SPORTS MEETINGS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1929, Page 14

SPORTS MEETINGS

CENTRE TO CONTROL

CLUB DISSATISFIED

The action of the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association in refusing permits to city clubs to hold individual sports meetings has met with marked disapproval of at least one amateur athletic club in Wellington. At last night's meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association v letter was received from the Wellington Club asking for a ruling of the council on the subject. It was contended by the club that the Wellington Centre had exceeded its powers in acting in that manner, as the. primary, objects of an athletic club were to-prbmote athletics and to hold sports meetings as provided in the constitution. , Accompanying the report-from the Wellington Club was a letter' from the Wellington.Centre which stated'that the matter, had been considered at two meetings of -the centre, and on each occasion the majority of the members were against the individual control of city meetings by clubs. ■'■ The centre's proposal was that it should control air city meetings, and divide the/prohts from. certain meetings amongst Hhe' athletic clubs'. ... ..' . - When the matter rcame up for >'d^scus : siori last night, it', gave rise to a considerablo_amount of controversy. Mr. Guy.said. that. I..the council.should rule rthat' clubs should .be ''permitted; to hpld sports; nieet- 1, ings,. -i'as that 'was' one of -'.the main, objects of amateur athletics. . He contended that .unless,-there; was some breach of. a ,rule or there was some very strong reason for 'tui-niihg down "the request", the city clubs should be' allowed to hold their own meetings, v' .' :'i . : ■;■ ':"'■. ■ ■•■ •: ■ "■■ -..', '. ) ' Neatly.every member of the: council en: deavo'ured to throw BOine.'light. oil'the question, but finality was not reached' until Mr. Urqiihart moved that the council, having considered the''rules' bearing on the appeal,'was of the opinion that the Wellington Centre had not exceeded its jurisdiction in refusing to grant the meeting. Several amendments were suggested, but the motion was finally carried, without alteration. _ In conclusion the chairman (Mr. H. Austad) said that the only course left open, to the Wellington Club would be to appeal on the matter of policy.