CONFERENCE OF CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 111, 3 February 1908, Page 4

CONFERENCE OF CENTRES.

, RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE NEW [ . " COUNCIL. A conference of Centres of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic' Association was held' in Batkin's. Rooms' on .Saturday morning,' Mr. . J. H. Pollock'- I 'presiding." ' The; Mowing- . Centres; were; represented Now Zealand . Council, Messrs. H. fi.' Batchelor arid J. C. . Green-; Canterbury Centre, J. II. : Aitkeri and E. L. Murray; Ofcwo; Centre,- and I D. A. MacfarlanbSouth Canterbury Centre, . R. E. Bust and J. H. Pollock; Wellington , Centre,-W. Coffey and A.>Davies V Tho ro--prcsontatives of the - New Zealand Council ivero iii an advisory capacity only, and Alr.B.'Guiso was secretary ol the confer--- • onco. ; .-v ;■ .- -~ - • , . .t'-v;-i . THE ' CHAIRMAN'S . ADDRESS.' Tho Chairman, in his opening address, remarked on the success which had, attended the government of the sport through . tilt agency of centres, but expressed regret thatthe Auckland Centro had not, aince last conference, given evidence of activity, thoro being roaspn to assume that it is m a moribund condition, tho northern centro, from all appearances, existing in.namo only. Tho speaker considered that if tho position of tho Auckland Centre, was as it had been'represented to him the Council should take stops in ,tho direction of reviving the sports'. in tho northern ■ oity. The fact that Auckland was not represented at the couferenco was ominous, to say the least of it. The Chairman congratulated tho conference upon the fact , that it has received official recognition from the Council, and considered the. time had arrived' when -amateur,; athletic bodies' should relegate tlie making and amending of all rules to a conforcnce of centros, leaving tho Council to act. as. administrators onlv. Tho centres-and clubs existed for all time, whilst, tho Council, being only an electivo body, was liable to bo entirely Changed from timo to time.- No such body.. the speak"!contended, should be vested with power which: enabled it to alter or amond ; rules in: do. fiance of and; .without , the consent and sane- . tion of the majority of those oleeting theni. : In conclusion, the- Chairman remarked' on tho ' new Gaining Act,, which was alroady'having . a great influence on athletic sports, and in his opinion -the centres should thank the Government • for including a clause in the Act prohibiting betting at athletic sports 1 gatherings. .: ; CAPS AND BADGES. ' : The Wellington delegates . moved that ohampionship caps and badges at present charged against obampjonship moetirigs should be made a charge against the Now Zealand Amateur-Athletic Association. Mr. Batchelor suggested that caps and badges wore just as much a charge on tlie mooting ! as medals. The motion was carried.. CHAMPIONSHIP MEETJ^GS. A recommendation wag made by tho Well- i ington Centre that, in the opinion of-this. ( conference, some, more equitable agreement < with tho N.Z.A.A-A,, be entered into bv i which the Council . will meet half the cost of \ running championship meetings. ■ t Mr. Cotfey: pointed out that under the I present arrangement with the Council the s governing body takes half the profits, but a bears no part of tho expense in case of loss. 5 Mr, Pollock supported the recommenda- ( tion, Ho did not think, thero was any foar j of a,loss on meetings in tho larger towns, 0 but if the championships were to go round v the smaller ton'in; would have to bo guarded. v The recommendation was agreed to. ' , v • BROAD JUMP. . V , ;: V A further recommendation was made by d tho Wellington Centre to tho effect that 'o the woodqn take-off iu the long jump should- t, be doue away with, and a chalk line sub-' fc

stituted. Considerable opposition wasslibwi] to the motion, which, on beiugiput to the mooting, was lost. ....... . ' CONCERNING THE COUNCIL. Mr. Davios moved: " That in the opinion' of this' Conference, the rule relating'to the election of tho New Zealand Council by the centres shall remain as at present—namely, ' That the ■ New Zealand Council shall consist of- nine,members elected annually by tjin combined votes of tho centres;': in>placp : ofthepropesed nbw rule of-tho Association';that seven members shall be cleoted by tho centres,' and that tho New Zealand Council shall then bavo power to appoint two:outside members as president and vice-president." Tho motion wns seconded by Mr. ; Murray, und was carried after a lengthy discussion. ■ '--MISCELLANEOUS.. •' - It was decidod to recommend that iu any proposed alterations of rules the centres bo given ono month's' notico instead of ir throo weeks, as at present. : ! " v'--: Tho question of the locality ,of the .1909 championship meeting was v lcft in tho hands' of the. Council. , On the. motion of Mr.;'Aitlion, .it was da-, cidcd to rccommorid that' two : scrutineers'-bo appointed by tho centres for tho election of the Council, such scrutineers not to bo etuididates for election.. ... • '' -'< The-position of tho Auckland Cieiitro", was discussod, and it was pointed out "that ,tho centra at present consists, of,only, two cjubs.'l Mr. Green stated that, for somo reaspn or other, amateur athletics woro absolutely dead m tho northern city," despite the efforts made by tbo.i Council to ".revive '■ tbdm". - The - only means,of .improving tho. sport ,: thoro.';Seemcd, to bo a really live organiser, to" tho north. -If tho sport did not improvo 'tho chances were that an organiser would be sent from Christchureh next • year. > • •' & A jrocommendation }vas put forward ithafc' the Council consider . the advisablencss of framing a. rule, to tho 'effect that no- new centre bo '. accepted : unless "it has ; three clubs.. ' " - The meeting concluded "with " votes of thanks to tho representatives of the. Council for their attendance ahdto tho chairman* '