"THE BIG POUR"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 71, 17 December 1920, Page 8

"THE BIG POUR"

OLYMPIC ATHLETES ENTERTAINED

FINANCING THE NEXT TEAM

AN INTERESTING SUGGESTION

■/■/.:■■ '• ' There was a lnrgo and representative gathering of members of sports bodies in Dustin's rooms last night to <lo honour 7to Messrs. H. E. Wilson, i). Hndfidd, G. Davidson, and Miss V. •Walrond. tho four athletes who represented New Zealand at the Olympiad. Tho function, which was Jield under tho auspices of tho Olympic Council, was presided over by Mr. A. A. Marryntt, chairman of that body. Miss Walrond was represented, by her father, 11 nd among those present were tho Hon. E. P, lee, Messrs. J. B. Harcourt (WeirJington Racing Club), Mr. B. W. Shallcrass (Sports' Protection Society), G. W. Slnde (New Zealand Kugby Union). A. 1). Bnyfeild Zealand Amateur Howing Assoicntion), A. W. 0. Travors and len. M'K&y. (Wellington Centre, N.Z.A.A.A.), R. Keesing (New Zealand Tennis Association), A. A. Davios (chairman N.Z.A.A.A.). B. Guise (New Zealand Box. ing Association), G. P. Hill (New Zealand Swimming Association), and J. O'Sullivan (secretary Wellington Centra A;A.A.). ■

In proposing tho toast of "Th«i Olympic Team." Mr. Travers said that they had put their very best into their work, and they could not have done 'better. Tho Olympic Council was advised (In sending Home the toam it did. All would ngreo that four better reprreentativea could not have bent selected. In responding, Mr. JT. E. Wilann, mnn. ager of the team, stated thnt when one realised that Sweden sent 700 athletes to the games, France 500, and America 400. it could not be gfflnsnid that our own liyii Dominion, with but four ropresentn- . fives'. <Hd as woil as could bo expected nnder the circumstances. A voice: They were the'big four. (Hear, near.) Mr. Wilson said that he.supposed tha .American team were the best equipped. They had everything thnt was necessary to give fillip to their representatives' efforts. The management of the games wan not everything thnt could be desired, and the •Belgians wero not sports as we kniaw tho word. I An Interesting Suggestion. I Mr. Hadfield.in emphasising the no. seEsity for a larsrer period of trninlng than that which the New Zka\and representatives were afforded, made an interesting suggestion. He urged the council to consider seriously the advisability of getting thfl next Olympiad fund together well in' advance of tho selection of the team. order to facilitate this, he augKested that a tax of one penny .should bti levied oh evory ticket of admittance that was issued.'at amateur spoTts meetings. Whatever scheme was eventually adopted it behoved them to ''ret bnsy" well ahead of thn next Olympiad—which was onlv four'years off—in order to ensure nmplo representation.

Messrs. Davidson and Walrond also briefly responded. The-health of the snbflc'rihws to the Olympic fund was toasted by Mr. Shall'<rass, who said he was prepared heartily to endorse Mr.Hadfield's suggestion relative to the, raising of funds by means of b levy, provided it, was supplemented a>, the right, time by ft canvass of the sonorous impulses of the community. There were any number of wealthy people who urere ever anxious'and rsady to subscribo to such a oause^

Bjsponse was made by the Hon. E. V. leo' and Mr. J. B. Haroonrt. Tho Minister stated that the recent experiment in eeeuring dinact representation of the Dominion at the Olympiad had satisfield the whole community that tt was worth while Bending competitors to all future games. As to the guests cf the evening, each representative had put up a good .record, he'could not imagine that a bettor" selection could have been made. Eeferring to tha question of funds, he saw no Teason why the suggestions just made should nor be acted upon, and with success. (Applause.) The toast of ■ "Kindwd Sports" was proposed by Mr. A. C, Kitto, and replied to by representatives of tho various bodies, and that of the "Olympic Council" by Mr. T. "W. Leslie, response being made by the chairman.