COLLEGE ATHLETES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 136, 5 December 1929, Page 6

COLLEGE ATHLETES

THE AMATEUR STATUS

An.important point in regard to college athletes was decided by the Xew Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last evening, when the Auckland Training College Athletic Club brought before the association the position of "professional" runners in competition with amateurs.

"As far as the college executive is concerned," the letter stated, "we are in favour of competition regardless of status of any particular competitor. However, we are aware of a rule governing such competition, and in order to protect those who have any potentialities, . we wish to clarify matters. I believe a person who haa previously competed for cash and wjshes to become an amateur must stand down for a definite period. If this is so, those -who enter college will be handicapped for the'greater part of their college career, and will be unable to compete in these activities. To avoid this we would like'to know if it would be possible to reinstate siieh people without incurring any penalty, that is, from the moment of entering college." The council decided to reply that it was not competent for it to permit amateurs to compete against professionals in any circumstances. Where anyone had unwittingly infringed the amateur status the council would be glad to give the application for Reinstatement careful and sympathetic consideration, and deal with it on its merits.