ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1758, 24 May 1913, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(By Mercury.)

MONEY & THOSE AMERICANS.

What tho Amorican Tour Here Will Cost. At a special meeting, called for the purpose last Monday, the Council of the i\.Z.A.A.A. dealt with tho preliminary matters connected with the projected tour of the Dominion and Australia by a team of American athletes. As was recorded iu this column last week, official sanction of tho tour has been received from the A.A.U. of America, and the local executive has now decided to open up negotiations with tho Australian associations so as to put matters iu train at this end. ' , Tho estimated cost of tho project was gone into thoroughly, and it was discovered that the expenditure necessary for nj team of four men and a manager would amount to something over .£BOO.

Ways and Means. This outlay uiake3 the co-operation of tho Australian bodies essential to the carrying-out of tho tour, ami by yesterday's mail letters were sent to tho State associations asking for certain guarantees towards tho total cost. As it is possible to hold more meetings at the various centres in tho Dominion than is tho case in each of the Australian States, it was decided that tho local association should shoulder tho biggest individual proportion, and tho amounts of the sureties allocated overseas were 6et at: New South Wales and Victoria, .£l5O each; Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia, .£SO each—a total of .£450, leaving the balance of .£350 for New Zealand.

The Part of tho Centres, A tentative itinerary for tho Dominion was drawn out to bo submitted to the various centres and clubs concerned, and these bodies are being asked for guarantees so that tho project can: be financed here, and upon theso and local guarantees now depends the fate of_ the tour. Such an expensive proposition would lie a big thing for the N.Z.A.A.A. to handle at any time, but a 9 matters stand for tho coming season it is imperative that its financial aspect be dealt with with even more than usual caution. The association has to look forward to a' heavy outlay on account of tho Australian championships in Melbourne next February. As tho holder of the championship shield, New Zealand must bo fully represented at tho big meeting, and no risk of crippling its resources can be run by tho council. Before finally committing itself to the American visit, desirable and all as it undoubtedly is. it must safeguard itself as far as possible from monetary loss—hence the necessity for the guarantees. Until those come to hand (or are refused) final settlement must be deferred.

Mr. Unmack Makes a Start. This is how things stand at present at the Australasian ond. In America there is already progress to report. Tho indefatigable Mr. Unmack, to whom the selection and management of tho American team have been delegated by the A.A.U. of America, has taken the matter up whole-heartedly. He has already written tho local council as to ways and means and has gone so far as to make suggestions as to the personnel of his party, should tho lour materialise. As an instance of the material which is available for selection, and of the high class of performer that ho has to deal with, the following extracts from his letter will prove not only interesting, but decidedly startling.

Champions Galore, Ho writes: "If you want a hurdler there ife Nicholson. Thi9 University boy won tho Stii heat at Stockholm in 165e0., won tho 3rd semi-final in 15j-sec„ and would surely have been placed had he not fallen in the final. Hurdling however, is not his only strong point, as he can also high jump, being good for 6ft, 2in. at least. Jf he cannot go I would suggest Eddie 13eeson, of tho University of California in this city. • Ho has a record of 15 2-ssec„ and was named iqr Stockholm, but ivas unable to go. Ho is a great high jumper and cot oyer Gft. 4Mn. the day Ilorinc did his 6ft. nil. lie can also lwtter 22ft. in the broad jump consistently. "Then there is Abel luviat, ono of the greatest niilers and distanoo men 111 the country—>' ou know 'i' s great records. Also Piatt Adams—a world-famous athlete whose speciality is standing jumps He is also a good broad jumper and good high jumper—alwut sft. lOin., and throws discus, javelin, and puis the shot. "The question is: l)o you want nil exponent of standing jumps, etc.? Personally, I would like to fake a mail who can pole vault, do a fair high jump, and throw tho javtlin and discus. 1010 vaulting is. to mv mind, 0110 of the prettiest events on an athletic programme, and if I can bring a man who can get up to or over 12ft. (shade of Len M Ivav "Mercury") I think it would make a better attraction than a sUinding juninor —such events noli being in your regular programme in New 7»ealaud or Australia,