PEDESTRIANISM

NZ Truth, Issue 73, 10 November 1906, Page 2

PEDESTRIANISM

(By Centre.)

At last week's meeting, of the committee of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club, the list of new members was augmented by 34, making a record of 126 new members for the last three weeks. At this rapid rate of progress the Auckland Club should soon recover its lost honor of being the most powerful m the colony.

The public will have nothing to complain of on the score of fare as;regards quantity to be served up for its benefit during the next few months. The Y.M.C:A. Amatuer Athletic Club holds a sports meeting on December 1, the Wellington Centre's provincial championship gathering is set down for New Year's Day, the Lower Hutt. Amateur Athletic Club are to the fore with a meeting on January 12, and the P.N.A.A.C. will hold high carnival on February 9, and the Victoria College and Wellington Amateur * Athletic Clubs have their sports meetings fixed for March. Amateur athletics is still forging ahead m the Wellington province, the Christ Church Club of Wanganui being the latest Richmond m the field. This young club, which lias at its back a number of . the prominent citizens of the town, intends losing no time m getting to graft, as J a sports meeting under its auspices was to have been held yesterday.

Much valuable "time is wasted at the Wellington Centre meetings m discussing matters which are entirely irrevelent to the point at issue. Parliamentary procedure is quoted extensively by some members, who appear to be densely ignorant of the forms and traditions of the great talking shop. "Rhody" McKenzie's presence is badly needed to restrain the exuberant verbosity of some. , of our athletic legislators^ Business, which -of late has taken "over two . and , a half and three, hours to dispose of, , could be .wiped; off early Jn. half, that time were the .talking propensities; of some of the delegates curbed, -.even to a moderate extent. , . .;

The decision of the Wellington Centre to set up a sub-committee .< to draft the programme for the provincial championship gathering on. New Year's Day is a business-like one, and the delegates deputed to undertake this, duty should evolve something interesting in' the way of a day's sport. A suggestion to. include wrestling and other attractive field events on the programme has much -to commend it and will probably be adopted by the Centre.

The practice of keeping the nets at the Basin Reserve m position till long after dark is a pernicious one, from the amateur' athletic standpoint, and the Wellington Centre, - per < medium of a deputation to the Cricket Association, is making an effort to improve matters by insisting upon the nets being withdrawn not later than 7 o'clock. Athletes only want what is a fair thing, and m seeking this concession the Cricket Association i? not asked to make any sacrifices. !As a matter of "fact, the cricketer who indulges m net .practice In order! to make a presentable showing with has team m the several competitions tinder the aegis of the Association is not blameable for pegging away with bat and ball until after nightfall has set m, to the imminent danger of those who wish to have. a sprint on the grass.' It is the outside section which doesn't pay a stiver for the upkeep of clubs which is the arch-offen-der.