EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 396, 1 April 1937, Page 7

EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

PAST OR CURRENT FORM? Sports Bodies’ Problems. The fact that the names of New Zealand’s representatives at the British Empire Games, to be held in Sydney from February 5 to February 12 next year, must be received in Australia by December 31 of this year means that the nomination of candidates for inclusion in the team will ’either have to be made by the vari-

ous national associations governing summer sports largely on this, season’s form or else the annual eham pionship fixtures or some other form of tests will require to be held earlier than is usual next season. The matter is one to Which some attention has already been given by the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, but it is not the only body administering recognised summ r sport affected. With a view to getting some line on respective candidates from among the swimmers, arrangemments have been made for time trials and these were to have been completed by | March 31. There has '.also been some j talk of the New Zealand champion- | ship meeting for next season being held in the first week in January, but according to report, it is hoped to have a conference of centres next month when some definite decision on the course to be adopted may be made. The New Zealand Rowing Association, according to a statement made by Mr A. D. Bayfield at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Olympic Games Association, is having regard to this season’s form. It was obvious, said Mr Bayfield, that there would be insufficient time available to select rowing representatives on next sea. son's form. So far as cyclists are concerned the road season will be finished in October and there is a proposition to nold the track championship in December. The bodies mentioned are those most affect ..d by the announcement from Australia. The Winter Sports Associations are <n tt different position, as their representatives at the New Zealand Olympic Cams Association meeting indicated. Mr J. D. Willis, on behalf of the Dominion Wrestling Unkn, raid that the union would be in a position to submit nominations before the end of D.cem ber; in fact he thought it likely they would have a fairly good idea of the team after the visit of the Australian amateurs on April 12. The New Zealand Boxing Association, said Mr Aldridge, would be holding its championships in September Australian Attitude. It was thought possible when the question was discussed by the New Zealand Amateur Ai-hletit Association Council a few weeks ago that it might be possible to obtain some extension of the time biy 'Which the names of competitors are to be in Australia, but it is clear from a letter read by Mr H. M< Corn ick at the Olympic Games Association meeting in reply to the inquiry sent by it on behalf of the N.Z.A.A.A. that the authorities in Australia feel that they cannot officially depart from the date announced, although the letter intimated that every possible assistance would be given the Dominion in the matter. The view taken by Mr McCormick, as chairman of the Olympic Games Association Council, is that every endeavour should be inlade to have the names of competitors for warded to Australia by due date. New Zealand along with other Empire countries having ihe right to make amendments up to January 22.

No date was fixed la.t the meeting of the Olympic Games Association for the closing of nominations from the affiliated national associations, this being :a matter which was left to the executive to decide. If a comparatively early date is decided upon this v <ll mean that the national associations, whether they like it or not, will have to submit nominations on this season’s form, but should the doting date for nominations be fixed, say, for some time in December, this would give those associations which desire to do so the opportunity of arrang ing for trials or the holding of their national championr-hip gatherings. Early Track Mesjng. When the position wav. discussed by the N.Z.A.A.A. Council it was contended by one of the delegates that it would be impractical to hold the national track and field championships' in the first half of December because of the proximity of Christmas, and that this fact would make it difficult for some competitors at least to obtain leave of absence from their employment. It does- not seem, however, that there would be much or any great difficulty in this direction. The New Zealand chiampionship meeting has been held before in December. In 1927, for example, the meeting, was held in Christchurch in December, and it was followed at Christmas time by the Australian and New Zealand championship meeting'— the last of the series to be held at Wellington. The difficulty that would appear to

present itself ,should the championships be held before Christmas lies in the direction of whether competitors reasonably could be expected to maintain form until February. Under all the circumstances, it may be felt that the best course to adopt is? to take the form shown in' the 11136-37 season as the basis for nominations With the right, as prescribed, of making amendments up to January 22 in the light of performances shown in the 1937-38 season. This to some extent would overcome the danger of placing too much reliance on the previous season’s form, and the other danger associated with the holding of the New Zeialand championships early in December, namely, that of athletes working up to concert pitch for the national meeting and then falling away. It would also make it possible to hold the New Zealand championships somewhat later in the season, and this would- assist in maintaining •eater interest among -those not forate to gain selection.