NEW ZEALAND CYCLISTS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1931, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND CYCLISTS

DIVIDED INTERESTS

ATTITUDE OF N.Z.A.A.A.

QUESTION OF CONTROL

A special statement dealing with the vexed question of the control of amateur cycling in New Zealand appears in the annual report of the Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association released for publication to-day.

"(jood progress lias been made in the advancement of cycling during the year, one particularly pleasing feature being Hie splendid development of the sport in the Utago district," states the report. CYCLISTS UNDER THE N.Z.A.A.A. CONTROL. "This council has been active during the year in endeavouring to bring nearer linality the question of the control of amateur cycling in New Zealand. To date,' the break-away body, the N.Z.U.C., continues to operate disaitiliated from the N.Z.A.A.A., and although this body was formerly granted alliliation to the U.C.1., Paris, the whole question is again in abeyance pending certain evidence being forthcoming before the N.C.U., London. The chairman of the council (Mr. H. I. Austad) was in England some mouths ago, and as a result of his discussions with the N.C.U., London, that body decided to reopen the matter of affiliation and to appoint an arbitrator to receive evidence lrom both the N.Z.U.C. and the N.Z.A.A.A., as to the standing and ability of each body to best control the interests of amateur cycling. Although the N.Z.U.C. refused to state their case before the arbitrator (llr. A. Gray, K.C.), this association has forwarded evidence through that channel testifying that with details so far available from H cycling clubs: (a) There are between GOO and 700 amateur cyclists under N.Z.A.A.A. control; (b) this number is representative of cyclists all over New Zealand; (c) South Island cycling is completely loyal to N.Z.A.A.A. control, there being no clubs affiliated to the N.Z.U.C. in the South Island.

"The N.Z.A.A.A. has sought affiliation to the world controlling body through the New Zealand Cycling Board of Control, <md we desire to tender our thanks on behalf of all loyal cyclists to Messrs. T. A. Grose and C. H. Taylor, junr., for their interest .and work for amateur cycling on the board. These gentlemen have the full confidence of the association, and indeed, the members of N.Z.A.A.A. cycling clubs through the country.

"This association regrets exceedingly that cycling interests should still be divided in certain parts of the North Island, and looks forward to the day when allround harmony will again prevail. Under the centre's cycling sub-committee's constitution cyclists are meant to have, and do have, a J'ull voive in the conduct of their own sport. GUIDANCE—NOT FORCE. "The attitude of the N.Z.A.A.A. is more in the nature of a desire to guide the sport of cycling than to enforce control, and as cycling progresses, as it will do, particularly in the country districts, which, after all, shelter two-thirds of our total population, so will a much fuller measure of control be handed over to the cyclists themselves. "The sole desire of this association in contesting the control issue is to see amateur cycling prosper in New Zealand, and the loyal support shown to date _ by the huge majority of the active cyclists in still retaining a preference for N.Z.A.A.A. guidance is in itself a complete answer to those who consider the time opportune for independent cycling control. Let it be made clear that this association is ever ready to accede to any reasonable alterations of the present system of cycling control if there are sure grounds for believing that such an alteration is in the best interests of all of the cyclists throughout the town and country districts of New Zealand. "The position now is that we confidently await advice from the U.C.I. (Paris) after receipt of our evidence submitted in the manner desired by that body."