ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1108, 22 April 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THE "PUMr. h (Bt Mebcori.) From One Who Knows {he "Pump." Says a correspondent, "Gyro," who, is not at alt interested in amateur athletics or the Government thereof:— Tho unfortunate spasm which overtook the parish pump in Otago over the championships shows signs of growing quiescent. Mr. Marryatt, who, by the way, is a convincing speaker, as strong men often are, went down to Dunedin during his Easter holidays, and met his "old love"—the Civil Service Club. He has been a friend—in fact, a father—to all C.S. outdoor movements, and it is indeed pleasing to notico that the old club listened and leaned to him. From twenty-five years' residence in Dunedin, I think 1 may claim to know something about its habits and ways of thinking, and I confess that I was a little shocked at some of the things th.it were said and done. And, unfortunately, I cannot say exactly what I mean without striking the personal note, though I assure you, Mr. Mercury, that, if it were permissible, I could wax middling funny in that very vein. This is no doubt a deep, dark, and cryptic saying, but its concealed meaning is perfectly hostile to one of the persons who figured largely at that unfortunate meeting, and yet perfectly friendly to the good old city or" Dunedin. I know Dunedin well, and I am optimistic enough to believe that it has the good horse sense to eventually see the situation without prejudice, and do the right thing.

From the Sydney "Referee." Says the Sydney "Referee":—The cablo informed us last week that the council of the New Zealand A.A.A. has fixed the Australasian championships for January 1 and 2, 1012. The venue will be Wellington. Very great interest attaches to this meetings as from the winners thereat will probably come the members (athletic section) of the Australasian team for the Olympic games at Stockholm; or, at any rate, the form shown at the meeting" will guide and doubtless greatly influence tho selection of the team in coming to a finding. From opinions • I have heard expressed, tho choice of Wellington meets with general approval here. From Myself—"Mercury," It has been an open secret ever since the last Australasian championships that Australians wanted Wellington as the venuo of tho next championships. It will bo interesting' to hear what the Otago Centre has to say on the matter. "Mercury" has no intention of pursuing tho "parish pump" incident further, but would express his hope that tho Otago Centre, if it desires to have the headquarters changed in consequence of tho championships havihg been allotted to Wellington, will immediately call for a vote of the centres on the question. Probably Canterbury's voting for Dunedin at the conference of centres will induce Otago to vote for the removal of headquarters to Christchurch. In view of the enmity between Christchurch and Dura-din two years ago, when the headquarters were shifted to Wellington, this would indeed be amusing. Members of the. council are entirely indifferent when centres' are. stirred up by questions of local jealousy, but would welcome a change of 'headquarters if the requisito majority favoured it. During the past two years ■Hit administration of the head body has been as nearly perfect as possible, and "still the centres are not satisfied. Auckland has had several bones to pick, Otago sets her interests before those of the Dominion and the whole Australasian Union. Canterbury does not exactly know what she wants, though so far the Canterbury Centre has given the council fair play, and, to its credit, has no* gone baresark because its council representatives voted against its wishes in regard to (he Australasian championships, i The Wtfll.jngto,n Centre was quite' ,, cput , ciit't6"leavV'aH matters of more than purely New Zealand interest to the council. Provincial jealousies disfignro amateur athletics more than any other sport in the Dominion, but it is notorious that tho jealousy in these days of centres is greater than in the old days before the centres existed. A reversion to the old state of affairs by the abolition of centres is entirely out of tho question, but a continuance of the present position is unbearable. To clear tho air, let the Otago Centre call for a vote on the question of headquarters, and then give the council, wherever it may bo located, a reasonably free hand. It is interesting to note that at least one club in Dunedin is not satisfied with its centre's actions. Tho Civil Service Harriers, on hearing Mr. Marryalt's version of the incident of the championships, has asked the centre to rescind its motion- calling for the resignation of Messrs. Marryatt and Pollock.

Of Interest to Our Amateurs, At present, when so few of onr amateurs have any clear idea of what constitutes an amateur, the. definition of an amateur proposed by the British Olympic Association for adoption at Olympic Gaines is of great interest. The rule reads :— All persons shall be considered anla-, tcurs for tho purposes of the Olympic Games who have not at any time A. (a) Competed at an athletic meeting for a money prize or monetary consideration, or for any declared wager or staked bet. (b) Received money or pecuniary benefit in consideration of their taking part in any athletic, competition, exhibition, or performance. (Note.—The payment of the actual out-of-pocket travelling and hotel expenses of a competitor, by the club which ho is selected to represent, does not involve forfeiture of his amateur status under this ' clause.) (c) Received directly or indirectly any bonus or payment as compensation for loss of time while competing in, or training for, any athletic competition. (d) Sold or pledged any prize won in any athletic competition. B. (aj Received any pecuniary consideration for the teaching of, or assisting in, any athletic exer-

cise. (b) Accepted appointment to any salaried post on the consideration, expressed or implied, of taking part in, assisting in, or teaching any athletic exercise, the taking part in, assisting in, or teaching of which does not form part of the normal duties of such post. C. (a) Competed at athletic meetings open to all-comers, (b) Competed against a professional at an athletic meeting, whether for a prize or not. D, Been a recognised professional or been disqualified as an amateur in any other sport. The sections particularly to be noticed are C and D. Within tho last few years a number of Wellington runners have lost their amateur status by competing .in "house" meetings with provisionals. Subsection b of Section C of tfc proposed Olympic rule settles the vexed question of "house" meetings bv the words "whether for a prize or not." Section D deserves attention from tho fact that a possible interpretation of it is that professionals, "reinstated as amateurs, will not bo eligible to compete at Olympic Games.

AVith the pissing of Easter tho athletic season has practically concluded. Round about Wellington tte only events contested during the holidays were those finding a place on the programme of the Axemen's Carnival at Upper Hutt. Of the four events contested, city runners— ,T. Jr. Scott and L. M'Donald—won three, the former winning the 220 yards, and the latter both the quarter and half. Last season Jl'Donald was one of outmost promising half-milors, but this scison he was away in the Poverty Bay district until a few weeks ni;o. The spell has done him no harm, and. nest season, he should bo well back in the handicaps.

University "Blues." Tho annual university championships held at Auckland this year were responsible for some good performances, two being particularly good. Victoria College men wore fairly successful, Duncan winning both the hundred and furlong championships, Cr. Strack the 120 yards hurdles, and F. Hi« the three miles flat,

but the college failed by tv;o points to eEOuro the shield. Undoubtedly tho bos; pnrf.H'inor at the meeting was J. N. Millard, of Otago University, his 22ft. BJin. in the lons jural), and sft. Ciin. in ill© high jump being well above the average, the former especially so. A. S. Reid'.-i putt of 37ft. Olin. in the shot event was another Rood performance.