"USED AS CHOPPING-BLOCK"

NZ Truth, Issue 1212, 21 February 1929, Page 5

"USED AS CHOPPING-BLOCK"

She Knew Nothing

Public Interest

Norma Wilson, Champion Sprinter, Explains Chaperone Question WHY SHE DID NOT GO TO NAPIER

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Gisborne Representative.)

AT tho eleventh hour she was informed by prominent officials of the Gisborne Amateur Athletic and Harrier Club that she would not be allowed to compete unless under the charge of Mrs. Beale, who was appointed chaperone by the club. The. situation arose at the conclusion of the athletic meeting- at the Childers Road Reserve, Gisborne, on Anniversary Day, when Miss Wilson approached several of the club's officials m con-^j nection with the selection of a chaperone to travel with her to the ,'Hawkes Bay 'sub-centre championships, which were held m Napier the following Saturday. . At a previous; executive meeting of the club, the mother of one of the local

lady competitors was chosen to All the position. ...... Mists Wilson said that her mother was not approached about the trip, &nd she knew nothing: whatever about it until the names of the team, chaperone, and manager appeared m the paper. "If my mother had been ap- , proached no doubt she would have consented," she added, "but the club went ahead with the arrangements, and just told me that I would be under the charge of Mrs. Beale. As I am the, only lady member of the team, my mother should have been asked to chaperone me. "I am used for a chopping 1 block for the club," remarked Miss Wilson, "and l!llllll!>i:ill!!lll!ll!llli!lllllllllllllll!llll!!lllllllllll!ll!lllllllllllllllilil|i|||irillllllllll!

"If my mother is not good enough to chaperone me to the Hawke's Bay sub-Oentre championships, I am not good enough, to represent Gisborne, " remarked Miss Norma Wilson, the New Zealand champion lady sprinter, on being interviewed m Gisborne when she was all prepared to leave for Napier.

the club simply. arranges races for me whenever it likes, and wherever it likes." It is understood that Mr. Wilson offered to pay his daughter's expenses to the championship meeting 1 at Napier, but the club refused to allow this to be done. On being: advised that Miss Wilson would be taking part .at the Hawkes Bay meeting, the Napier Athletic Club \vent to some expense to feature, the Gisborne runner's appearance. ■ intense disappointment was expressed by Ha\ykes Bay athletic enthusiasts when 'it was. made. known that Miss Wilson would not be taking part, while the success of the meeting largely depended on ' the . appearance of ' the title, holder. "I was given to understand by the secretary of the club that Mrs. Wilson had been approached iri connection with the question of a chaperone," said Mrs. .Beale, "but apparently the club failed to do this, and appointed me chaperone . without even telling me." When the club was' not m a . very satisfactory financial position it was only too pleased for Mrs. Wilson to chap c rone her daughter to the New Zealand championships at Christchurch, Mrs. Wilson paying all their expenses throughout the trip. "If Mrs. Wilson was good enough to ctia'perone her daughter then, she was quite ' good enough to take her to Napier," added Mrs. Beale. As a result of these interviews between the club, Mrs, Wi'son, and Mrs Beale, a special meeting of the executive of the club was called, but, it is understood, neither the president nor at least two ol the vice-presidents were notified of the meeting. A rather strange procedure considering 'the importance of the matter. The

result of the meeting 1 was that the committee decided not to alter its decision. • . The whole situation is regrettable, m the opinion of "N.Z. Truth." Boiled down, tlie position is nothing more than a storm m a tea-cup, but it reflects no credit on those responsible — really unimportant though it all isT ' y • In the first place the club officials displayed a deplorable lack of tact m not endeavoring to compromise once their decision as to the question of chaperonage had been made. . On what grounds did they refuse to alter that decision unless on those of emphatic adherence to their fixed intentions m the matter ? They could hardly expect Miss Wilson to be pleased when she knew thather mother was not to be invited, particularly as she was the only competitor. Mrs. Beale makes her own position quite clear m the matter, and defends,' on her own remarks^ at the interview, the claims of Norma's mother t o chaperone her own daughter; It is difficult to understand just why the club held fast to its decision when the wishes of Miss Wilson had been made known to them. A little tact would have saved all the unpleasantness created by the unfortunate situation, but that desirable quality has been conspicuous by its absence, judging by the views expressed by. M_l s s Wilson. It is incidents such as the one under review: that create bad, feeling where none should exist and cause embarrassment to! all lovers of amateur sport, which enjoys a well - deserved " reputation for all that bears good management ,a n d sound, sportsman-

like ethics as the hall-mark of conduct and achievement. Patrons and supporters of all amateur sport deprecate— and rightly so— anything that tends— or may tend — to introduce a jarI ring note, but it cannot be denied that a discordant jangle has recently disturbed Gisborne. Were there any vital principle involved there would be ample justification for a. public ventilation of the trouble, but m the present case there is no vital principle involved. The only thing that impresses itself upon the public mind is the apparent lack of tact displayed by the Gisborne club over the chaperone question. Surely a trifling matter that could

have been settled amicably and quietly after five minutes' discussion. While the club had every right- to decide a. matter of this kind it would be interesting to have a detailed statement setting out the full facts, other than those that . already have been publicly ventilated. There is little if anything to be gained, certainly, by a public controversy of this nature, but m view of the publicity the matter has been given, not only m Gisborne and district but elsewhere, a further statement from the club setting- out fully its 'own position would be welcomed, as it. would do a great deal to dispel, any erroneous impression m the minds Of • the public that the 1 unfortunate incident has created. \. .