and back.' The council is unable to furnish- a mora detailed statement of the expenses of Hill and Champion as' the report from the manager of the team, .who has just arrived in.-Aus-tralia, is not yet to hand. The thanks of the council are due to Mr. Wilding, who journeyed from London to Stockholm to compete at the games at his own expense. The question or New Zealand having sepavato representation on tho International Olympic Committee _is now being considered by tho council. The balance-sheet shows a crctflt of -£*41 JS "In conclusion," states the 1 report, "the council ■ wishes to point out that if tho Dominion is to be represented at future Olympiads, steps must be taken at once.; to establish an Olympic Games Fupd. The council. has suggested to tho yanoi(s affiliated associations that a small . levy ! be made on thedr members. If this schemoli is adopted, not only will tho Olyrfipic . Council bo relieved of much anxiety, but, 1 in tho event of more money being nece-v sary, tho public will respond more readily to any appeal that may bo made, when it sees tho athletes themselves nro doing 'their best to have Now Zealand represented at tlio games."