NOT IMPROPER

NZ Truth, Issue 1207, 17 January 1929, Page 3

NOT IMPROPER

Behaviour of Australian , Girl

Athletes On Tour

OLYMPIC TEAM INQUIRY

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Sydney Representative.)

As an outcome of the publication of the diary kept by Roy Horton; trainer to the Australian Olympic team, which suffered crushing defeat at the Amsterdam Games, the executive of the Olympic Federation of Australia held an inquiry into the suggestions of the team's mismanagement and the conduct of the various members.

THE inquiry was held m Sydney and Brisbane simultaneously. Prominent, swimmers and gave evidence,' and though investigations were held m camera, "Truth" has been able to secure' an account of the evidence, which supports the statements made by Horton m part, and which contradicts some of the charges made by the trainer. Perhaps the moat illuminating evidence was given by W. M. ("Tickle") Whyte, athlete. Speaking of one of the Sydney lady swimmers, he said that- it was humorbus to watch her take notice of a new face, but at most she was inclined to flirt. Any suggestion against her moral character would be wrong. He and other male competitors .had conversations with officers of the ship, and every person that the girls were supposed to be flirting with, but they were convinced that the girls were not behaving themselves improperly. He was quite awake to the style of the one girl who gained a reputation as a vamp, and he was not silly enough to "let himself m."

Referring to Miss Mabel Springfield as a chaperone and manageress, Whyte considered she was inexperienced and. did not seem to have, sufficient grip on the girls. Bolger, the Victorian wrestler, threw bread across the table on the boat trip over, but Bolger was not the only one. Whyte considered that Manager Duff did his best to control the team properly. Harry Hay, Whyte said, looked 'after Charlton well. A. E. Ford, wrestler; was invited to tell what he knew about Bolger's indisposition. He agreed that Bolger did not train thoroughly. Tom Boast dealt with the team's lack of sweat suits while they were training m Holland. Questioned about the statement that American sweat suits were stolen, Boast said a couple' of members of the Australian team had U.S.A. sweat suits, but he could, not say if they were stolen. He bought his m a shop m Amsterdam. Asked how Horton was regarded by members of the team, Boast said that everybody liked him. He gained the confidence of everyone. Miss Mabel Springfield had faults to find with. Duff's management. She considered that things could have run far more smoothly. Miss Springfield reiterated her . disclaimer about any impropriety on the part of the girls. They were all well, behaved, she declared.