WARM RECEPTION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 272, 11 August 1921, Page 6

WARM RECEPTION

TO MR. R. COOMBEB INTER-STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS A CHANGE FORECASTED Guide, counsellor and friend of amateur sport in Australasia, Mr. R. Coombes, of Sydney, president of the Amateur Athletic Union of Australia and New Zealand, received a fitting welcome to New Zealand at a reception tendered to him last evening under the auspices of the New Zealand "Amateur Athletic Association The gathering took place at the Chamber of Commerce, and it was attended by official representatives of nearly every form of sport in the Dominion except Rugby football. The Mayor, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., was in the chair, and he was supported by Sir John Luke, M.P., Mr. A. T. Davies, chairman of the N.Z.A.A.A. , and Councillor W. 11. Bonnett. Mr. Coombes, whose official connection with sport extends over the past half-century, has done more for amateurism than any other man in Australasia, and he was quite overwhelmed with the warmth of the welcome extended to him. The Mayor’s Welcome. In welcoming Mr. Ccombes the Mayor said that his name was well known in Australasia. The sporting people of New Zealand knew a great deal about Mr. Coombes, and everything they knew about him was to his credit. His name was a household word. lie had made amateur sport the hobby of his life, and he had ever endeavoured to keep the sport clean. (Applause.) On behalf of the people of Wellington the Mayor formally extended a hearty welcome to the guest of the evening. Mr. A. T. Davies, president of the N.Z.A.A.A., mentioned that the amateur sports of Australia and New Zealand wore all the better for Mr. Coombes’s life-long activities on their behalf. As a result of his efforts he had advanced amateurism to its present high status. Mr. C. G. Wilson, as chairman of the Wellington Cricket Association, assured Mr. Coombes that there was in Wellington a strong, healthy body of public opinion behind all clean sport. Many Tributes. Speeches of welcome were also delivered by Mr. A. D. Bayfield, representing the Rowing Association; Mr. A. W. C) Travers, representing the Wellington Centre, N.Z.A.A.; Mr. 11. Marshall, representing Dominion Rille Association; Mr. B. Keesing, representing N.Z. Lawn Tennis Association.; Mr. G. S. Hill, representing Olympic. Council of New Zealand and N.Z. Swimming Association; Mr. W. Auld, representing Wellington Football Association; and Mr. W. 11. Bennett, representing cross-country runners. Sir John Luke also paid a tribute to the splendid work carried out by Mr. Coombes, and remarked that he was looked up to with esteem and admiration by the rising generation, of New Zealand. Those associated with amateur sport in th'e Dominion were performing a great national service, not only in improving the physique of the youth of the country, but also by inculcating the axiom that forbearance was necessary' in carrying out all sports. Mr. T. S. Ronaldson welcomed Mr. Coombes on behalf of "old sports,” and made a point of the fact that the amateur body should control professional sport. By such an. arrangement professional sport' would be much cleaner than it was at the present day. Mr. Coombes in Reply. Mr. Coombes in reply expressed gratitude for the warmth of his welcome. For the past 15 years he had, he said, done everything possible to advance sport for sport’s sake, and when he saw the wonderful results achieved by amateurism in New Zealand and Australia ho felt that* his efforts had not been in vain. This was his fifteenth trip to New Zealand, and he felt that he was among old friends. From his observations he felt convinced that the trend in the Dominion, right throughout amateurism, and/ every phase of national life, might well be summed up in the following sentiment:—"New Zealand a nation.” “I may be wrong," he added, "but I think 1 can see what is coming. One result is that Now Zealand is a nation so far as the International Olympiad is concerned." "It appeals to mo," continued Mr. Coombes, "that the present system of biennial championships means that New Zealand has to send a team to Australia six times as against onq visit from Australia. The tax financially appears to me to be too great. The time is fast approaching when, instead of New Zealand battling against the separate States of Australia, she will determine on her champions, Australia will determine on her’s, and you will have a contest which will be New Zealand., v. Australia. Instead of a trip by a New Zealand team every two years, it will be a trip every four years, because in the intervening two years Australia will come over here. I can sec it coming. Wherever I go here I seo that there is a growth of sentiment to. the end that instead of talking about Australasia in any matter, it should be Australia and New Zealand, on terms of equality. "If there is anything that 1 can do directly or indirectly, in any shape or in any form, to advance the interests of sport in any department, so long as it is sport for sport’s sake, command my services and I will do what I can to the last ditch."

Concluding, Mr. Coombes said that the extent of the welcome he had received that night would never bo effaced from his memory, and he regretted that the depth of his feelings prevented him from saying all that he had in mind. Mr. Coombes resumed his sent amid prolong--d applause, and before the gathering dispersed he was the recipient of three hearty cheers. COMPLIMENTARY DINNER. Prior to the reception, Mr. Coombes was entertained at an informal dinner given in his honour at the Grand Hotel. Those present comprised: Messrs. A. T. Davies (chairman of the N.Z.A.A.A.), Al. Burnett, T. W. Leslie, C. E. Bridge, U. A. Guise, and N. Cress (N.Z.A.A.A.), W. 11. Bennett (vice-president Wellington Centre N.Z.A.A.A.), A. M. O. Travers, O. H. l/usk, AA • Ballantyne, A. C. Kitto, W. IL Pollock. G. C. Sherwood, J. O. Sullivan (Wellington Centre N.Z.A.A.A.), A. D. Bayfeild (N.Z. Rowing Association), and B. Keesing (N.Z. Tennis Association). Mr. Coombes leaves this morning for New Plymouth. He will return to Wellington on Monday nnd sail on Ihursday on his return to Sydney.