FEDERATION OF AUSTRALASIAN CYCLISTS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9324, 27 January 1896, Page 2

FEDERATION OF AUSTRALASIAN CYCLISTS.

AN OPEN LETTER TO AUSTRALIAN "WHEELMEN. ■ Mr F. G. O. Henslow has addressed the following int3re3tiiig letter to cyclists in the colonies: — "In addressing thig letter to my brother cyclist? throughout Australia and New Zealand, I trust the matter will be looked upon in tho eaine light in which I am prompted to write it—simply for a love of cycling, and with a view to assist in placing our sport in the front rank of the cycling institutions throughout the world. Supposing that the cyclists in Australia and Now Zoaland were banded together in one large institution, which we will call, for the sake of a name, " The League of Australasian Wheelmen," what a power would we become in the land 1 What an enormous inftuenoe we would command ! What object would there be which we could not obtain, and politically nothing could approach U3? The entire charge of cycling would bo in our hands, and we would become escoetliusly rich. One small badge for recognition for us all, and one net ol general rules for guidance throughout the empire. Just pause for one moment, and think what kind of an institution would we become. Is there an institution in the world that would be like it? No, or even approach it; and the question you naturally ask is, can this be dono? Yes, and very easily too, if the leaders in the different colonies will take the matter up; and if worked with honesty of purpose, would become an accomplished fact before the next year closes. I do not wish to bring New South Wales into the matter at all, but it is upon the experience I have gained in thie colony that I am enabled to speak, and feel so confident that an institution such as I have mentioned can bo built up. "This brings mc to the details of the scheme. Suppose we call it ' The League of Australasian Wheelmen.' This would include all the colonies—New South Wales, Viotoria, South Australia, Queensland. Tasmania, New Zealand, and West Australia. It may be argued that the last-named colony is too far distant. That may be so, but we will leave it in at present. Each of these colonies would have a head centre in the capital city, and the boundary of this centre would include the city and extend for abont 15 or 20 miles out. All cyclists residing within this area must belong to the head centre, and consequently all subscriptions would be paid into one fund, and this would mean a good income, and, where there is plenty finance, great thing 3 can be done. This does away with the exist' ence of olnbs. It is the existence of »o many clubs in a small area that prevents the sport from extending. Say there were 10 clubs in the area above mentioned, each of them with a credit balance of .£2O. What can be done with so small an amonnt. One road race would cripple the club that held it, but if all these clubs were one institution, with JE2OO, something good could be done. Race meetings could be held, and the credit balance increased: a track would soon be secured for your sole use; petty club jealously would immediately vanish; you would be able to offer benefits to the members in the shape of insurance against accidents, and In other ways. What racing you wanted for the members you hold yourselves. Sports promoters are crashed out—these are the men who ran the game to earth—and when any money is made out of a race meeting, it is for your benefit, and does not pass into other pookete. I do not refer to sports for charitable purposes. The Committee could oass by-laws and resolution?, so ions as they" were not in contravention ol

