EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 48, 25 January 1938, Page 5

EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

METHOD OF SELECTION. AUCKLAND’S PROTEST. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. 24. The final discussion an the methods of selection of the Empire Games athletic team was held- by the Auckland Amateur Athletic Centre to-night and concluded with the framing of formal protests against tho methods employed. Several members attacked the statement by the chairman of tho New Zealand Council (Mr R. W. McVilly). “It is absurd and inconsistent of Mr McYill.y to say Miss Muiiro had her opportunity in the trials and failed to take it, and to suggest in this connection that an athlete might put up one brilliant performance and never repeat it. Miss Munro’s jumping was consistently better than the record and better than Miss Strachan’s best,’’ said Rev. F. D. Lisle. “The trouble all through seems to have been a question not of ability but of parochialism.” Exception was also taken to the fact that neither of the Auckland delegates was informed of tho meeting called in response to tho centre’s appeal at which Miss Munro’s claims were discussed. It was decided to place on record appreciation of the services of the centre’s delegates and the following resolutions were passed unanimously: “That this centre places on record its strong protest against tho method of selection of the 1938 Empire Games team, which it considers to have been nconsistent and unfair, suggesting incompetence and bias. Further, that this centre protests at tho cavalier treatment accorded its representatives in trying to secure justice in rectification of an obvious mistake.”