ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 62, 13 March 1915, Page 16

ATHLETICS.

NOBTIIEBN ATHLETIC UNION. FIXTCRCB. ',' M »«* ■!"•—St. Patrtck'a D«y Spore. iDoinain. March 17.—BaHwajr flporu Club. Xanigaturoto. March 18.—Bombay Jubilee Sport*. March SO.—Walkato Caledonian Society. •March 20.—Victoria Valley Athletic Clno. Mercn 24.—Milan* Athletic Upottt. March -ST.—Hnntljr Snorts Club. March :il.—W-hangnripo Athletic CM*. April X— Wnrkwortb Athletic Chib. April iY—l'utanini Athletic Club. April :>.—MuuiiKatapere Athletic Ch*. April s.—Te I'uke Athletic Club. » April .-..—Wabaroa Athletic Club. April s.—Komltl Sport* Club. April .*>.—Papakura Athletic Sport*. April s.—Woodlel&h Athletic Club. April 10. — Buck-land Athletic Sports. April 17.—lViiitford Sports Club.

Nominations for St. Patrick's Day Sports, Bombay, Huntly, and Matangi, closed during the week, and they were entirely satisfactory.

During the last week Whangaripo, Komiti, and Whitford Clubs applied for affiliation, which was granted, and dates allocated to them.

V. Hogg, C. Reid, G. Davidson, and S. Williams, all of Auckland, applied for the removal of their disqualification. They were considered by the executive, and all granted.

Tie photos, and descriptions of the Irish national dress procured from Ireland by his .Lordship Dr. Cleary and Rev. Father Keogh, of Wexford, at the instigation of Mr. A. J. Woodley, secretary St. Patrick's Day Sports, have been admired immensely, and next season they will doubtless be used in all competitions for Irish dancing. The nominations received for Pukekiiwa easily constitute a record for the Club. The secretary, Mr. Jas. Millar, whs in town during the week, and called at the Union Office, and informed the secretary that it was their intention next year to put on a much bigger progrumme.

Nominations for the Waikato Caledonian Society close to-night with the Union Secretary. Auckland! or Mr. D. M-cKinnon, Fronkton Junction.

All particulars of forthcoming meetings can be obtained at trie Union Office.

It is pleasing to notice the name of Dave Pretty in the nominations for Pukckawa. Pretty has for many years been our champion axeman, and has been quite a feature at all meetings where axemen are catered for. But this season

he has not competed on account of illhealth, so that now he has'recovered we can expect to see his stalwart figure at the meetings where axemen congregate. "

I The Northern Athletic Union thinks that sufficient warning has now been given to competitors, and have now decided that they will not consider any application for the removal of disqualification, if such penalty was imposed after February 27th.

Matters in the Victorian athletic -world are unsettled. Factions are at work, and reform is hinted at. In what shape reform is desired is not known, but certain it is that a powerful influence is working towards the ousting of certain association officials. The reform movement is not confined to Victoria, says a Sydney writer. Time after time there has been talk of it in New South 'Wales. Council meeting after council meeting witnesses the clashing of factions. There ie in Sydney a set of athletic workers who style themselves the progressives, and they are comparatively newcomers to the game. 'But they have done a great dea] for the sport in recent yeare. As a matter of fact, amateur. »thletice in this StSte would be in a very low etate had it not been for the corainsr into existence of the progressives. At recent meetings of the Council of the New South Wales Amateur Athletic Association there have been several trials of strength, and success has been fairly equally divided. 'Sow. however, that a section of the Victorian A.A.A, has decided to seek reform, it is not unlikely that a joint effort will be made between the progressives of both associations to oust certain officials at the annual meetings of the two bodies. Because too strict observance is given to enforcing laws in ntle-o'-thumb fashion, and not enough attention to the advancement of the sport itself, the progressives in this State are prosecuting a campaign against certain athletic rulers. Boiled down, the trouble arises from the conflict of age and youth, and the annual meetings -of the Victorian and New South Wales associations promise to be more than ordinarily interesting.