CYCLING.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20918, 27 July 1933, Page 13

CYCLING.

COUNCIL SUSPENDED. HEATED DISCUSSION BY FEDERATION. The dispute between the cycling council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic and Cycling Association and the New Zealand Cycling Federation regarding interference by the federation in the domestic administration of amateur cycling, came to a head yesterday when the federation suspended the council. There was much heated discussion on the motion and when the chairman declared it passed two members, Messrs Coffey and Giles, retired from the meeting. Those present were:—Messrs W. J. Walter (who took the chair in the absence through illness of the president, Mr J. Kennedy), J. M. Coffey, G. R. Giles, and H. D. London. Mr Giles sat in place ,of Mr C. H. Taylor, whq has resigned. Disagreement With Council. The meeting had before it a letter, in which the council set out the conditions under which it proposed cycling in New Zealand should be controlled. "The council desires you to accept this communication as its considered opinion and in the nature of an ultimatum," the concluding paragraph of the letter read. "Failing the federation's acceptance of the proposal*, the council will recommend the amateur cycling bodies throughout New Zealand to persist in seeking recognition, and in the meantime to disregard yoor federation." To this, Mr London said, the federation had' replied that it could not agree to the proposals and the council had sent a letter acknowledging the intimation. It had also written appointing Mr Giles as its delegate. At this stage Mr Coffey took exception to the matter being discussed in the absence of Mr Kennedy. Mr Kennedy, he said, had been to Wellington and had discussed the control of cycling with representatives of the council, and he moved that the meeting should be adjourned for a fortnight, to allow Mr Kennedy to be present. Mr Walter: I have already moved the motion of suspension three times at different meetings and I want something definite done. "War is Declared." Mr London then read the following extract from a private letter from a member of the cycling council:— "As I shall not be in a position to write you on this quarrel in the future, I should like to make this an 'au revoir.' The offer made in the letter from the cycling council was quite fair and since the federation refused to accept it, war is declared. I am of the opinion we can knock the federation out in a long fight and it is only fair to tell you that that is what is intended." Mr Walter moved that the cycling council should be suspended for refusing to work with the federation, and the motion was seconded pro forma by Mr London. Mr Coffey: I am afraid, gentlemen. I must retire. Our chairman is biased in his opinion and will vote accordingly. If I retire the meeting will lapse for want of a quorum. Besides that, I fail to see how, in the absence of the president, Mr Kennedy, the meeting can be carried on. Mr Walter persisted in his motion and Mr Coffey then rose to a point of order. "The chairman is not present," he said, "and I think the meeting should be postponed for a fortnight. He has asked us to put it off and he has power to do that." Mr Walter: He has no power. Mr Coffey continued that it was ridiculous to proceed at that stage. The council had not withdrawn its affiliation, as Mr Walter had declared, and the meeting was out of order without the president. "We cannot cancel their affiliation.'' said Mr Coffey. "We cannot do anything until we get the power." Mr Walter: We have the power. Mr Giles said Mr Coffey and he would retire and the meeting would then have to be adjourned. Mr Walter: We shall not adjourn. The motion was then put and without any voices being heard on either side, the chairman declared it carried. Messrs Coffey and Giles then left the meeting. An application for affiliation from the League of Wheelmen was granted by the two members remaining