A BIG MOVE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 144, 21 June 1930, Page 7

A BIG MOVE

DOMINION CYCLING

AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL

Decisions of a. very far-reaching nature were made at the first meeting in Wellington of the New Zealand Union of Cyclists, the controlling body of the new movement, tho headquarters of which was recently removed to Welington. The meeting,, which was representative of both amateur and professional interests, was held on Thursday/ and it is claimed that the steps taken are the initiation of a big forward move towards the ultimate control of cycling in New Zealand, both professional and amateur. Mr. H. D. Bennett, patron of the union, presided. At the request of Mr. W. A. Thomson, who lia-d been nominated as president, Mr. A. E. -Davy was elected president of the union. The following other officers were elected to hold office till the first congress: , Vice-presidents, Messrs. W. A. Thomson, E. Boynolds (Wellington), L. Wilson, J. C. Stewart (Auckland), H. D. London (Christchurch); secretary, Mr. F. Erskino;, hou. solicitor, Mr. J. D. Willis. The executive committee will consist of nominees of affiliated organisations, of whom a number were present at the meeting.

The chairman read a letter from the secretary of the English controlling body and extracts from the minutes of the congress of the Union Cycliste Internationale (France), and said that the N.Z.TJ.C. was affiliated with headquarters. The correspondence, he said, showed that the control of cycling in any part of tho world waa required by the U.C.I, to be in the hands of purely cycling authorities and the control, for New Zealand had been offered to the N.Z.U.C. That was the position to-day. It was true the authorities required that the professional clubs should also be affiliated, but timo was given for the purpose, and the meeting would take the first step forward to take full control. It was stated in respect of the North Island professional club 3 that no central organisation, existed and that the South Island body known as the Now Zealand Athletic, Cyclists' and Axemen's Union, had no connections in the North Island and appeared to have littlo influence anywhere. The first important resolution was then moved and adopted:— That the N.Z.U.C. procoed to take control of cycling in New Zealand, both professional and amateur, in terms of instructions from England and t France. A requisition bearing fifteen signatures' wa^ presented, giving notice of an intention to establish a professional cycling club in' Wellington. This was approved. It was stated1 that a big .prize for a cycle road race, possibly the largest over offered in New Zealand, would be available for the first meeting. A number of routine matters were deferred for consideration at a subsequent meeting. The club's solicitor was requested to prepare a constitution in keeping with tho requirements of the world controlling authorities and to make representation in the union available to allaffiliations. The sum of £10 was subseribedin tho room with which to open the union treasury. . The text of a circular to bo distributed to cyclists and clubs throughout New Zealand was read and approved and ordered to be printed.