] the rules of too Iciguc. Tne c«ntre would l have a racing board, who would Iβ eieoted Iby the annual mooting, and only respond !to that body, to whom all disputes would U ! referred. There i 3 too much friendahic " j exhibited when matters of this kind conn I before the general committee, but with ft* [racing board free from the oontrol of ibi i genornl committee, bettor justice is anted I out, Here is the soherao outlined :•— j In matters of finance belonging to thi ; central committee, delegates of cotwln j branches shall not vote. j BIUNCHES. I Branches cau be created in any counlrj ! town, but not more than one branch will bt ! allowod in any such town. Each branch shall , elect a member of the league to serve as its ; representative on the contra! committoe, and jit shall be tho duty of tho hon. secretary o! any branch to notify the general sooretary ol tho centre of such election. I In order to cover cost of postage and other : expenses, branchee shall pay £1 Iβ annually i to the central committee J Each branch shall receive and expend its ; own revonuo and a copy of its yearly report J and balance-sheet shall be sent to the gonenl ; secretary of the centre before February Ist in i each year, and tha latter body shall, if H J deem necessary, order it or extracts from it to be printed as an appendix to the centre , ! annual report. The annual meotinge of all : branches shall be haUl in January in eaoh year, or a month prior to the annual meeting of the centre, so that the whole of the' league's operations throughout tbi*»ho!e 01. ! Australia and New Zealand may be puoliphed - for the benefit of its members. *{&£ Eooh branch shall oleot its k officers and committee, and shall be designated ' "The League of Australasian Wheelmen, —- Centre, Branch." Each brand shall fix its own rate of subscription ari entrance fee. Application must be made to the committee of tho centre for permission to run all raeej, showing amount of prizes for each race and entrance fee (except branch road races). Tit central committee must be satisfied thai - prizes won will be paid before sanction it granted. ' ' Eaoh bvanoh shall have power to saepens ' or disqualify for a term, or life, any of i)J' members whom thoy deem deserving of such,' and the branch shall report such auspsnsion ot ; disqualification to the committee o! tko. centre ■! for endorsement. An appeal can ba made upon application to the racing board of the - centre upon the payraont of ss, which shall W refunded in the case of the appeal being up- . - held. Any branch shall report upon any . matter when requested to do so by the '■ ■ committee of the centre. . , Each branch raay make by-laws ivnd past resolutions, so long as thoy aro not in contra* ■ vention to tho rules of the league. The. ■ secretary of each branoh shall keep a record -' of the names of the placed men and times of" -- all races run by his branoh, including rotd - vacos, and ehall lorward n, copy o! them ,tt . the general secretary of the centre withil seven days after the race or races. - * Each branch shall furnish a list of Hi - members to the general committee of < t3)* ; centre, and kee; , * it correct from time to time. Each branch shall select thoir own h&p4i* capper or handicappers, who shall han&ieaf local events only. .* '. For meetings where more than one branch , is represented, the handioap3 shall be declared , by tho official handicappor of the centre, -f When required, the branch handioappere shall frame marks of local men for the information ; of the official handicappor. j „ - Except where provided for, under the heading of branches, tho rules of the leagueshall be the rules of all branches. ' CouKcin of Advice. * ' v There v/ould be a council of advice, conefe* - ing of one representative from each colony, who would determine disputes bet*«W colonies or centres. Matters of joint referen« -. would be referred to them, and they worn* . bring up a roport, which would be sent to eaou - <. centre for consideration. Their principal autjt (< would be to settle disputes between centw«t . and to give any advice upon any matter which - . might be referred to them by any centre. I*. „' is therefore seen that the vory best men Mj -J each colony must be ciioaen. Tho conncu •'; would meet about two or three tinve •J^*'*.' if required, say in Melbourne, which ii.tw „" handiest for all the colonies, each eowoj. <• paying the travelling expenses of tho-f "" representative, bat whore Queensland Would v. send a representative, Melbourne's «we shall go towards assisting Queensland, becww* the latter'e expenses would be doable thoM, of any other colony. A colony or centre intf,^ however, prefer to appoint a representative I* .'- ---another colony. The council would <*•§"[£* the annual report* of each centre, andpuDluS*,*-; them, or parts of them, as the anuual repOWl-Vj of the whole league. ';.<.'•;-' cojjclcsiox. "* : b j I Iα oonolucling, let mc cay that the maWflt V i is not so hard as it appears, and if the eobeine is carried out—not necessarily on these linea* I only suggest these to make a beginning-* $ it would be hard to describe the importance and influence which eaoh an institution woaw ,j ; carry. Larrikiniem would bo crashed out. -,; ; May I point out what a somewhat eunU« ■; I echeme as this hoe done for New South Wale*.. , ilα 1893, when tbe league was formed, in«» , was £34 credit balance. The thing was W simple that branches began to be created W .- country towns with marvellous rapidity. Ifl" :,., amount of money which passed through tne ', Sydney centre, not branches, during the Bin i \ full year wae £1500, while for this year tt« amonnt will be just on £5000. with c ewM y balance of about £1600 or £1750 andi for» ;^ branches. If this can be done in New Sonttt rz Wales in two years, what an enonnonf Q institution we couldbuildupbyjointoperftUom £ Our yearly tornover would bo somethlug w o,, * 1 : £30.000. I estimate the turnover for Sydney ! next year to be between £GOOO and JB7OCO, JSfk that fr;dm the bcanahm £3000 to **owf? additional. I hope the leaders of cycling ia v, ,the various colonies will think the ° ■ out' and try and bring us altogether ond«f »»• banner, with ono object common ».*»>'* i cementing ne more firmly together w ■"? ; \ ! bonds of good fellowship, which we wv * hope, so much wish to'see prevail. V\f .v "-p Ls-ugh and grow fat; smoke Indian Chief dj CigarottM* and thea yon can «**JjUl