AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1134, 23 May 1911, Page 7

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

THOSE DELECIATES-THE LAST

RESIGNATIONS PUT IN. A disagreement which created a stir in athletic circles recently entered the final phase last evening, when the resignations of Messrs. A. Marryatt (president) and J. H. Pollock were accepted by the Lxecutive Council of tho New Zealand Amateur Athletio Association. The occasion was remarkable for the unanimity with nhicn delegates expressed regret a L.V I ° * which they, were sustaining. picsent were: Messrs. A. dent), J. H. Pollock, W. Larkin, C. E. Bridge, a'. K. Thompson, A. Dayics, E. L. Chatfcy, and W. i^ Wl AT«sre ! It will be remembered that Messrs. I Marryatt and Pollock, delegates for the I Otago Centre, voted, for holding the Ausitralasian championship meeting < lington, although they had t . OTll .^ inC f 'e.-l by their Centre to vote in faiour or holding the meeting in Otago. at this the Otago Centre called upon them to resign. The resignations. In a letter conveying, Mr. Marryatt explained tha. took this step as the outcome of the f passed by tho Otago Centre. Ho was ot opinion that' this was u tia vires, but, as he considered that the no tion amounted to a declaration of • confidence, ho would no longer t. A letter from Mr. Pollock couvejcd a simple intimation of bis resignation. The Standing of a Delegate. "Handing in my resignation," "marked Mr Marrvatt, in the . course of a bnet address, I wisli to . make it clear that I called a special meeting in order to gi the Otago Council the earliest possible opportunity of , fleeting ik •gates." Continuing, he -^ lt( >«. ' duties of a representative upon the, council Delegates were in a position companble to that of teprcsontatares inPaistitnents came into the ma .tor wlien tao delegates sought re-election. \\hilo lie felt no shadow of regret at having adopted that stand, he felt keen regret at giving up his position as president, tor many years, in Ot.ago, Wellington and elsewhere, he had been closely connected with the management of sport. He had taken and always would take the keenest interest in amateurism ill.New Zealand. He thanked members of, the council' for tho-uniform support which they had accorded him and the secretary (Mr. Talbot) for the assistance which he had at all times rendered. Ho also thanked two members of the council who had offered to resign in order that he might be renominated.

j No Broach of Faith. Speaking of his resignation, Mr. Pollock explained that when his son (Mr. \V. H. Pollock), .who preceded him as a delegate for Ol'ago, accepted the appointment, he stated that ho would endeavour to further tho interests of amateur athletics, in New Zealand, and would support the desires of the Otago Centre. At the same time Mr. W. H. Pollock stated that if he should happen to conscientiously dissent from tho views of Otago Centre he would .hold himself free.to vote in audi a manner as it seemed to, him would best serve the interests oLomateurisivf,/ iL'h'esg/ conditions, Mr. Pollock stated, . were accepted by the Otago Centre, and the speaker, in consenting to fill the office vacated by. his son, did so upon a- clear understanding' that ■ tho same .conditions should apply. In fairness .to members of tho Otago Centre, said Mr. Pollock, ho felt bound to \ assume that those who spoke of "broken pledges," etc., had overlooked these conditions. Neither the speaker nor his colleague had broken any pledge nor had there been any breach of faith. ' As to the general question, it would seem'to the speaker that it would tla a very bad thing for amateur athletics if a man wefo expected to act as a delegate upfln the council with his hands tied, and as a mere month-piece of his Centre. At this stage Mr. Marryatt vacated the chair, and Mr. W. F. Larkin was appointed chairman for the time being. "A Veryi Grievous Loss." Mr. Larkin said that he .felt that he was .expressing tho opinion of all tho i delegates in stating that tho council was I suffering a very grievous loss by. there resignations. It' was unnecessary that he should go into the causes that had led to tho resignations: In accepting them, however, tno council should place on record its appreciation of tho valuable services given to tho cause of amateurism in New Zealand by Messrs. Marryatt and Pollock. He would move that; in accepting the resignations, the council thank the retiring members for services rendered, and record its thanks upon tho minutes. This motion, which was seconded by Mr. F. Ross and heartily endorsed by a number of members, was carried unanimously. Messrs. Marryatt and Pollock briefly returned thanks. Asked by the chairman if ho would accept renomination, Mr. Marryatt replied that the matter was one of some difficulty. His interest lay mainly in Otago, and ho would not feel 'the same satisfaction in representing any other Centre on the council. Jvevertheless, if his coming back involved no immediate resignation of any present member lie would accept renomination. Mr. Marryatt ■Hded_that ho would return to the-coun-cil with regret if ho were not accompanied in his return by Mr. Pollock. Several delegates having expressed a confident belief that the loss of the retiring members was only temporary, tho latter withdrew.