NEW ZEALAND UNION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 156, 30 December 1925, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND UNION

.-■■•■ •VV.jiy'NEliiN, 29th December.The; nineteenth annual conference of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union was held this morning. Mr. J. S. Douglas,, on behalf of the city, and $r. B. S. ;Irwin (president of the. local centre) extended a welcome to the, delegates., In opening' the conference, the president said that it was satisfactory to see such a large attendance. He regretted that two old members of the executive, Messrs. Dan M'Kay and Curry, were absent. There* is no burning question to be discussed.

..The adoption of the report and ,bnl-ance-sheet was moved by the president, Mr. J. A. Hansen. The report stated, inter alia, that the balance-sheet showed a healthy financial position. This was satisfactory, considering that the registrations and affiliations were less than last year, which was accounted for by the various -restrictions. This season's returns were very creditable under the circumstances. There were 185 affiliated clubs, and 2277 : registered competitors under their control.

It was decided that the maximum entry fees Be 5 per cent, of the first prize money for-all event*. , i The following remit concerning wrestling (catch as catch can) waa moved:— "(1) StranpehoH, full Nelson, and breaking of fingers and toes barred: •,?-)■ shoulders to He pinned on ground two seconds (pin fall); (3)'no grease or (in/ foreign matter'to be used on any part of the body." The remit was adopted. A great number of minor alterations to the rules were carried. „! The conference decided that ihe 1927 running, cycling, and shield championships should be held in Gisborne on Ist an<f 2nd January, and the next conference at Taumarunui. A Canterbury motion that all competitors in events, under the Athletic and Cycling Union must join an affiliated centre was lost, as was the Canterbury motion that no member of the. cycling trade should be allowed to sit on the centre...'.,; ■■■','' .' '.' . ■ '. ' „••■ The executive's recommendation that quarter-mile and ten-mile events be added to the New Zealand championships was agreed to by the conference,; as waa the new rule to the effect that the inside rider in a cycling race must hold the pole line, and that a rider a length ahead of another competitor must ride inside the pole line unless otherwise instructed by the referee. A Taihape remit suggesting the appointment of a. handicapper for etch island'was referred back to the centre for further consideration. ' ' The following new rnjes for tug-of-war contests were adopted:—(l) That starts be made uniform, the pin (not a tapered one) to be released on the call of three; (2) that teams have a right to use their captain 'as' an - emergency; (3) that heftvy weight contests be not limited in weight;. (4) ihat the rope be held steady (or «• period 'at the termination of the pull; (6) that side Btops be eighteen inches .from .the centre mark, and that the team going over the side-mark be disqualified; (6) that the time limit be fire minutes. , . •

Delegates^ complained of the attempts of amateur bodies to get cash cycliststo compete *in amateur events. They contended • that the union should not therefore cater so, freely , for amateur riders on its. programmes. It was decided to recommend all centres to en : deavour. to. form amateur groups, for cyclists to combat this and keep'them under the jurisdiction of the union. $ The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. A. J. Hansen (Manaia); vice-presidents; Messrs. A. AGeorge (Hawkes Bay), D. F. M'Kay (Dunedin), and A. J. Fisher (Blenheim); secretary, Mr. J. Kennedy (Geraldine); committee, Messrs. J. Cbllingwood (Wanganui), W. J. Walter. (Christchurch), A.,Pi Scobie (Balfour), R. B. Meek (Oamaru), G. E._ Perkins (Greymouth) and D. Church (Gisborne).