AMATEUR ATHLETICS. WELLNIGTON'S GRIEVANCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1908, Page 3

AMATEUR ATHLETICS. WELLNIGTON'S GRIEVANCE.

THE LOCATION OF THE COUNCIL. CHANGE DEMANDED. The rouncil of ths New Zealand A.A.A. at Clttislchuroh. was warmly condemned at a meeliag of tho Wellington Centre b,»t evening. Dr. Kewm.i.n pvesi^fd, and there was an attendance of about twenty Mr, Rors moved— "fb..it, in the opinion of this centre, the time has armed when tho heademarters of tha New Zealand A.A.A. shpnld be removed to Wellington." lift sftid he did not move th» motion because oi certain happeningo at tha lest championship meeting. Ihei'o was no donbt that \Vfellington had established itself tho leader in athletic mattera in New Zealand. Wellington was quite capable of carrying out the management of athletic affairs, while tho Now Zealand Council, as at present constituted, did not give satisfaction to the different centres. They wcro men of ability, but they were out of touch with the centres. Athletics were not flourishing in Christchurch. Here in Wellington matteis were in a very different position. On certain occasions tho council had adopted an attitude which he thought was rather autocratic. So far as ho knew there was only one argument why the/ centra should not be shifted — ifc might weaken the management hero. This, however, was purely a selfish view. The supporters of amateur athletics here should be prepared to shoolder the burden. Mr. seconded the motion. In the discussion which followed the point was mado that nowadays there was a centralising tendency in the control of sport, and that Wellington was the natural centre from which that control shsuld emanate. It was also argusd that the council had betrayed its trns't. Another speaker said the condition of athletics m Chrifltcrrarch was a good illnetTttiwa ef how the cenncil ran its business ' Mr. J. H. P«lloek declared that it was a pity that this discussion had not taken place before ths conference of centres vrss held. Hardly a single centre represented at that meeting approved ef the prtser.fc control -or location, of the council. , It should be remembered, however, that the council/ had been elected quito recently for twelve months, and there was little chance of its members voluntarily resigning. If a resolution in the tsrmo of the motion, paefeed by 'iho centres, was forwarded to tha council," it would probably have the desired effect/ Mr. W. Ceffsy said ho was surprised at the ' statement made by Mr. Pollock thnt <sissa.i.isiaction with the centre" was manifested at the recent conference cf centres. He had never heard any expression of- opinion, and he would not like ths statement to go forth without contradiction. The council could nofc please everybody, and th» motion, to his mind, tras ill-advised. Tho council ■had been taught a Iccson on Saturday evening. He know there had been dissatisfaction in the past; but it would al,ways be £0. IF did not follow that if' ths council wss transferred to 'Wellington thingu would be better managed. The officers here would probably very scon find themselves being kicked for alleged shortcomings. He asked the meeting to pause before it passed the motion. Mr. Lallan ' thought it 'would bo well to get into touch with the other centre*. Mr.\R. W. M'Villy said he was afraid the centro's action would be micconstrued if/th:s motion were- passed: Tho' feeling might get abroad that it w&a purely pique because M'Kay had irat been ss.ectrd. He hoped this paint would be considered. He did not «c*» eye to eye with the council ; lie objected to the method ef selection of its president ; but he thought the motion, if passed, should simply affirm the desirableness of a change— not to say definitely to Wellington. / Mr. Bridge a'.rso counselled e&refulnasn in taking tho propossd step. Mr. B. Robertson moved as- an amendment— "That the matter be postponed for one month in order that tha opinion «f the centres be obtained on the question of changing the location of tho council. This was duly seconded. In speiking' to the amendment, Mr. Pollock ?aid Mr. Coffoy had misunderstood some of his remarks. He did not wish to convey the impreE.'ion th.it dissatisfaction with the council had been "expressed at the .recent conference of centres. The view had been stated to him individually end collectively. Ho supported the morion. ' Mr. MTKeewen declared that tbo motion was based ia some respects en underground KotiTes". (Dissent.) A g*o«l ita.l ef discussion followed, in which fhera was talk of "sitting «n & rail," Mqueats f«r canti«a, *n& t w*» jority apparently httly ia ftT»u? «f iiMnsdizt-ii aitioii. v Ih reply, Mr. lUss peinteel •■at that if the metion wer» passed ih iiel ««t mean that the centre would bo shiftei. If tke members «f the centre thsugkt there should be a change, he hoped members would not turn thsir back" on tho motion, because/ of suggested possible results. I The motion was carried with five dissentients. I -