About three years ago, when public interest in New Zealand's Centennial celebrations had not arrived at even a luke-warm state, I suggested that the celebrations would present an excellent opportunity to commemorate the deeds of New Zealand's famous athletes. My suggestion was that a Hall of Champions should be erected at the Exhibition, wherein photographs of famous champions, international trophies and other laurels of victory could be di played as an incentive to the younger generation to follow in the footsteps of the champions of yesteryear

This suggestion was repeated later, and a meeting was called in Wellington to discuss the possibilities. That is as far as it went! Nothing further was done, and the Centennial Exhibition opened without any steps being taken to pay tribute to New Zealand's famous athletes.

No one will deny that the Centennial Exhibition is a wonderful achievement and a fitting tribute to the progress made since our forefathers hewed their homes in the primeval forests, but no one could claim that the Exhibition is complete without some recognition being given our great sportsmen.

Even at this stage it is not too late to remedy the omission. Suggestions have been made to include a Hall of Champions in the Centennial Exhibition and I would appeal to all interested to communicate with me so that I may pass on the information to the proper quarters. If you have old photographs of former great champions at boxing, wrestling, swimming, cricket, football, athletics or any form of sport, communicate with me—do not forward the photographs until requested—and I will present the information where it could best be used.

For my share I have been engaged to give three radio talks on “Great New Zealand Champions,” and my only regret is that some move has not been made to produce some permanent record of the deeds of our worthy sportsmen.

The younger generation is always apt to be criticised for its nonchalant attitude to things material and spiritual, but in sport the hero worship that characterised our ancestors is just as alive today as when Grand-dad thought Dr. Grace was the end and the beginning of cricket. But as Time Marches On and one generation succeeds another it is essential that a permanent record be given of the old-time champions.

In “Panorama of the Playground,” I have chronicled the deeds of Joe Scott, New Zealand's amazing walking champion; Randolph Rose, our best miler until Jack Lovelock hit the sporting headlines; Malcolm Champion, our first Olympic champion; Jack Lovelock, and many other sterling New Zealanders, and there have been many letters of appreciation about these articles. One letter arrived only a few days ago; it is typical of many received. Here it is:

“Just a line to ask you if it is possible to get the ‘Railways Magazine’ with the write-up about Joe Scott, the Dunedin walker. I have loaned my copy to different people to read, but the last one sent it to a friend in England; so that's the end of that! I would like a copy if at all possible to secure one. The year, if I remember aright, was 1936, about the end of the year. Let me know the cost if able to land one.”

Joe Scott is one of the great sporting personalities I have discussed in my radio talks, but there are others such as Kenny Bain, who used to race the mail coaches; A. A. Cameron, the great South Island champion at Caledonian Games; the Woon brothers—a great sporting family—of whom little information is available.

They were heroes in the early days of New Zealand but we cannot blame the youth of to-day if their deeds are forgotten. Before it is too late, some effort should be made to chronicle their deeds and give the champions of 1940 a background of sporting history that will make them proud to be New Zealanders.

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A Promising Miler.

In “Railways Magazine,” I recently made reference to the prowess of a New Zealand cash athlete, Albert Gilmore, who ran one mile (from a start of 40 yards) in 4min. 8 4–5sec. at the Stawell (Victoria) meeting last Easter. Before the article appeared in print I received this letter from L. J. Read, of Divisional Headquarters, Army Service Corps, Trentham. He wrote:

“Being in camp at present and therefore having limited opportunities, I am writing you in the hope that you may be able to make the necessary arrangements for an attack on the professional mile record by Albert Gilmore, a professional runner now in this camp. You will remember he did so well in athletic events in Victoria last Easter. On Easter Monday he won the Stawell mile in the record time of 4min. 8 4–5 sec., this being his fifth win in succession. Backed by the opinions of several good judges in Australia and having seen him in action in camp it is my firm belief he would lower the existing record. He may be going overseas shortly, and it seems a pity that this great athlete should not be given a chance at breaking the record and bringing honour to New Zealand.”

