“FAR TOO DRASTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 926, 20 March 1930, Page 13

“FAR TOO DRASTIC

COMMENT ON NEW ZEALAND ATHLETIC MEETING CRITICISM DEPRECATED WELLINGTON, Today. Mr. 11. Rosc. manager of the Wellington athletic team, replying to criticism by Mr. G. L. Austin, manager of the Canterbury team, on the conduct of the New Zealand amateur athletic championships at Wanganui, said: "i think Mr. Austin’s statements are far too drastic. Certainly there were one or two matters which gave rise to comment, but the officials, without exception. were most courteous and helpful to the visiting athletes. -*A great deal of work fell on the shoulders of the executive, particularly on Air. Edmondson and Mr. George Benson, who carried out their duties most efficiently. The programme, too. was not as well arranged as it might have been, but that was not altogether the fault of the Wanganui -Taranaki Centre, as the programme had beer* | submitted to other centres for approva" | beforehand. ’•There was also something to be desired in the judging of two of the j events out of the large number which | comprised the programme. In one j case, however, the fault was not that ! of any of the Wanganui officials. Anj other point in connection with the I judging was that the judges' stand was I too near the tape and that is prob- ■: 1-> li:j 1• ■ u-r the mistake made I in one of the sprint races. I “Any faults there may have been ! with regard to the meeting were simply j due to a certain amount of inexperience, which is to be expected in places j where important meeting are not oi I frequent occurrence. However, the j Wanganui officials did their best ana ' 1 think it is a great pity that such a | criticism lias been levelled against ! them, in view of their untiring efforts i to make the meeting a success and the ffstance they gave to all the visiting