Stepping Down

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31154, 2 September 1966, Page 13

Stepping Down

Three of Canterbury’s leading athletic administrators, Messrs N. A. Smith, J. E. Millar and D. H. Alexander, will not be available for the centre’s executive committee in the coming season. Mr Alexander, chief track judge last season, has been forced through business commembers of the executive, the list of competition officials as well. “I can only express the centre’s hope that they will be able to rejoin us in the near future," the retiring president (Mr W. A. Kennedy) says in his report, to be presented to the annua! meeting on September 15. Mr Smith was first elected to the executive in 1950 and rejoined it in 1960. He has been chairman of the finance sub-committee and represented the West Coast clubs.

His sound advice and judgement were respected by all members of the executive. Mr Millar was elected to the executive in 1948 and except for a short absence has been actively concerned with the administration of the sport since then. He was president in 1962 and 1963. His sound and impartial advice has been one of the features of his association with the executive. He also gave valued assistance with track and field meetings. Mr Alexander is leaving the executive after four years. He has been a particularly able worker and always one of the first to volunteer when members have been asked to assist in some uninteresting but very necessary task. A tribute is paid to Mr H. I. Austad in Mr Kennedy’s report. “There can be no doubt that the athletic sport in New Zealand owes a great deal to Mr Austad,” he said. Mr Austad is retiring as Canterbury’s resident delegate on the national council after more than 40 years in the nosition. He has indicated that he will continue to take an interest in the activities of the Canterbury centre after his retirement.