TO REVIVE SPORT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1028, 18 January 1911, Page 6

TO REVIVE SPORT.

A NEW UNION.. A new-scheme to foster athletics in New Zealand has been under contemplation elsewhere in the Dominion for some little time. Last evening the matter was discussed in the Wellington Cycle Club's rooms by the body in charge of athletics here. Mr. 12. J. Fitzgerald presided. Mr. T. Duncan, of Wellington, who has represented Wellington heretofore in the matter, submitted necessary information. The new body, ho raid, was to be called the. New- Zealand .Athletic and Cycling Union. It had superseded the Athletic Union and Cycle Union, and combined both. Mr. Duncan raid it had been found that in certain parts of the district control of cycling had practically died out, particularly on the West 'Coast of tho South Island and Taranaki districts. It was at the request of these centres that the Athletic Union had now taken over tho control of cycling. Tho desire had been to absorb the League of Wheelmen, and' form an amalgamated body, and tho officers of the league had been approached. A meeting wits first held at Timavu, where it had been decided that the union should take place, subject to. the confirmation of tho delegates, of an athletic .conference to be held at Timaru on the 2nd ult., at which the/League of Wheel-' men were to be represented. The conference had duly taken place, and the proposal had been* carried, and the governing body was made the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union. Tho headquarters of the new body were get up at Timaru. The object of this new movement was to reduce expenses of management, asone body could well govern the two sports with a very small addition to the cost. Friction also between tho two sports would be avoided, and this was one of the chief aims of the promoters. Further, Mr. Duncan said, the union would prefer to leave the management of sports to the actual centres, and to act merely as the governing body, Tha Dominion waa *o be divided into territorial districts, each to be a centre.

The chairman expressed thanks to Mr. Duncan for his trouble in tlio matter. Tlio main object, tho consolidation of sport, seemed likely to be brought about by . the movement. It would improve sport all. over tho Dominion. A Toto of thanks was passed to Mr. Duncan, who, in reply, emphasised that the great thins was to do away with friction between the two classes of sport, and to foster both. At present Auckland alone stood out of the movement,, but it was hoped that when the facts were laid beforo them they would come in.

The meeting, after deciding to enter the union, finally adjourned to enable further information to bs obtained, and to allow necessary discussion on other points at a subsequent meeting.