ATHLETICS N.Z.A.A.A. Rejects Sunday Meetings

Press, Volume C, Issue 29680, 25 November 1961, Page 5

ATHLETICS N.Z.A.A.A. Rejects Sunday Meetings

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 24. Athletics in New Zealand would not get the support it wanted till there was a relaxation in the attitude toward Sunday sport. Mr K. O. Siepbens, of Wellington, told the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association’s annual meeting today. Individual athletics centres should have the option to do what they liked regarding Sunday competition, he said. Mr Stephens was speaking in support of a Wellington move to make Sunday athletics a matter for the discretion of individual centres. Put to the vote, the move was defeated. Mr Stephens said that last year the Petone club had lost a ‘‘serious amount” of money when the N.Z.AA.A vetoed a Sunday meeting the club was to stage. He explained that it had been intended to stage the meeting on a Saturday, but that it had had to be postponed. With no alternative Saturday available, the club had gained the permission of the Petone Borough Council and the Wellington Athletics Centre to hold the meeting on a Sunday. The Wellington committee, by an overwhelming majority, had considered there was no reason for the N Z.A.A A.’s refusal. Other Sports Rugby—“and it is a highly organised business no matter what anyone says”—golf and tennis were played on Sunday, said Mr Stephens. The Wellington Lawn Tennis Associatnon had recently announced it was holding the provicial championships over two week-ends, including two Sundays, and there was “no great opposition to this round the town” or from the press, which, he claimed, opposed Sunday athletics. “Why keep our heads in the sand about Sunday athletics?” Mr Stephens asked. It was not wanted to encroach unduly on Sundays, but there were far worse things which could be done on Sunday than stage an athletics meeting. “If we could run meetings on a Sunday. I’m sure we could get a crowd as big as we have ever seen.”

Mr G. T. Wiggs said the Wellington motion was unconstitutional because it cut right across the objects of the N.Z.A.A.A. Such a move could prove to the national detriment of the sport. The chairman (Mr H. I. Austad) said the association had a policy regarding Sunday sport and the Petone meeting had been refused in keeping with that policy.

All-Weather Tracks

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 24.

The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was anxious to push on with a policy to ensure at least main centres and cities had all-weather tracks at the earliest possible moment the chainman (Mr H. I. Austad) said in a report to the annual meeting today. The Government was anxious that when considering applications for financial assistance. it should be guided by the recommendations of the association on the particular need and order of urgency for tracks. The meeting would consider this policy and an opportunity would be given for discussion with the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Gotz).

The motion before the meeting said centres could conduct Sunday meetings when and where they liked, and he was strongly opposed to it. Auckland was one centre which spoke in favour of the move, but it was overwhelmingly defeated on a show of hands. NEW N.ZA.A.A. PRESIDENT Mr Lunn Chosen In Ballot (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 24. Mr E. Lunn, of Canterbury, is the new president of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. He was elected at the annual meeting today, defeating Mr J. McManemin. of Auckland, in a ballot. Mr H. I. Austad, of Wellington, was re-elected chairman. The appointment of secretary was left to the management committee. Mr G. H. Geddes, of Wellington, secretary for the last 10 years, has retired because of ill-health. A former national president and Canterbury starter for 23 years, Mr J. C. Harbut, was elected a life member. Ten-Mile Road Race Accepted (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 24. An annual 10-mile road race will be introduced to the New Zealand athletics calendar, starting next year. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association’s annual meeting, acting on a harrier conference recommendation, adopted the new race today, leaving the rules to be drafted by the management committee. New Grade For Juniors (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Nov. 24. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association at its annual meeting today approved a new grade for young athletes. Sub-junior grades' will be instituted throughout New Zealand for both boys and girls under the age of 17.