It is unfortu mate that Gilmore is not likely to be given an opportunity in New Zealand. As a cash athlete he cannot compete with or against amateur athletes except in events controlled by the military authorities, and there are few cash athletes in New Zealand capable of assisting him if a field could be secured. On February 16 and 17 the New Zealand cash championships will be contested by cyclists and athletes in Wellington—the first all-cash meeting in the Capital City for a generation—and it is possible that Gilmore, if not overseas with the first Echelon at that time, will be a competitor. He has the ability but needs the opportunity.

Sporting Behaviour.

The strength of any sport is not based on the enthusiasm of its executive officers alone, but must have a solid foundation among the rank and file of its participants. For that reason it is the bounden duty of all athletes, be they wrestlers, runners, cyclists, oarsmen or boxers, to set a standard of behaviour, whether competing or not, that will bring credit to their chosen sport. It needs just one bad apple in a case to spread the rot to all the other apples, and this should always be kept in mind when athletes foregather. A word spoken to an erring one might save a popular sport from being dragged into the mire. In recent months boxing has suffered because no fewer than four professional boxers have been convicted of assault. As boxing is a sport encouraged in secondary schools it is essential that steps be taken to prevent a recurrence of the evil. It is not entirely the duty of the executive officers to prevent this undesirable feature; every boxer must take his share of responsibility.

Learn to Swim Campaign.

Excellent results attended the Learn to Swim Campaign conducted in New Zealand early in the past year. Figures released indicate that 28,478 persons of all ages were taught to swim during the campaign at a total cost of £2,000, an average cost of 1/5 per person. Once again Auckland showed the way, no fewer than 6,901 non-swimmers mastering the simple secret of swimming. Contrasted to Wellington, where only 1,200 persons were taught, this is a remarkable record, with Christchurch, 6,162, a good second. The best figures were returned in districts fortunate enough to possess tepid baths, and now the scheme has been shown worthwhile the National Committee of Swimming and Life-saving might be pardoned if it worked hard to secure tepid baths in all towns throughout New Zealand. The capital cost in expenditure is more than repaid by the annual saving in lives.

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(Rly. Publicity photo.)
A popular South Island tourist resort—The Hermitage, Mt. Cook,

Honour for Former Railwayman.

Mr. R. W. McVilly, former General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, was honoured a few weeks ago by being elected first honorary life member of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association and President of that body during Centennial Year. As a council member of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association for five years I had the honour to serve under this grand old sportsman—if that expression may be used to describe a sportsman who will not grow old—and it gives me great pleasure to see that an honour richly earned has fallen to his lot. Members of the New Zealand Railway service know of Mr. McVilly as a former “chief,” and his work for sport is known in New Zealand and beyond. A stickler for the rules, at times considered too strict, he has played his part in the control of athletics and boxing in New Zealand but has never sought the limelight, and many a fine action by this sportsman has not been publicised.

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The Olympic Games.

A few years ago New Zealand field event enthusiasts were thrilled by the feats of the two young Finnish athletes, Veikko Perasalo and Matti Sippala, high jumper and javelin thrower respectively,

(Photo., A. H. Newlon)
Mt. Christina, from Konteburn Track, Lower Hollyford Valley, South Island.

and in Finland's dark days it is only natural that our thoughts should turn to these lads. Perasalo was a policeman stationed at Lahti, one of the first towns bombed by the Soviet invaders, and his many friends are hoping that he, with his countryman, will be spared to continue active participation in athletics. Until a few days before the Russian aggression Finland had continued to work on its plans for staging the Olympic Games—a gathering where the youth of the world would meet in friendly combat—but the peaceful plans came to naught. In 1916 the Games were to be held in Berlin, but were cancelled when the Great War commenced; this year they were originally scheduled for Tokio, but were transferred to Helsinki when Japan invaded China. Now it seems definite that the 11th Games will be abandoned. It is an Olympic rule that the Games cannot be postponed; they are held, or abandoned.