R. A. ROSE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 25 March 1926, Page 9

R. A. ROSE.

HIS DEPARTURE POSTPONED. By Telegraph—P-resa Association, WELLINGTON, March 24. The Athletic Council has cancelled It. A. Rose’s departure nest week, and postponed it until April 13. The principal reason is that the time has been too short to raise • the necessary funds. Nearly £6OO has been subscribed, but several places have not) taken action yet, or kayo only just begun, and the main, efforts, _ in "Wellington and the Wairarapa will be on the 30th and 31st, so that the result cannot be known in time' for Rose to leave on the latter date.

It is proposed that his stay in America should bo cut out, so that there will be no delay in the time of his arrival in England. In answer to a question, the chairman (Mr McVilly) said that if sufficient money was not collected to send two men, the trip must bo called off altogether; it would never do to let Rose go by himself. They mus. recognise that the money had not come in so quickly as was expected, and a special effort was needed to assure the full amount. .. , The Council debated the question of a companion for Rose, with special reference to remarks attributed to luui in Dunedin. He made the following statement to the Council With reference to the statements attributed, to me by the Press of Dunedin, 1 desire to state that reporters came to mo and asked me if I knew who was going as my companion. I told them I had nothing to do with it, and that I had no word from the New Zealand Council, not even about a companion or myself going, definitely. 1 emphatically say that I expressed qo preference at all. I mentioned nc body a ] so grated that Rose had denied making reference to top hats. -