N.Z. ATHLETES

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1930, Page 3

N .Z. ATHLETES

BACK FROM CANADA.

STORY OF TOUR

by Telegraph—Per Press Association.’

WELLINGTON, October 7. An interesting account of the New Zealand team’s visit to the Empire Gaines at Hamilton (Canada) was given at a Rotary Club luncheon 1 y .Mr R. J. Hobbs, the Manager, who said hospitality had been . accorded everywhere, and was wonderful. 1 hev were given a civic reception at Van couver and similarly met at each: town on the trip across to Toronto. He said“ There was one thing that gave us a. tremendous thrill after each event. The winner was (miducted to a dais, and the second and third men placed .below him. The National Anthem" of the winning country was played, and the country’s flag was hoisted, the competitors standing to attention until it was at the top of tlie flagstaff. Our thrill came wheii Savidan won the the six mile race. The couipctitiors in the race had to run twenty-four laps. When Savidan had covered twenty-two, one of the officials told him there was 'only one more to go. When lie finished that lap a gun was fired. He stopped, but he was then told that that was the signal that there was one more round to go. He said afterwards he did not know how he got round, but he was SO' far in front that be won ’easily.” The team had seventeen starts, gaining three firsts, four seconds and two thirds. Savidan won the six mile run; the senior fours registered a win; and Lay threw the javelin a long way .further than any other, competitor. ( . ;Lay wept down to Chicago with . the, team, and it was good to .see tjie. Union Jack indicating the New Zealand representative’s throw well ahead of the American flag indicating the best throw for the United States. During the whole lour they scored eight firsts, three at the Empire Games, one at Chicago', the eight oared race at Toronto, where each four of the New Zealand rowing tqam contested the final and where Elliott won the 100 yards and 220 yards sprint event..

“One thing .that-, struck .. us very mncli . iu ; . Gflhhda was the . ignorance about New Zealand,” said Mr. Hobbs. “Many in them thought New Zealand was only a little way from Sydney. I had with me about 250 silver fern badges and these were the most cov--mpd badges a ; t games. . The next thing that*'put' New Zealand on the map was our success at the Games. 1 had many Government publicity books. These 1; were distributed. The Games have thine a; lot of good in bringing C’ahffda clfiser to the mother country. The next Games in 1934 are to be held in South Africa.” He hoped the same i'success would be achieved there. * ' , .

“T have made an application,” lie said ‘‘for tlie Games to be held in, Wellmgipn’.iri 1938. It will be a wonderful 'show,,. (Applause).,-: The city of .Hamilton was, behind tlie games; financially to, the extent of about 25,CjQO dollars, andv- when we came away, I was told they had broken square. T suppose 50 per cent, of the ...best,...athletes in Britain’ and Canada are university men. By coining to New Zealand, they would .lose four months from their ttha.t f do liot 'tliiii'k we''; \\nTl : . get ' the;' best r. Wen here.”,-- -TiieviTitfenSified feeling •of loyalty which was developed it the games, when carried hack to different countries, did more good than could be done by politicians;' I