HAGUE REFEREE TO ATHLETIC SECRETARY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 268, 11 November 1944, Page 3 (Supplement)

HAGUE REFEREE TO ATHLETIC SECRETARY

IN the election last Saturday of Mr. S. Billman as honorary secretary . of the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, athletics has gained an officer who should prove not only highly popular but most efficient. While this is Mr. Billman's first season on the executive of the Auckland Centre he has followed athletics with a keen and practical enthusiasm for many years. At one time he held office on the executive of the Girls' Athletic Association, and acted as an official with the Otahuhu Club. Last season he founded the Owairaka Club, being its first president, an office to which he was again elected last month. A great believer in encouraging physical fitness amongst young people—as becomes one who was a P.T. instructor during the last war— Mr. Billman has already shown evidence of his ability to impart knowledge to the young athlete as is evident by the prowess of the young members of the "infant" Owairaka Club. In the Misses R. Murphy, J, Jonkers and H. Cartwright there are three young athletes of whom much more will be heard. In another sphere of sport Mr. Billman has made a reputation for himself, and his experience there should stand him in good stead for criticism that any secretary is likely to meet . . . for 19 .years he has been a Rugby League referee. 12 of them as a senior officiaL