AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 107, 6 May 1926, Page 7

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

EXCEPTION TO COUNCIL'S MOTION.

A letter protesting against the motion passed by the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association in connection with the Australian and New Zealand championships to be held at Brisbane was received from the "Wellington Centre at a meeting of the council last evening, over which Mr. K. W. M'Villy presided. The letter stated that at>all times the centre endeavoured to assist the council, but it absolutely refused to assist in any way any project that tended to make the centres responsible for the financial aspect of overseas tours. Mr. M'Vill; said that the motion was really an expression of the views of the council, and was an invitation to the centres to assist the council in sending a team to the Australasian championships. It was never intended that the council should dictate to the centres. Mr. F. Wilton agreed with the chairman. He said that if a New Zealand team was to compete at the meeting at Brisbane it would have to assemble in Wellington in thirteen weeks. Mr. J. ijeenan considered thui selectors should be appointed to select athletes for the team in order of their merit as probable Australasian championship runners. In view of the financial position of the council, the men sent to Brisbane would have t be practically certainties for championship honours. If the selectors were appointed immediately the council could ask them to communicate with the athletes they thought worthy of a place in the team, and at the same time ask the men to keep in easy training as their names were being submitted as suitable representatives of New" Zealand. Mr. J. Taylor said he did not agree with the procedure outlined. It was unfair to approach the matter in an indefinite manner. The council should first find out how much money could be obtained to finance the tour. Mr. L. A. Tracy said that it would cost about £50 per man to send the team. The following resolutions, moved by Mr. Heenan, and seconded by Mr. E. Guy, were agreed to:—(1) "That the council, in view of its financial position as stated by the treasurer, cannot expend more than.£lso in sending the team to the Australasian championships; (2) that a selection committee, consisting of Messrs. Guy, Taylor, Tracy, and A. C. Kitto (Wellington Centre) be appointed to submit to the next meeting of the council, firstly, the names of three representatives to be sent with the money at the disposal of the council; (3) that the names of other athletes in order of merit be submitted, those athletes to be sent as members of the team if sufficient funds are forthcoming from the centres." Mr. Heenan said that lie thought the selection committee would have no difficulty in selecting two out of the three r ambers of-the team.