REGENT DIVING CONTEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 311, 23 March 1928, Page 16

REGENT DIVING CONTEST

SWIMMING CENTRE’S ATTITUDE OBJECTIONS DROPPED OLYMPIC CONTRIBUTION When an application from Williamson’s Films (N.Z.), Ltd., came before the meeting of the Auckland Swimming Centre last evening, asking for permission to hold a diving competition in a specially constructed bath in the New Regent Theatre, a rather tangled discussion ensued. The secretary, Mr. IT. Moore, read a letter from the New Zealand Council, in which it was stated that the presL dent was of the definite opinion that the Auckland Centre should decline to permit the competition to take place. The president’s view was that the pose of such a competition would be to Use the sport and the competitors for a commercial purpose, or for some form of advertising. He was of the opinion that, notwithstanding the fact that medals were to be given as prizes, this form of competition may verge too closely on the professional. He considered that the council should not under any consideration give a permit for the competitors to proceed to Wellington to take part in competitions there. It was suggested by Mr. PrustStewart (Ponsonby) that the centre agree to the proposal if the theatre management give the centre a matinee vTU 0 ., 60 to the O’ymPie Fund. ’ Mi. H. Withers (Parnell) stated that the management was staging a divine contest, and the prizes were to be three gold medals and a cup to the club which supplied the winner. The question of the trip to Wellington had been mooted, but had not been gone on with. The management also wanted the centre to control the competitions and appoint its own judges, and in fact, run things as it wished. Mr. Prust-Stewart moved that the application be refused. Mr. J. Meikle (Waitemata) seconded the motion. “You will have competitors going into the professional ranks in spite of the threat of suspension,” said Mr T> Mulvihill. Mr. Withers stated that the management would offer £lO as a prize if the application was refused, and the swimmers would go for it. Mr. W. Batty (Grammar) said that whatever the centre might do, the swimmers would enter the competition. It was pointed out by Mr. Moore that the council was not saying that the centre should not agree to it, but was objecting to the competitors going to Wellington. On the suggestion of Mr. Withers, the question was deferred while he interviewed the Regent management. Upon his return Mr. Withers stated that a matinee to assist the Olympic funds had been under consideration, and the management would be only too pleased to give one, or make a cash contribution. Mr. Prust-Stewart withdrew his motion, and it was decided to allow the competition to be held, Mr. Edenborough being the only objector.