THE ART OF WALKING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 774, 24 March 1910, Page 4

THE ART OF WALKING.

DID WILSON PERFORM FAIRLY? LICENSED JUDGES PROPOSED. Particular interest attaches to the criticism by "Prodigal" in tho Sydney "Referee" with reference to tho walking events at the recent N.Z.A.A.A. championship, where D. secured victory both, in the one mile and threemile contests in remarkable time, wien all things are taken into consideration* He says:

"I approach the subject of the defeat °£ H. E. K«p by p , .. Wilson with an absolutely open mind, knowing both men well, awl thoroughly understanding thei* modes of progression, etc. It would apj pear that Wilson, beyond any reason* able doubt broke the rules of the A.A.. Union, whilst Kerr is reported to havtf admitted breaking the rules (m tW |. second race, the mile, he said that; whilst labouring under £ rcat he ran as hard as he could on hie. heels); without even a word of warning appaN «my being given. Even admitting thai he was greatly upset and provoked bji supposed unfair, treatment, I am, indeed, sorry to hear that Kerr admitted ' rtuW mng (he certainly did not run on. h& heels) because an opponent was 'allow*? to run. And something very similar ooS curred at a previous Australasian. chaxoJ pion meeting, although the femoitd iI.Ji.K. had nothing to do with that'' 7 ! allude to a race in 1904. ■ ■ "i that a lot of capftajl l 1 8 ,1 ,? made out of the. alleged .faeS that Mr. Coombes passed the stylo of Wilson in 1901, the inference beln? tha¥ if Wilson,was 'correct , in 1801 he musS also have, been in 1910. I have no desW to enter into any controversy at thiol period as to the style of D. Wilson W the past, but it is absolutely, necessary to again say this, much: Firstly, the AusJ ti-alasinn championship races on the SyS. ney Cricket Ground in 1897 were not inw der toe present rules of tho AA.TJ. ofl A.; whflst for the Auckland' events thd amended rales were not operated on; an* also there were two judges of \ralimaJ' ?? c u ***$*? ha,f of tte Manon that portion embracing the start! and finish, and Mr. Coombes the far side! ■ —;™ no interference by either jnn , ?*/ with doings and happenings in tnW; domain of his fellow-officfal." ' ■ "Prodigal" adds:—"One thing is cew tan-viz.,,thatthe X.ZA.kT-xm haS. to be up and doing to prevent recurrence' ot what a New. Zealand .writer describes as one of. the worst , farces in Nero' Zealand ' athletics for many years. , A was' out may be the licensing of judges (i <r' ■ no judge .-to be allowed to act unless Wholds a license, which means a certi&T cate of competency), otherwise it wraldl' appear the w-alking race will goon fino! no plac-e on New Zealand programmes. , '