THE TURNING POINT

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12613, 25 November 1926, Page 3

THE TURNING POINT

ATHLETIC TOUR TROUBLE j WILL MR KROGNESS PREVAIL? l EXCEPTIONAL CASE OF DO I | MINION Despite the unexplainable attempt ot the secretary of the New Zcnlai.u Amateur Athletic Association (>lr 1.. A, Tracy), to cover up matters m connection with the proposed tour oi the Dominion of American athletes, a ■‘Times” reporter lj as secured inlorformation from an cqiiallx lviiabii ‘ source, which throw, irniiri !,Jit ot the subject. "The facts are," explained the mtormant, "that the International Federation of the AA. 1. passed a resolution preventing athletes from occupying more than twenty-one da\s on a tour, not taking into account travelling tune. This rule lias been enforced owing to trouble that was occasioned over tours of America and Europe by such noted athletes as Paddock, Murchison and Pave N'urun. Consequently, when the N.Z.A.A.A., through its official representative in the United States, Mr C. G. Krogness, applied for a tour of tile Dominion, it was turned down under tho new ruling. However, the Foreign Relations Committee may possibly he induced to waive the Convention's ruling on account of the exceptional circumstances governing New Zealand. In fact, Mr Krogness now advises that the objection is likely t< be cancelled, and permission for "the much-debated tour granted. Mr Krogness, on behalf of New Zealand, took immediate steps to bring this country’s peculiar position under the notice of the A.A.U., and pointed out that it was utterly impossible to apply the new rule to the Dominion, where, the population was limited, and the distances that had to be covered from point to point to perform before small audiences was great. He also explained that the States dealings in the past with New Zealand had always been amicable, and the N.Z.A.A.A. had placed more information i at the disposal of the A.A.U. regarding the financial arrangements of its tours, than had actually been necessary. Now that the prospects of the proposed tour are brighter, Mr Krogness is now negotiating for a visit to New Zealand of Richardson, captain of the Stamford University team, who is probably the most brilliant free distance runner in the world, and is capable of running the 220 in twenty-two seconds and breaking eypn time for the quarter. Or severa” occasions he has also beer within an ace of covering the halfmile in record time. It is calculated that a first-class hurdler-jumper— not yet definitely mentioned—will also accompany Richardson.” AN AUSTRALIAN TOUR i It is interesting to note that Australia is also endeavouring to secure a tour of American athletes, for it was announced at the meeting of the Melbourne A.A.A. on November loth last, that a cable message had been sent to the States inquiring whether two American athletes would be prepared to compete at Melbourne earlv next year. The secretary (Mr H. R. Weir) reported Mat a letter hud been received from the Amateur Athletic Union of Australia and New Zealand, which made it clear that, unless Victoria issued an invitation to overseas athletes a visit was unlikely in the present season. At a meeting of the executive of the association on Tuesday he had been instructed to send a cable message to the secretary of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States of America to ask whether Jackson V. Scholz, Olympic 200 metres champion, and H. Hahn, a middle-distance runner, would be prepared to leave America in time to roach Melbourne by the middle of January, 1027, or. if ‘ not, whether any two other athletes i of the same calibre could accept the j invitation. He estimated that the I cost of the proposed tour would lie about £SOO. After competing at Melbourne, the visiting athletes [ would run at Geelong, Ballarat, Mil- | dura, and, perhaps, Bendigo. It was i possible that, after the athletes had arrived, the New South Wales association would arrange i.-.r a visit to that State.