AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 18 November 1913, Page 7

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

VISIT OF AMERICAN'S

The secretary of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society has received the following communication in regard to the visit of America's crack athletes, from the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association: —

I am taking the opportunity of summing up the" whole position regarding the American team so everything may bo in concrete form. The dates for the New Zealand itinerary remain as follows: Christ-church, Doc. 13th, contribution £SO; Southland, Dec. 17th—£40; Otago, J Dec. 20th—£50 ; "Wellington Dec. 26th and 127th—£60; Masterton, Jan. Ist—£4o; Wanganui, Jan. 3rd—£3o; Palinerston North, Jan. 7th—£2s; Auckland, Jan. 10th—£50; Rotorua, Jan. 14th —■£3o; Hamilton, Jan. 17th—£25. Should there be any profit on meetings after all expenses have been deducted (expenses include cost of Americans while in each centre's territory and the above contribution) one half of such profit is to be handed to the Council. The team left 'Frisco on the 12th inst, and; arrives at Wellington on December 3rd. They will probably remain at Wellington some days, during which the Council will undertake their board and entertainment, which will probably, include a picnic sports meetings by the Maori Club at Wakanae. Much regret will be expressed at the news f fiat at the last minute Mr llnmack was refused leave, and his place is taken by Mr GeOrge James, a prominent member of the Pacific Coast Association, who comes to us recommended very strongly from America as one thoroughly conversant with athletics and administration. The team will be:— James Power, 440 yds, half-mile and mile. The mile is his siar event, running consistency in .4.21, his best 4.18, and improving every meeting. He is the best man in America to-day over that distance. Has no trouble in getting well under two minutes for the half. Fair over quarter and two miles.

Rosenberger (sprinter of the team) is national sprint champion, and a New York Metropolitan champion. His record is 9.4 for 100, 21.4 for 220, and 49 for the quarter. At the present time he is about the second best sprinter in the States. Caughey is the field event man. He is a University student who has been showing great form this year, especially with shot and hammer. All the funds of the asvsociation have been handed over, first to defray the cost of bringing the men to 'Frisco and secondly as a deposit on the passages. The balance of this passage money (some £270) has been guaranteed on behalf of the Association by the president and secretary. As soon as.the team lands we shall have additional expense in with the team, and we ask' that contribution be forwarded immediately so that our obligations may be met; , POSITION REGARDING AUSI TRALIA.

The New South Wales Association have undertaken to contribute their quota. Victoria also agreed to a like amount, and on the strength of. it we cabled Mr Unmack to go on with arrangements. Victoria now say that they will not stand to their agreement unless we give satisfactory guarantees that we will be represented at the Australasian championships on two dates selected by them, and which are entirely unsuitable to us, and among other things preclude the Americans from competing. The Victorian Association suggest to us the alteration of our itinerary, but we do. not feel disposed to do so for a moment. New Zealand matters.are our business and not theirs, and if the arrangement of dates of the eleven meetings in New Zealand does not tit in with the date of one meeting in Melbourne we say and have said from the first why not make ft later. Only recently have we been supplied with reasons for their refusing to consider an alteration which is that the State Associations would not agree to the meeting being held over two Saturdays, and as they would get no gate much in a mid-week fixture they have selected the only holiday available. New Zealand was never asked whether they would object to a two-Saturday meeting, and we from a distance had first right to be consulted and on learning what the reasons were at once cabled' agreeing. Tasmania. N.S. Wales and the Dominion agree on two Saturdays late in February or early, in March, Queensland don't like it. Victoria's last communication is to the effect that they find it impossible to alter the dates. Our reply goes forward to the eiFect that we deny the right of anyone to demand such a guarantee and we will not undertake that any team in January will he satisfactory, but will undertake to get a really good team if the dates can be changed, as Ave have suggested all along. In the meantime we expect them to act up to their agreement re the Americans. Here at headquarters many enthusiasts have made suggestions in respect to handling the team and we would welcome similar suggestions from officials or others connected with centres or ■ clubs. Communications will be. promptly dealt with at the end and as the time between now and '"the first meeting is short, serious steps should be at once taken to put matters in running order, particular!ly with regard to advertising, preparation of grounds and getting the athletes themselves to train. This latter is a. very important thing, early advertising seems necessary as many runners wait until -a- meeting is advertised before they do much serious training.