NEW ZEALAND MARATHONS.

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 269, 10 August 1938, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND MARATHONS.

Championship System Advocated WELLINGTON AMATEUR ATHLETIC CENTRE Approval of an Auckland proposal that provincial championship marathon races should bo hold annually in each centre, and that the New Zealand council should hold a New Zealand championship marathon each year, was signified by the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, at a meeting held last night. The president (Mr. A. C. Kitto) presided.

The Auckland proposal was contained in two remits which will go before the harrier conference, to be held at New Plymouth on September 10. The harrier sub-committee wrote stating that (he following remits would be put forward at the harrier conference; ••(1) That it is the opinion o£ the harriers controlled by the Wellington Centre, New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, that it is not in the best interests of the harrier sport for the New Zealand cross-country championships to be held later than the last Saturday in August. . “(2) That in the event 01. the «nue position arising in the future as has come to pass this season, namely that the centre appointed to control the New Zealand crosri-countrv championships finely itselt unable to conform to the ruling of the New Zealand council—that the New Zealand cross-country championships be held not later than the last Saturday in August —another centre shall be entitled to apply to hold the championship without disturbing its right to control the race again when its usual turn comes- round. The letter stated that it was also the sub-committee’ri intention to apply tor the New Zealand-cross-country ebampionships for the year 1939. It was.decided to send the two renins forward and to approve of the committee’s proposal to apply ior the championships for 1939. The harrier sub-committee was granted £35 to cover the costs of sending a Wellington team to the New Zealand crosscountry championships at New 1 lymouth. , . On the committee’s recommendation. Mr. R. Spence was appointed manager of the team. Centennial Sports? The sports co-ordination committee wrote stating that at a meeting held on August 4 a letter was received from the New Zealand Centennial Games Committee, Auckland, requesting that the national sports bodies in Wellington meet a deputation from Auckland, llie co-ordination committee considered that the deputation should be received ami had fixed August 25 for the purpose. A general meeting of representatives of ml sports bodies would therefore be held in Wellington on August 25. The president, said that the object was to prevent conflict of interest between the different towns in New Zealand. Auckland had some idea of holding centennial sports and possibly bringing in athletes from outside, but that could not be done without the consent of the New Zealand Sports Council. The president was appointed to represent the Wellington centre at the meetMentinn of the decision to bring out a coach again this year was made by the president, who said it had been proposed that an art union should be held to pay the expenses of the coach for the coining season. There was about £l4O in hand. Canterbury would have the coach for half the season and Wellington for the other half. It would cost the two centres about £l5O each. The idea of holding an art union was to build up a fund for future years. There was no doubt that having a coach last year had done a certain amount of good for athletics in Wellington, Mr. Kitto said. He had made a wonderful impression in the primary and secondary schools and the centre would reap the benefit in years to come. Mr. Kitto said that the other centres in New Zealand had been circularised about the art union, but Auckland and Dunedin did not desire to come into the scheme. The Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay centre had signified its willingness to take part.

It was decided to apply for permission to hold an art union with prize money totalling £lOO. Favourable comment was made on the action of the Hutt Borough Council in erecting floodlights in the Hutt Recreation Ground, and it was decided to write a letter to the council expressing the centre’s appreciation. Harrier Dates Approved. On the recommendation of the harrier sub-eommittee the following fixtures were approved : — Wellington provincial eross-eountry championsliips, August 27; Bennett Memorial road race. September 24; Shaw baton six-inile relay race, September 3; Gold Cup cross-country race, October 8. The Victoria College Harrier Club was granted permission to travel to Dunedin on August 20 for the New Zealand University cross-country championships. Application is to be made to thd Wellington City Council for the use of the Hntnitai ground on the samo terms as last year. Stating that the city council’s charge for the ground was £5O. the president said that with tlie New Zealand championships at Napier this year the centre would find it hard to push its way through the season. The New Zealand council should endeavour to bring some of the best Australian athletes to New Zealand. For instance, Backhouse would be a great, draw with the local talent that could be put up against him. It was the only way to help the sport. It was decided to ask the New Zealand council whether any Australian athletes will be invited to visit the Dominion this season and if not will the council give the Wellington centre permission to negotiate for the visit of an Australian team. It was decided to forward :i letter to Mr. B. Sutherland thanking him for assistance rendered to the centre in raising finance last season.