President “Sick Of Squabbles”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31225, 24 November 1966, Page 20

President “Sick Of Squabbles”

"The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON.

The president of the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association, Mr T. D. Cuff, of Palmerston North, is “sick and tired of all the squabbles coming from Auckland.”

He stated this at a meeting of the association’s council when the Auckland Centre complained of what they called the “threatening” attitude of the national secretary, Mr V. R. Ross, over the recent cancellation of the North Island 100-mile road cycling championship. Mr Cuff told the meeting that at no time had Mr Ross threatened the Auckland president, Mr J. W. Partridge, or the secretary, Mr J. Ludlam, with suspension. “Mr Partridge just asked Mr Ross what might happen if Auckland did not stage the race as decided by the association’s annual meeting,” said Mr Cuff.

“Mr Ross referred him to rule 42 which states that council decisions are to be followed. “There was no reference whatsoever to suspension. “Once again the complaint has come from the ‘melting pot’—Auckland—where they have so many brilliant individuals but no team,” Mr Cuff added. It was reported that Messrs

Partridge and Ludlam were to sever their association with the sport at the end of the current track season, and the meeting agreed with Mr R. W. Morris when he said: “It is a matter for considerable concern that we are going to lose two men of such calibre.”

Mr Cuff: Both men are personal friends of mine and I sincerely hope that they will

stay with the sport. Cycling cannot afford to lose men like them.” The matter of the nonstaging of the North Island championship will be referred to at the next annual meeting, with one member expressing the view that this year’s happening might be borne in mind when the Auckland Centre applied for any big races in future.