AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 170, 11 April 1908, Page 7

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

: ' —- ' \ THE WELLINGTON CENTRE. REPRESENTATION AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES DISCUSSED. A meeting of tho Wellington Contro of the S'ew Zealand Amateur Athletic Association ras lreld .yesterday, evening, Mr. 11. W. Vt'Villy presiding. , Thoro were also present ilossrs. S. Robinson, W. Coffey, Ross, iiurnett, W. H. Pollock, J. H. Pollock, Liarkiii',, Muir, Parton} Hecnan, Bridge, anil B. Guiso (secretary)^ A' letter was received from Centre stating that they had voted against tiro proposal to inovo the'headquarters of tho [iouncii from Christchurch. Tlie letter was received.■ Air. G. P. Anderson fornarded suggested imendmenits to tho rules in referenco to tho hammer-throwing at sports meetings, with i request that thoy should _ bo submitted to tho'Now Zealand Association if ■ considered practicable. Tho matter was held over to bo :liscussed at th# nest conference of delegates from centres,• . , Tho Victoria Collego Club was granted permission to pay, tho expenses' of a team to tak-e' part 'in the University tournament to l)e held at Dnncdin at Easter. ■ : / . Tho Council of tho Now 'Zealand Association wrote starting that, if tho. Dominion was to. bo represented at ,tho Olympian* games, to be .hold.-at London in 'July:next, it would. 1)0 necEssarv for tho men chosen ,td leave Now Zealand, not later than tho end of the present', -month. .If sufficient money was raised to send representatives, ,H. , E. Kcit, of. Tiranaki, and H. St. A. Murray, of Canterbury, would be nominated. Tho expenses for tlio two men would amount to about £203. The Council hoped to securo tho representation of tor. Guy Hoskins, a New Zeataiidor residing in tho Uilitcd States,, and 3iio of tho fastest men at present running over a mile or a half-mile. Mr. J.' H. Pollock moved: —"That tho Wellington Centre oonsidors that Messrs. Murray and Kerr should bo sent to repreNew' Zealand at 'tho .Olympic games, and that tho Centro-devise a scheme for raising half the expenses by means of public subscription," 'The mover was of opinion that, there was sufficient enthusiasm to collect half'tho sum required if tho matter was ivorked on 1 systematic linos. He did not think it.would bo a matter of calling on the funds of the'local centre. '-. Mr. Cci.ffey considered the public was geitting'tired of this continual cadging btisirioss. Eo did not think tho. response would :be; as liberal as some peoplo anticipated.' Outside ofv Canterbury and Wellington, ho did not consider thoro would be much support.','... 1 Mr., Pollock; •in answer- to a . question, stated' that ,ww : a 400 metres' 1 hurdle race '/on itlio Olympic game's programme, which was equivalent to a 440iya'rds hurdle racei. '.v'• " •. 'Mr. Ross'pointed out that it would not bo wiso to advocate tho'sending of a number r)f : what-might be termed inferior men Home: Neither of "the Now Zealand men we.ro in the same class :as Barker and' Webster. -.As .'to Kerr, hoi had not; done anything , exceptional to warrant his being seut ■ Homo. Further his disqualifications -would toll against' him. With-'reference' to Murray, he was -n man who had only ona distanco—-na!mely, the iiC yards hurdles. ,'- v Mr. Bridge! suggested that a plan of campaign, should bo arranged for .collecting tlic money, but, tho chfeirman ruled that' the principle should bo affirmed: first; ' ; The ; motiou was, lost by 9 to .4. . v Mr, J. H. Pollock movedThat'this centre /respectfully contends that the -ruling .pi tho President of the N.Z.A.A.A. ' Council given on January 9 last at a • meeting' : o: the. Counoil with respect'to Section 0 o: Rulo 3, N.Z.A.A.A. rules, as revised to May 1903,' is opposed . to, and at variance with tho: olearly-deflned- meaning of y such; clause which .sets' out : that motions 1 to •make' hot rules or to alter or ,rescind existing rules shall.- require tlie. vote of two-thirds.- ,of., tlw councillors.•present';'..that this - centro con : tends , that" .the --"rule's,; having - .been-: altcr.ec and; new'' rules mado without' tho. sanction -p. a' two-thirds; majority, that any,' such' liev rules, or/altered rules,:'pre ultra vires; anc further .that:,the^rules ; as revised to May 1903,.. with the' alterations.made up'to -tin last annual. meeting, aro the -only; valid ! anc •properly/ framed rules - now .in existenco - foi tlie contest, and guidance of -amateur- athle tics in New Zealand, '■ and that this - centr< declines to recognise a set of • so-called rule! issued by tho socretary and dated January 1905." -' : ' : A fogal opinion was received from Mr. H D.- Bell,. expressing tho view that tho rulei as -amended, by tho- New Zealand Counci were illegal. //.■_',--, ■ ••/ ''.'■• . V "■ ; After some discussion tho-inotion was car ried unanimously. - , -. .■/ It was .decided to nominate Mr. .D. Hoari for the vacant pssition on the New Zealam Council. :• , I - ' It was resolved to'strike out an item o ,10s. for a deck cabin in the list of expense; forwardml by n certain southern, official wlii visited Wellington recently.'.. ; TO-DAY'S , SPOIITS -MEETING. ■ . -A''sports I '- meeting : is'to be held on tlv -Basin Reserve .to-day/ iu aid of tho mothe of a'young (J.: T. Carruthers) .wli' died recently. The total not proceeds'of th 'meeting,,which is to bo held under/ the' aus pice's of tlie Wellington Centre, of. the N.Z A A.A., will bo .handed to Mrs.. Carruthors who is- well on in;. years; and ,in dclicat health. ■: ' r :„ : ■ V'. . >> . Arrangements have'beeil made for a capi tal afternoon's sport, Messrs. H. Hcndei son; G. S. Sharp, E.: E. Fisher, and L. M M'Kay, who represented New Zealand/,a the late Australasian championship mefetina being included in tho numerous entries, I all, 283 - entries 1 have been' made, and th sport should be keen.' The sports will star at 2.15 p.m. . , • ' ,' .