DUKE KAHANAMOKU

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2372, 30 January 1915, Page 9

DUKE KAHANAMOKU

WILL HE SWIM HERE ? WELLINGTON EFFORT TO SECURE HIM . QUESTION OF £S. D. Most people who like .to see worldMater athletes performing are asking if Duke Paoda Kahanamoku (who, for reasons concerning pronunciation, shall hereinfter be called The Duke) will appear in Wellington during the course i of his New Zealand tour. As the South Sea Islander is the swimming marvel of the day, the Wellington public quite naturally look to the local Swimming Centre to book him for a performance here if that can he arranged. For some time it seemed as though no appearance of The Duke in Wellington could be hoped for: just now a big effort-is being made to stage His Grace here in March. - Some time ago the Council of the New Zealand- Swimming Association (whose headquarters are .in . Christchurch) offered the Wellington' Centre of the association one' Performance by The Duke for £35. The Wellington Centre considered the terms prohibitive, and turned down the offer. At the end of December, Mr. G. S. Hill (the present chairman of the Wellington Centre) reopened the matter by telegraphing to the executive in Christchurch asking them to state the minimum contribution required from Wellington to secure The Duke's appearance here.. The executive's reply was: "Offer carnival, March 6, for £35." Arrlmportant Concession. The centre considered the question again, and onoe more decided that £35 was a prohibitive price. However, it was, docided not to discontinue the effort. - ,', v ' On Wednesday the chairman of . the centre (Mr. Hill) and the secretary (Mr. A. Farnall) waited on the Baths Committee of the , City' Council '-and asked for better terms from the Corporation in the event of a carnival being arranged. The Corporation's terms were 20 per cent! of the gross takings, but after hearing the deputation the Baths Committee decided to reduce the charge to 10 per tent, of the gross takings. • Having gained this important concession from the Corporation, the Swimming Centre have now asked the New Zealand 'Executive to lighten their terms. Briefly the centre ask the executive to accept a guarantee of a Maximum sum of £20 -instead of a fixed amount of £35. If tho New Zealand Association keeps its price up to £35, the total expense of the Duke's visit, it is estimated, mil be about £80. Wellington considers itself badly treated to be asked to pay £35 for one day when Auckland is being charged that amount for four days. With a one-day carnival, wet weather spells financial failure, but with a fourdays' fixture there is generally an opportunity tfi gd for a, recovery. It is considered here that it is ( the duty of the . New Zealand. Association to foster swimming in every centre in New Zealand, and that Wellington should not he neglected merely for financial reasons.

A Request to the Executive. The letter sent to the executive by the Wellington Centre reads:— "Re Eahanamoku. "Swimming" matters ' here have been very slow owing to many of our swimmers having gone to the front. We "have gone well into the matter,, and while 'anxious to- help the council, we have to be prepared for any loss that may arise through bad weather, because, as you kn<?w, our baths are open, and everything depends upon the. weather. You 1 have oniv allowed us one day for, a carnival,"and if the weather is bad it means a loss. We are in a different position to other places in New Zealand, where they have enclosed baths. We understand Wellington is asked to pay the same as Auckland, who lave enclosed baths, and four . carnivals are .going to be given by them. Before we could undertake to hold a carnival was essential that the Wellington Corporation should cut down, their charges, . which we have succeeded in having done (from 20 per cent, to 10 per cent, on the gross takings), and as we have worked out our liability to about £62 10s.; on an estimated. gate of £65, we offer you 20 per ' cent, of the gross with a, maximum of £20 arid a minimum of £10. You must bear in mind that you have given us a date very late in the season (practically the end), and, from our experience of Wellington weather in' March,' a big gate cannot be relied upon." The Duke's Itinerary. Tie Duko is to arrive in Wellington on February 23.- That evening lie leaves for Christchurch. The itinerary arranged for him isFebruary 24, carnival Christchurch; February 25, leave tor Dunedin; February 26 and 27, carnival at Dunedin; February 28, at Dunedin ; March 1, leave 'for. Timaru, arrive 1 p.m., carnival at Timaru, leave 4.10 p.m. for Christchurch; March 2. leave for Groymouth;'Maroh, 3, carnival at Greymouth or Hokitika; March 4. leave for Christchurch, carnival, at Christchurch; March 5, at Christchurch, leave for Wellington; March 6 and 7, reserved; March 8 and 9, carnival at fWanganui; March 10, Wanganui to \Napier; March 11," carnival at Napier; March 12, Napier to Auckland; March 13 to 23, four carnivals at Auckland; March 23, leave Auckland for Honolulu.

Owing to the party having to leave 'New Zealand on March 23, the tour ,aj originally arranged has had to be shortened. ,