AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 179, 17 April 1923, Page 4

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND , COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the New Zealand Council of the N.Z.A.A.A. was held last evening, there being present: Messrs. A. T. Davies (in the chair), M. Burnett, J. T. Watson, F. Wilton, J. W. Heenan, S. S. Dean, and V. Hugo (secretary). The application of J. IV. Merchant for recognition as a New Zealand record of nisi broad jump of 23ft. 3}in., at Auckland on February 3, 1923, was granted. Consideration af applications' for Australasian and New Zealand records in respect of H. E. Wilson’s 15sec. for the 120yds. hurdles (at Wellington on January 6), and J. W. Merchant’s 169 ft. 95in. for the hammer throw (at Wellington on February 24) were further held over, certain certificates not having been forwarded. Tho application of P. P. Gallagher, of Omakau. for reinstatement, forwarded through the Otego Centre, was granted. The application of T. J. O’Callaghan, of Wellington, was declined on the ground that he would not be eligible for reinstatement until three years from his last professional performance. The Wellington Centre forwarded audited balance-sheets for the American meetings, held at Wellington on January 6. and February 24 (New Zealand championships). For the first meeting the expenses were £199 4s. Bd.. and the receipts £555 ss. 9d. The expenses of the championship meeting were £295 ss. 7d., and the receipts £7Ol Is. Id., the net amount contributed by Wellington towards the cost of the tour being £761 15s. 7d. It was resolved to thank the Wellington Centre for the very able manner in which the meetings had been conducted and for the exceedingly satisfactory financial results. Appreciative reference was made to the care taken by the centre to keep expenses down to a minimum. The council also placed on record its appreciation of tho support given to the.meetings by the Wellington public, and Press. Amusements tax in respect of the two meetings amounted to £lOO.

A communication was received from tlhe New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association asking that military defaulters during the Great War be debarred from taking part in amateur athletics.

The council expressed its sympathy with the attitude of the R.S.A., and decided to refer the matter to the centres for action.

A request from the Wellington Centre that tho Australasian Union be approached with a view to a modification of the rules governing the Australasian (erossrcountry championship was granted. If tho mail vote is favourable to a reduction to six of the number of members of a team, New Zealand will be represented nt this year’s race, which will be held in Sydney.