AMATEUR ATHLETICS. NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1908, Page 2

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION.

TO-DAY'S DELEGATES. A conference of centres of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held in Batkin's Roonis to-day. Mr H. P. Pollock presided, and th<s following centres were represented: — New Zealand Council: Messrs H. S. Batchelor, J. C Green; Canterbury Centre: J- H. Aitken, F. L. Murray; Otago Centre: F- Mace, D. A. Macf arlane ; South Canterbury Centre: R. E- Bufch, J- H: Pollock; Wellington Centre: W. Coffey and A. Davies, and Mr. B. Guise (secretary of the conference). THE CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. The chairman, in his opening remarks.- eulogised the manner in which the various centres had carried out the work allotted to them, but expressed, regret that the Auckland centre had not since last conference given evidenco of activity, and tho fact that Auckland was not represented at tho conference was ominious. Ho traced the history Of the council, and explained the manner in which the conference had decided to make the council an elective instead of a nominative body. He considered the time had arrived when amateur athletic bodies should follow the footsteps of the trotting authorities, and delegate the making and amending of all rules to a .conference of centres, leaving tho council to act as administrators only. The centres and clubs bxist for all time, whilst the council being an elective body, is liable to be cnlirely changed from timo to time, and no peripatetic body should be vested with power which enables it to alter or amend rules in defiance and without the consent and banction of the majority of those electing them. He congratulated the delegates on the great advance that had taken place in amateur athletics during the past few years, and hoped that all bodies controlling sport would continue to work in harmony and for the betterment of the sport. In conclusion hs> paid a tribute to tho new Gaming Act, which had been of great' advautago. Mr. Coffey expressed disapproval of the chairman in introducing os a private individual matters uot relative to tlio meeting. GENERAL MATTERS. ' Mr. Davies (Wellington) moved that caps and badges should be a charge against tho New Zealand Council instead of against the championship meeting. After some discussion, this Was carried. It was also decided that the councfl should bear half tho cost of championship meetings. | ' Mr. Davies (Wellington) moved that a, chalk mark be substituted for the wooden board as ,a take off for the long jump. After somo discussion this was rejected on the voices. Mr. Davies moved —"That, in the opinion of the conference,' the rule reiating to the election of the Ne\v Zoaland' Council by the centres shajl remain, as at present, viz., 'that thfe New Zealand 'Oouncil shall consist qf nine members elected annually by the combined \bfies of'" the' centres,' in place of the proposed new rule of the association,"' that monibers shall be elected by the centres, and that the New Zealand Council shall then have power to ap' point two outside members as president and vice-president/ Mr. H., L. Muvray seconded the, .notion. ' *•••' ' >■ •- • ■• - - During the discussion which followed it w"as> i pointed out (.bat- mea might be elected i,o the offices of president 'ahd vice-prefeident who we.re not approved by the centres. The .motion was,. carried ■ on tW voices'. " *"* ' '" ''- •-*■'*• •'•"• Qn the motion of Mr. Aitk«n, it was resolved tJiat it be a recommendation to the council 'that -twq .scrutineers for the election of COunci) b& elected, by the centres, such scrutineers not to be candidates for the council. It was resolved that it be a recommentation to tho council "that in any proposed alteration of rules the centres tie given ono month's notice in place of thrse weeks', as at present, alw that the question of the 1900 championship be left in the bands of tho council. Mr. Green statsd.that many attempts had x been made to s^ir Auckland into somp activity, bitt all efforts had proved fruitless He tJiougM that the Auck.land and University Clubs should be brought directly under the council, as provided by' the ruleS, seeing tliat th<6 Auckland Centre took no notice of lepeated appeals. Mr. AitTken mof ed that it be a recommendation to the council to draft a. rule providing that no centre 'may be formed in any province unless there aro at least three clubs under the jurisdiction of the centre. This was agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Coffey a vote thanks was tendered to Messrs. Batchelor and Green for their attendance and remarks.