AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 47, 19 November 1929, Page 12

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING Moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet at last night’s annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association Mr. 11. W. McVilly (president) congratulated the association on the very satisfactory position of its finances aa compared with five years ago. He wished to congratulate J. W. Savidan on winning the New Zealand cross-coun-try championship for three years in succession and other winners of athletic events during the year. Seconding the motion, Mr. H. I. Austad congratulated the association on the past year’s financial success, although as there had been no overseas tour during the season the year had not been a particularly strenuous one. Finance. Mr. A. C. Kitto, commenting on the report, said that he noticed one item, “Australia v. New Zealand.” Personally he did not see why New Zealand must bear the brunt of those meetings. Sydney and Victoria had a population far exceeding the Dominion’s and should bear their share of the burden. “We realise that money is not everything—the sport is the main thing,” said Mr. Kitto, “but nevertheless money is necessary to carry on.” With regard to the balance-sheet, it appeared that in connection with registrations the Wellington Centre had paid £73 out of £97-16/-. If that was so, something was wrong. He suggested that amounts from each centre should be entered against their names. That would give centres some guide as to how the sport was going on in New Zealand. This year there were over 430 runners, representing £22/4/in registration fees, in the Hawke’s Bay district. Professionalism had been practically washed out. Responding, Mr. McVilley said that the question of finance in the inter-State contests would receive the consideration of the council when the event became practicable. While the financial side was always considered, the interests of the sport came first in that matter. The council, said the president, must have funds and ought not to have to go to the public. Sport had to be made as far as possible self-supporting. ' Referring to entertaining (a question raised by Mr. Kitto), the speaker said that if centres were allowed a free hand the eost would become so great that the council’s financial position would be seriously interfered with. Entertainment costs could best be met by the council allotting a fixed sum. Until such time ,as the council laid down some such policy charges must be borne by the centres. The annual report and balance sheet was adopted. The Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as follows :—Patron, the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson; president, Mr. R. W. McVilly; chairman of the council, Mr. H. I. Austad; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. L. A. Tracy; hon. auditor, Mr. R. W. Shallcrass; administration committee, Messrs. R. W. McVilly, L. A. Tracy, A. Urquhart and H. I. Austad; reinstatement committee, Messrs. Austad, E. Guy and V. Hugo; finance committee, Messrs. R. W. McVilly, V. Hugo and H. Amos; cycling committee, Messrs. G. Bright, Amos and Guy; delegates to the Olympic ■ Council, Messrs. Austad and Reid; hon. secretary Rose Trust Fund, Mr. H. I. Austad. Speaking of the resignation of Mr. W. Morton, president of the Auckland Centre, Mr.' McVilly stated that he wanted to place on record the sterling services of Mr. 'Morton and regretted that the fullness of time and pressure of business had made it necessary to vacate the position. Allocation of Championships. Championships for the coming season were allocated as follow: — Track and Field Championships.— Otago. y N.Z. Cross-country Champio: ship.— Wellington. N.Z. Road Cycling Championship.— Held over for application from centres. It was decided to donate a shield for the N.Z. cross-country championship; to be known as the “New Zealand Crosscountry Shield.” ' Applications for affiliation from Stratford and Eitham were granted. Reinstatements were granted as follow: —F. L. Eustige (Pongoroa); K. E. A. Yanko (Waipukurau) ; J. D. Fauchelle (Wellington) : S. A. Gone (Johnsonville) : and F. J. Alabaster (New Brighton). Mr. E. G. Guy gave notice that the New Zealand road cycling championship should be made a race of 100 instead of 50 miles