"WAR TO THE KNIFE."

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 83, 8 April 1925, Page 11

"WAR TO THE KNIFE."

AMATEURS Vl PROFESSIONALS

"LEARNING A LESSON."

The question of professionalism was raised at the meeting of. the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association on Monday night, when Mr. F. Wilton moved: "That in future no permit be granted to any proprietary body to conduct amateur events in conjunction with professional racing." Mr. Wilton referred to recent instances of where mixed events had taken place, and he thought that sort of thing did considerable harm to their cause. Those competing should be 100 per cent amateur. In Wellington they had just about killed professionalism, and he was ?orry to see the thin end of the wedge introduced when O'Shea was invited to take part in a cycle race. Fortunately " ended in a fiasco, but it might have been otherwise. They were there to "gut professionalism, not to assist it. Hie chairman, Mr. A. T. Davies, said ie thought Wellington had learned a lesson. He did. not think the council Would grant permits for meetings of Wat kind in future. He agreed they sumild take some action in the matter. Mr. E. V. Guy pointed out that a proprietary body in another centre had decided that they would not include any amateur events in their programme. •Air. Wilton: That is war to the knife. it was decided to write to the Canterbury centre asking its attitude wvards the question of granting permits ior amateurs to run at proprietary meetings. ■