ATHLETICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1922, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

VISIT OF THE AMERICANS. DUNEDIN CANCELS FIXTURE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. At a meeting of the Otago Centre of the Amateur Athletic Association it was resolved that as the council has shown grave inconsistence regarding dates, Otago reverts to the original programme for the Otago championships on January 27 and the N«w Zealand championships on February 17. It was also decided to cancel the American visit. A DIFFICULT POSITION. ATTITUDE OF HEADQUARTERS. Wellington, Last Night. Regarding tlie cancellation of the Otago and Canterbury dates arranged for the visit of tlie American athletes, it is pointed out on behalf of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Council that the itinerary was drawn up after considerable trouble, and the defection in these centres lias placed tlie council in an awkward position. It is said Canterbury agreed to the date and went so far as to invite Wilson and Munro to take part. In the first place the Otago representatives refused the wish of the New Zealand Council to hold the New Zealand championships on tlie same day as the Americans appeared in Dunedin, and the council then fixed the championships for March 3 and -thought everything was settled. The action of the Otago centre in cancelling the Americans’ visit and arranging the New Zealand championships for February 17 is hard to understand. It is held the council should themselves decide the whole matter and arrange where the New Zealand championships should be held. As a result of the developments, it looks as if the whole South Island tour of the Americans will be cut out, and there are many who think this the best course te ttMfuft. 'fln aiuhi ? *

to their guarantees: Auckland £lOO, New Plymouth, Wairarapa, Gisborne, Wanganui, Manawatu, Invercargill each £5O. It is impossible to cancel the tour, as the American party Is due to reach the Dominion on, December 30.