SWIMMERS’ EXPENSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1001, 18 June 1930, Page 12

SWIMMERS’ EXPENSES

CENTRE DONATION NOT MADE TO GIRL CLUB MAKING INQUIRY Although Miss Gladys Pidgeon. the New Zealand champion and record-holder in women’s breaststroke swimming, is a nominee of the Auckland Swimming Centre to represent the Dominion at the British Empire Games in August, she has not yet received a contribution from the centre for her expenses in travelling to and from Hamilton, Ontario. The other Aucklander, ami tho men’s tree-style swimming champion of New Zealand. Gordon Bridson, of Grammar Club, is understood to have received £SO from the centre as its contribution and a sum. stated to be £2O, the proceeds from a carnival held recently by th« cen r to ra s< funds for The expense* of the two | Aucklanders. j The council of the New Zealand I Amateur Swimming Association, at j Christchurch, has given each swimmer ; £SO toward the cost of the trip, and j Miss Pidgeon has been supported by i her club, Waitemata. to the sum of £ls. But, in addition to the deficiency in the contribution expected, it has been necessary, under the ruling of the British Empire Games Committee, at Wellington, to have a chaperon accompany Miss Pidgeon as a member of the official New Zealand party to Canada. Miss Pidgeon’s mother intends to accompany ner as chaperon and her travelling expenses will be £135. REQUEST FOR DETAILS

The Waitemata Club proposes to ask for details of the amounts being allowed to assist Miss Pidgeon in her representation. It was stated this morning.

“The position is considered to require investigation,” an official of the club said, when approached by The Sun this morning. “The necessity for a chaperon for Miss Pidgeon means double the expense and the amount for the chaperon does not receive a contribution.” It was mentioned that Mrs. Pidgeon had been informed by a travel agency that the travelling expenses could be arranged at less than £llO. An inquiry had been sent to the British Empire Games Committee regarding the details which brought the sum to £135, as announced by the committee. In answer to this, the secretary to the committee, Mr. 11. Amos, had said extras had to be taken into consideration. Mr. Amos said the arrangements would be simplified were the amount decided upon. The club regards the position as one of urgency, as the New Zealand team leaves the Dominion for Canada within two weeks. “The club is determined to secure the balance of the money necessary for Miss Pidgeon’s expenses,” a member said. “Will the Auckland Centre be able to provide £SO toward Miss Pidgeon’s expenses?’’ the secretary to the centre, Mr. H. Moore, was asked this afternoon. FUNDS WILL BE FOUND

Mr. Moore could not say that the | centre would be able to provide £SO; it depended on the contributions made j to the fund for the swimmers. So far. the response had not been brisk. Mr. Moore was certain that the necessary expenses for Miss Pidgeon would be found between the New Zealand Council and the Auckland Centre. He was not in a position to comment on the sum already granted to Bridson. The profits from the carnival held to raise funds for Miss Pidgeon and Bridson were only £7, he said. The attendance at the carnival, which was held necessarily at an unfavourable time of the year, was not large.