SCHOOL NAME

NZ Truth, Issue 1262, 6 February 1930, Page 5

SCHOOL NAME

\ A.A.A.'s Explanation

Upon, receipt of the above message from its Sydney representative, "N..Z. Truth" placed it before officials of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. Unfortunately Dr. Peltzer had left Wellington for Rotorua, and thus could not be approached. After giving the matter consideration, the following statement was issued by the authority of the Administration of the Association: — pER-tiARDT OBERMUKLER is a ***■ schoolboy, 17 years of age, with but a very slight knowledge of the English language, ai school he was niCiviiumed Jimton anu, we are informed, Vis called by all his acquaintances and club. by that name. It is a common practice m our own Jiimpire to ■ call, boys and girls by nicknames, but ; that is not regarded as being detrimental to their, integrity. Opermuller (Kmton) is a travelling companion o£ ! Dii Peltzer, and has been accepted m Australia and New Zealand as such. It is inconceivable that "a man of Dr. Peltier's educational^ and athletic attainments would deliberately commit, or m any way countenance or be a party, to a breach of the rules for. no apparent object. Xne rule winch prohibits competing under an assumed name is designed to p» event unscrupulous competitors deceiving handicappers. There can be no suggestion of such : being the case m this instance. It is significant that' the pressmen who interviewed the boy m Sydney did not deem it necessary to await the return of Dr. Peltzer m order to obtain 'a.n explanation from him and he is undoubtedly the person who Avas better qualified to deal with the case, than a schoolboy unversed m the ways and designs of newspapers and almost incapable -of speaking English. The several references m the article to Dr. Peltzer are to be deplored, as they merely serve to accentuate the very unfair criticism levelled at him by a section of the Australian Press wherein a number of very minor incidents were apparently grossly exaggerated. . . . ; Tne Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association may be relied upon to see that the interests of the sports which they control are fully protected, but they will not be swayed by ex parte statements. The negotiations for the visit of Dr. Peltzer to New Zealand were conducted through a kindred body m Victoria, and the New Zealand Council is confident . that the Victorian body would not itself countenance any breach of the rules, nor permit another similar body with whom it had negotiated to be placed m a false position by withholding information of a vital nature and which, if true, could only be dealt with m one way. . The Council feels sure, however, that the generosity and sportsmanship of the Wellington public will rise superior to. what appears to be an unwarranted attack on two vouched-for athletes and will accord both Dr. Peltzer and his companion a welcome that will m itself indicate to them the sporting •ntiments of our public.

[Like the lady m the "Hamlet" play scene, the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association protests too much. The central fact remains that Obermuller competed m Australia under ah assumed name, thus contravening the rule governing amateur status. — Ed., "Truth."]