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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 64, 22 April 1914, Page 8

Mr H. H. M'Nelly has been elected permanent secretary of the Kaiapoi branch of the Reform League. A large touring car returning to town from Springfield last night, with five passengers and chauffeur, narrowly escaped a serious accident on the old West Coast road between Waddington and Kirwee. With the exception of the wheel tracks, long stretches of. this road are covered with grass, and owing to the rainfall very slippery. When travelling at about 30 miles an hour the big car suddenly skidded and swung bodily at right angles to the road. Realising that to apply the brake would make the contingent spill a certainty, the chauffeur released his clutch and succeeded in completing the curve in the hedge side at a point where there happened to be neither water-race nor ditch, the ear coming to a standstill facing the direction from which it htid been travelling.

"Your committee considers it desirable (says the annual report of the Wellington Boxing Association) to pointedly direct attention to the danger that has for some time past threatened the sport in other parts of the Dominion owing to the repeated attempts of a syndicate of speculators to get a controlling influence over the operations of at least one association in the Dominion. Fortunately the intentions of the syndicate were frustrated, but the incident emphasises the v necessity that exists for at once taking action to ensure the setting up of a properly constituted controlling • body, having full powers to govern the operations of the various associations in regard to the general policy, while at the same time leaving associations properly defined powers to control local arrangev.iLilts. Such control must not, however, be in conflict with the policy laid down. This project has been under consideration for some years, but owing to difference of opinion and want of co-operation of the associations it has not been brought to a final conclusion. The incidents that have occurred during the past twelve months have, however, made the subject one of vital importance, and if the sport is to continue to flourish throughout the Dominion immediate steps must be taken in the direction of constituting a proper governing body for the Dominion-' '