AMATEUR PEDS.

NZ Truth, Issue 79, 22 December 1906, Page 3

AMATEUR PEDS.

(By C«ntre.)

Mr F. J. Ohlson ("Curly") of the Auckland Centre N.Z. A. A. A., expects to be m Wellington m a day or two on his v/ay to Christchurch.

The cackling that goes on now at the Wellington Centre meetings is getting'past endurance. Business which should be wiped off comfortably m an hour takes about three isimes as . lorijr, to wind up. When Chairman McVilly is supervising proceedings the eloquence of the long-winded gentlemen round the table is considerably restricted and it deserves to "be. Some delegates seem to take a fiendish delight m wearying their hearers with details which are absolutely unnecessary.

'Sneaking pn the subject of the reinstatement rules to a Christchurch reporter, Mr J. H. Pollock pointed out the necessity for an amendment precluding 'those who had spent the best part of their lives as professionals, from being reinstated as amateurs. At present, any professional, though he rnav have a list of performances as long as your airm, may be reinstated as an amateur after having stood down for two years, which, m the Wellington Cpntre's opinion, is not only absurd, but unfair to those who have always stood by the ama u teur side. Conseour ntlv it is •intend-' ed by the Centre to endeavor to fix a limit, either on the number of performances or., amount won, beyond which it will be illegal for any professional to be reinstated.

On a crucial division at the Wellington Centre meet,..?: last week, one of the Wellington ' Amateur' Athletic Club's , delegates spoke and voted m direct opposition to a colleague, whilst a third' went one better by doins: hothisi'g. m either direction; The latter excused his action on the ground that be was not conversant with the . subject- under review.

""Sprinter." m. the Canterbury I'Times"; writes :— "I learn that the Wejlih-rton Centre feels aggrieved at the telegraphed report of the Council's annual meetinsr, which states that the Centre's proposal to count an additional Point for the breaking of standards is "absurd nWnsense." It annpars that the Centre is, very mujph m earnest on this matter, and had ihorburfib' discussed it m all its bear■'n*r>. so that to characterise unanimous resolutions as "absurd non icnse" is calculated to incense the mem Vers. Of course the Council had nothing to do with nw' Press Association report, nnd I have no 'recollection of the" words mioted having been used at the nveetin"-."

There is mitnh to be said m favor of the suggestion to hold a conference between the 'New Zealand Amateur Athletic .Council and Centres at the colonial championship meetine m Christchurch m February next. Such a conference will reive representatives an excellent opportunity of reviewine;

•: any important questions bearing on the welfare of the sport throughout the colony. The recent Council meetin-*' showed clearly that there were, many matters of both local and , colonial importance upon which a diver"•ence of opinion exists, and which" a conference would undoubtedly set at rest, thereby strengthening the hands of the Council and modelling its future policy.

The proposal to impose a registration fee . gave rise ■. to plenty of controversy at last week's meeting of the Wellington Centre, amd m the end i.t was lost by reason of the requisite two-thirds majority not being forthcoming. There were solid grounds for o*"'"oosition to the proposal, though Messlrs Davis, J. H. Pollock, Dawson and others did their level best m the wav of eloquence to carry it through. Messrs Fleming. Ross, and "Wally" Larlrin led the ' opposition, which included m its ranks Messrs Hogben, Coffey and Heenap. fh the interests of the younger athletes who are cominrr on, it was politic, m my opinion, to kill the proposal. "It is just possible," says an Auckland writer, "that if Auckland can «*et its representatives away to the championship meeting the banner will come back to this city. The meeting is ten weeks away vyet, and if G. Smith went into training he could account for at least two events. If Wilson strikes his old form the walks would be at his mercy, and tne 0'Gradvs could possibly account for some of the field events, while C. C- Lawrie would probably be good enough to win the pole vault and perhaps win a point or two m the high jum** Fifty pounds would pay' the fares of the team, and it is tp be hooed that something will be done m this direction."

Splendid entries have come forward m response to the Wellington Centre's anneal for contestants at its provincial meeting on New Year's Day. With every promise of spirited competitions) m the several events there should be be a satisfactory attendance of the public. The Centre officials are putting all their energy and enthusiasm into this gathering and no stone is being left unturned to ensure complete sucqess. Spectators -can rely on seeing .something m amateur athletics at the Basin Reserve on New Year's Day that has not come within ranee of their vision m this city at a previous gathering of this nature.

Messrs Fitzgerald Bros, have presented the Wellington Centre with a gold medal for the Highland Fling competition, at its meeting on New Yg_x's jD«lv« • At the request of tlie Wellington Centre the Wellington Caledonian Society has aDDoirited three judges with Mr John McGlashan as director, of the Highland competitions at the Basin Reseirve Carnival on New

Year's Day. Record entries have been received by the Wellington Centre for the several events to be decided at its New Year's fathering;. ' In the championship events nine entrants are coming forward, including Goodbehere,,. the erstwhile college flier, and -L, B. Webster, tlie New Zealand sprint champion. Six nominations have been received for the 120vds hurdles, -including T. Craip, : the present champion, .and Cooke, who ran second to Craig -last year. Another struggle between this pair should be worth goins; a long wav to see. Both fire reputedly m Teat nick for the fray. Twelve entries have been received for, the 220 T -ds fat *. five for the 880vds, includin" Bradbury. of Masterton, whose nrbwess at this distance has evidently frightened the local men away ; nnd six for the mile, prominent m the list being Prenrlevillf. Murray nnd G osl m" Fislvu- Webster mr Hordbehere are among the eight entered for

the 440 yds, and if this trio go to the post the spectators should be treated to a clinking go. Kerr, who has a big reputation as a professional walker, and who has lately been admitted to the amateur ranks, figures among the nominations for -the- walk events. The average number of entries for the handicap events is about 30 per race.