THE ATHLETIC STORM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1100, 12 April 1911, Page 8

THE ATHLETIC STORM.

COMMON SENSE OR PARISH PUMP? There is, as most people know, trouble in athletic/circles. It.will'be rememberc;l that at the last meeting of the council of the Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, a number of delegates went past the instructions which had been given them by their centres regarding the locale of the next Australasian championship meeting, which is to tako place in New Zealand. Some of the. delegates openly threw down the gauntlet, and stated, quite openly, that they intended to ( vote contrary to instructions, and in selecting Wclliugon, averred that common sense should over-rule parochialism. Mr. Marryatt. the chairman of the council (and one of the shrewdest heads in the higher management of athletics), was one of tho independent ones, as was also Mr. Pollock, both representing the Dunedin Centre, which w.is keenly desirous that the meeting should be held there. Since tho "declaration of independence" tho Dunedin Centre has been raging tumultuously over the action of its delegates, who are to bo dealt with very severely. Mr. Marryatt, speaking to a Dominion reporter'yesterday, stated that there had been somo talk of removing the headquarters of the association to Dnncdin. "That," he said, "would bo the best thing that could happen. Then the 'squealers,' who are making so much fuss, could go on the council. They would be bound hand and foot by rtie" Centres, as wo were, and 1 can imagine how they will get on. Tho point to be considered in this matter is: Should we be guided by the principles of right ov wrong, or act rigidly according to the instructions of Centres who are not in a position to judge clearly what is best for the association, and for athletics in general? As soon as they take the constitutional course, I wiil resign, and I assume Mr. Pollock will do likewise."