ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14983, 2 June 1914, Page 8

ATHLETICS.

MEETING OF .TEW ZEALAND COUNCIL. (press association- telegram.) WELLINGTON-, June 1.A meeting; of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held this evening, Mr A. Marryatt presiding. Mr C E. 'Bridge, who, with Mr G. P. Ked_r!! had represented the New Zealand Olympic Council at tho mooting of representatives oi Olympic Counci's in Sydney in January last, .-'ported the result of the deliberations and ths action of tho New Zealand delegates therein. "Prior to leaving for Australia," said Mr Bridge, "I was instructed by your president, Mr x\. Marryatt, to oppose any movement hav-int- for its object ths formation of an Olympic Council for Australasia if tLo composition of such Council were tc consist of ciekg_t-C- from the Commonwealth States and the Bom.nion, and p_.tie_l__ly so if ,t were proposed that, e.-.cl_ •x.uU. and xJcmmion were to be placed upon the same vct.n_r !'-s;s. Mr -larryatt instructed mc fu; tiler to urge that the system then obtt.i_.iii_; be iiuhercj to. A-t/r the e;._tion of a chairman :snd the formal openin;; business of th.. conference, a motion waa bi.ou_.ht do.vn by th: i\ew South "Wak-dele-(ja'c:i pioposunc; th.it an x\ustiala_iun Olympic Council be formed on identical lines to those winch your dclecr.toa hud been in-

•tructed to oppose. This motion Mr Keddeil and I vK-r.jouv-y o. pes d, but wi'.hout avail. In the opinion of your representatives thc eCect of the motion was to place (he New Zealand Olympic Council and Olympic matters generally in tho Dominion in a position that called for most emphatic protect, if only from the fact that the "\ew Zealand delegates, on a Council formed is proposed, would have no more voice in Australian Olympic affairs than, say, the Tasmanian and VVeal Australian representatives, and that (although the right of the Dominion of pres?rvinpr their identity had been acj knowledged by Mr R. Coombes, the internaj tional committee's'rcprfeimtativ-e, by his action in moving in the direction of altering the name Australasia' to 'Australia and New Zealand') her voting power was to be equal only to that of the smallest of the component States of Australia. In the course of tho debate your delegates emphasised this point, and protested strongly against its (to them) manifest injustice, and stated that should tho motion be carried they would record their protest on behalf of the New Zcsiand Council by withdrawing from the further deliberations of the Council. Ilowever, the ruoiion was carried, your representatives being the only dissentienta. and in accordance with their expressed resolve, then left tho meeting. In tu-.a.tr this extreme strp your delegates fully realised that their action laid them and your Council open to adverse criticism, but it whs felt that it \va_ tho only po&sib'c corn-so to follow. The remainder of the business before the confer enco waa the framing of a constitution and _?t of rules, and it _pp?ared to your representatives that it was illogical and in no way desirablo that they should assist in framing a constitution for a body the format tion of which was in direct opposition to tha wishes of your Council. Your delegate- emphasised the fact that tbe Dominion Council was not only willing, kut anxious to cooperate with the Commonwealth executives in Olympic matters, but that such tion should be upon an equal partnership basis with Australia, not upon a sixth ah aro basis."

Mr Bridge attended and amplified hia report.

After discussion a motion was passed unanimously thanking Messrs Bridge and Keddell for attending the conference, and endorsing their action in thc matter.

Mr G. S. Hill gave notice of motion that the local governing bodies of eport in each centre bo communicated with as to sotting up Olympic committees, which will select likely athlete- and assist in the raising of tunda.

A vote of thanks wa_ passed to the New Zealand Rugby Union for their action in stipulating that in a proposed New ZealandAustralia match in Sydney, the proceeds shall be devoted to the Olympic fund, dnd that in the event of New Zealand sending separate representatives to the Games, half the proceeds ehall be devoted towards defraying the expenses'of the New Zealandera.