CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 256, 28 October 1899, Page 3

CYCLING.

GOVERNMENT OF AMATEUR

CYCLING

The special committee set up by the N.Z. Amateur Athletic. Association at the request of the League of N.Z. Wheelmen to report upon the government of amateur cycling in New Zealand have prepared their report, a copy of which has been forwarded to each of the affiliated clubs.

The committee, consisting of Dr. Jennings and Messrs .). F. Grierson and P. Selig, met a deputation from the League, and also the Christchurch representative of the N.Z. Cyclists' Alliance. In their report they state that they have given the matter long and efcirnes.t consideration, and while agreeing that, in view of the reciprocal agreements with Australia, England, and elsewhere, amateur athletics, so long controlled by the N.Z.A.A.A., have nothing to fear from the dispute in cycling circles, the object they have in view is to facilitate, if possible, the union of all the New Zealand amateur cyclists into one compact body, governed absolutely and only by themselves, under such rules as may be adopted from time to time by the parent body to which it is affiliated, and bound by any treaties or obligations it may enter into with other bodies.

The committee feels that the fundamental principle that amateur sport shall be guided and controlled by amateurs is one that needs only to be stated to be accepted: indeed, it fails to believe that there is a single amateur who would prefer to be governed otherwise.

Taking this, then, as the first point to be settled, they had to consider in what way it could be best accomplished, and the following rough scheme is the result of their deliberations: — 1. Thai all cycle raring in New Zealand shall bo governed by one body, say. tin' organisation known as the Nc?w Zealand League of Wheelmen. ". That it shall consist of two sections: (A) Amateurs composed of riders who rum sign the existing amateur definition; (15) cash riders, or professionals. 3. That each section shall have absolute and complete control of it.s own members; shall elect its own officers; control it.s own funds, make its own by-laws, etc.

4. That a central council consisting of an equal number of delegates from both sections, together with the president of the League, shall have control of gen<val cycling matters in New Zealand.

r >. That the headquarters of the League be in Cliristchureh.

li. That for the time being (up to some period to be decided upon), the control of the amateur section be exercised from Auckland.

(This would seem to be advisable for two reasons: (A) On account of a somewhat bitter feeling that the committee finds exists in Christ-church, and which would possibly prevent hearty co-operation of the .sections; (B) because the Auckland amateurs already have the matter in hand.)

The committee feels that such a scheme as above, if adopted, would soon result in immense benefit to sport. Antagonism would give way to friendly rivalry and co-operation. There must be a certain amount of give and take in all such settlements, and the committee think that peace with honour may be secured to the contending parties. Of course there may be difficulties in matters of detail but if a combined committee was set up consisting of men anxious to come to a settlement and with some one or more prominent sportsmen as arbiters those difficulties would easily be overcome and the present state of unrest and retrogression give place to progress and general good-fellowship. Mr A. A. Davies lion, secretary of the New Zealand Cyclists* Alliance, has received the following telegram from Mr T. W. Lees, vice-president of the New Zealand Cj'cllss? Alliance and one of the Christchurch representatives of the Alliance:—"The League has submitted me the following terms of agreement between the. Alliance and League, viz.:—l. The League to govern both classes. 2. The constitution of the League to remain as at present, with headquarters at Christchurch. 3 ; The clubs now affiliated to the Alliance to affiliate with the League. 4. The control of the amateur section to be placed in the>bands of an executive to be elected by the present Alliance executive, either at Auckland or Christchurch, such executive to appoint a local officer in each League centre, to deal with applications for amateur permits and reinstatements. 5. The agreement to remain in force for periods of 12 months.."