CONFERENCE OF CENTRES

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1922, Page 10

CONFERENCE OF CENTRES

QUESTION REGARDING COSTUME

That New Zealand should fall into line with the rest of the world in the matter of swimming costume—in other words, that trunks should be worn underneath, the costume—was the form, of a remit submitted to a conference of centres affiliated with the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, held in the Chamber of Commerce last night. Mr. W. E. D. Bishop, of Christchurch, president of the N.Z.A.S.A., occupied the chair. The remit was moved by Mr. C. Atkinson (Canterbury), who said that it was put forward in the interests of decorum. One important consideration, however, was that trunks worn over costumes materially affected the speed of swimmers. The remit was carried. Mr. Atkinson also moved that the guarantees demanded by the council from the respective centres for overseas swimmers be in accordance with the seating accommodation of the bath in which a carnival is held. The charges, urged Mr. Atkinson, should be assessed on a pro rata basis according to the seating accommodation of a, bath, Mr. R. B. Whcely (Canto*bu)fy) pointed put that lome centres had difficulty in

offering a sufficient guarantee, for the reason that they could not accommodate large numbers of people. Mr. G. S. Hill (Manawatu) said that in Wellington high northerly winds might seriously affect the attendance at a carnival. He was merely voicing a personal opinion, but if a centre possessing an open bath was going to be penalised it might turn down the visit of an overseas swimmer. The view was put forward during the ensuing discussion that if the council was going to fix the charges to be levied on centres, consideration should be paid to the fees imposed by municipalities for the use of baths. The remit was lost. THE 1923 CHAMPIONSHIPS. Considerable discussion took place regarding the centre at which the 1923 championships should be held. Mr. Atkinson, moved that the carnival b2 held at Christchurch, but amendments were submitted urging the claims of Napier and Timaru respectively. On behalf of the Timaru Centre it was contended that it could conduct a championship meeting competently; also that, being a small centre, it should be supported. Tl^is view was stressed in opposition to \the opinion entertained by Mr. Atkinson that Timaru was a moribund centre. ; Hawkes Bay delegates emphasised their claims on the ground that swimming was now making good progress there, and should be given still further encouragement. It was finally decided' to recommend to the council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming' Association that the 1923 championships should be_ held in Timara. Seven delegates were in favour of Timaru, six voted for Napier, and two for Christchurch. To save expense, Mr. J. Reid (Wanganui) moved'that in future the New Zealand National Championship programmes be concluded not later than the following Friday after their commencement, so as to, enable visiting teams to be back in their home towns by the week-end. Mr. Reid alleged that the Wellington Centre had extended its present programme over two Saturdays in order to get the " gate." , ■ Mr. J. M'Nie (Wellington)/defended the Wellington Centre, saying that ifc was doing its best in the. interests of swimmers. There had been no needless waste of time in connection with the present carnival. Mr. P. N. Bundle. (Wellington) stated that Friday had been kept clear in case any other day was wet. It had to be remembered that the experise of a carnival was heavy, and the championships were growing larger every year. The motion was carried hy 10 votes to 5. : SPLITTING CHAMPIONSHIPS. Mr.' Rundle proposed that the New Zealand championships should be divided into two sections: (1) Seniors; (2) junior and intermediate; each section to be Held in a separate island. There were twentyfiv« championship events now, said Mr: Rundle, and they should be split up. National championships should be held in one centre, and junior and intermediate championships in another. The additional expense would not be very great; and the idea, if adopted, would nave the effect of giving two centres the benefit of championships each year.1 At present it looked as if Wellington would, not have another national championship meeting for ten years—a prospect that was not looked upon with equanimity. At the suggestion of'Mr. Atkinson (Canterbury), the conference. postponed further consideration of the matter until it had first of all dealt with the following remit from Wellington: "That the intermediate championships be abolished, and that the junior age be raised to 15." Mr. Rundle -said that intermediate championships 'were really _ a war measure. It was found that intermediates competed' in - senior events, thoreIfore the grade should be abolished. The junior age might very well be raised.. Mr. Atkinson supported the motion, and remarked that at present there was too much, clashing between intermediate and other events.

"Intermediate swimming has been one of the finest things New Zealand has seen," remarked Mr. J. Reid (Wangamvi) in opposing the motion. Boys should, be kept In their proper grades. If an intermediate swam in senior events, then he should be classed as a senior. By cutting out the intermediate grade it was possible that harm would be done to youthful swimmers by pitting too great a strain upon them. Mr. G. S. Hill (Mariawatu) did not think that anything should be done to affect the development of junior and intermediate swimmers. Both this remit and the motion relating to the splitting of the championships were lost. Auckland Centre sought support for a motion that centres themselves should be allowed to arrange for visits of overseas swimmers. Mr. G. S. Hill (Manawatu) contended that no centre should be allowed _to bring-] over swimmers from other countries without the permission of the New Zealand Council. Were power granted to centres to arrange international visits, what guarantee would the New Zealand Council have that professionals were not brought over to the Dominion? The remit wa3 lost by 8 votes,to 6. It was decided on the motion of Mr. W. Gibbons (Auckland) to- recommend ,to the New Zealand Council that points be allotted to the flying squadron race, the same to count for the . aggregates for the Taldhurst Shield. •