Swimming Wrangle More Complicated

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 870, 14 January 1930, Page 1

Swimming Wrangle More Complicated

THREAT OF SUSPENSION STERN AUSTRALIAN VIEW Auckland swimmers today were not greatly hopeful concerning the prospects of permission from the Australian Swimming Union for the appearance of the Sydney swimmers, O. Griffiths and N. Ryan, here on Thursday evening. Urgent cables to the Australian Union on behalf of the Mount Eden Swimming Club, which has arranged the carnival at heavy financial cost, have not lifted the ban on the swimmers. The Australian Union persists in its attitude in spite of the fact that Ryan and Griffiths are not able to sail from New Zealand until a day after the carnival has been held. As Ryan predicted in The Sun on Saturday, the Australian Union has gone to the extent of threatening the swimmers with suspension shuld they not comply with the severe orders. Ryan, it was stated this morning, has now received a cable from Sydney saying that he will not have extended leave from his business. This means that his departure, at least, will be practically certain when the Marama leaves Auckland on Friday. With Griffiths, the position is different. He is eager to take advantage of the rest trip to Mount Cook offered by the New Zealand Swimming Council to the visitors in consideration of a heavy tour. Griffiths will wait for the final decision of the Australian Union. A cablegram from Sydney said that the union was not meeting until today. It was known that feeling among the members was strong that, should Ryan and Griffiths compete at the carnival at Auckland in defiance of orders, they would be dealt with in exemplary manner. This extreme attitude on the part of the Australian Union is not relished by swimming officials in Auckland. Here, the Sydney swimmers have received excellent treatment from the Swimming Centre, the public and the Mount Eden Club. “RIDICULOUS ATTITUDE” Australian officials are viewing the carnival as an effort to challenge their authority and one Auckland club official said the attitude in Sydney was ridiculous, especially in view of the stay of the swimmers in Auckland over the date of the carnival. Statements in Australia that the visitors had been scandalously treated throughout New Zealand were likely to damage swimming relationships between the Dominion and Australia to a serious extent. There is no doubt that Griffiths and Ryan have deserved their rest in Auckland and, still further, are owed the visit to Mount Cook. The intention of Gordon Bridson, the Aucklander, to compete in Australia next month may be affected by the strained relationships, one Auckland official predicted today. In response to a cable to Australia by Mr. H. Moore, secretary to the Mount Eden Club, asking permission for the visitors to compete, the president of the Australian Union has replied repeating the orders that Ryan and Griffiths must not compete again and must return by the first boat. Should the orders be disobeyed, suspension would be threatened. The Australian Union today is considering this further message from Mr. Moore: “Mount Eden Club made arrangements for Thursday at considerable expense. Beg permission for swimmers to appear. No boat leaves until Friday.” An unsatisfactory reply will be regarded as unreasonable by many officials, who think the threat to suspend an Australian champion and a New South Wales champion is unwarranted in the circumstances.