ATHLETICS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 121, 18 November 1931, Page 14

ATHLETICS

PAST AND FUTUBE

N.Z.A.A.A. ANNUAL MEETING

MR. TRACY EULOGISED

A variety of topics was discussed at the fortieth annual meeting last evening of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. Mr. R. W. M'Villy presided, and also present were: Messrs. H. I. Austad, V. Hugo, L. A. Tracy, A. Urquhart, F. M. Reid, J. O'Sullivan, A. C. Sceats, A. W. 0. Travers, W. F.'lngram, and A. C. Kitto (a vice-president). The annual report ' and ' balance-sheet, details of which have been published, were adopted. In.his presidential address, Mr. M'Villy referred to the visit last season by the three American athletes, Simpson, Rothert, and Kiser, and the Australian champion sprinter, J. A. Carlton. "The American athletes, I think, pleased the public," said Mr. M'Villy, "and the competition with Cavlton, I think, %vas worth going a very long way to see." The Americans had registered fine performances during their tour, and among noteworthy achievements by New Zealanders there were the performances of Miss E. Hoyle and C. E. Evans, of Taihape. Eight clubs were affiliated during the year. PROGRESS OF CYCLING. Dealing with the' position of cycling, Mr. M'Villy said he thought it a matter of congratulation that cycling had made the progress it had done during the last year. As a result of the visit of Mr. Austad overseas, he thought that quite a lot of good would accrue both in regard to amateur athletics and cycling. One part of the report was of particular interest and that was that in regard to the negotiations taking place with the International-and the -English -Cycling Unions, which, he hoped, would go a very long way to remove the little difficulties and misunderstandings that unfortunately had arisen in'this country. The N.Z.A.A.A. had not said a great., deal..'about the position; for the .reason that it was believ-. Ed when misunderstandings: 'Occurred in sport the less that .was said about the thing the sooner the • difficulty Was overcome ■ and the better chance there was of getting together in good time. "I am-quite satisfied in. my own mind that the difficulty we have experienced in the past has .teen very, largely due to misunderstanding." said Mr. M'Villy. "I am hopeful that in the near future we shall all be shaking hands again and working in harmony." ♦ " Mr. M'Villy expressed his appreciation of the/work done by the officials of. the council, and.more particularly that of Mr. L. A. Tracy, the lion, secretary-treasurer. Mr. Tracy, said Mr. M'Villy, had done yeoman service and to a large extent the good results obtained were due to his efforts. THREE FEATURES. Mr.. H. I. Austad, in seconding the adoption of the annual report and balancesheet, complimented the association on the position it occupied. Looking back over the events of the past year, he said, he thought there were three features worthy of comment, apart from the visit by the overseas athletes. The first was the remarkable development of cycling m Otago, and he thought the association could compliment the Otago officials on the work they had done in that direction. The second point was the paucity of field event competitors, and in his opinion the association should aim in the future to encourage that particular branch of sport. Mr. Austad said that tiie third point was the remarkable development of the standard of perform-, ances of schoolboy athletes. Some of the schoolboys were .running in the vicinity of 4min 30sec for the mile, and if the centres "tied up" with the schools as closely as possible there was no doubt there-would be a bright-future. •' ABLE SECRETARY. Mr. A". W. O. Travers congratulated the compilers of the report on the publication. Mr. Travers also expressed appreciation of Mr. Tracy's services. "Mr. Tracy has filled the bill of secretary-treasurer very ably ■ indeed,'.'. said - Mr. Travers, "and I think he is deserving of the congratulations of the council." Mr. M'Villy referred to the fact that at the present time Mr. Tracy had not be re-elected as a, delegate by the Auckland Centre, but in view, of Mr. Tracy's yeoman service he' thought; they would be wise to retain his services if he could see his way to accept the position of secretary-treasurer. Mr. Tracy was unanimously re-elected, and in returning thanks,' he expressed his appreciation of the action of several members in offering to resign their places on the council to permit of his election. On the motion of .Mr. Travers, an honararium of £50 was voted to Mr. Tracy. A framed photograph.of last year's council, bearing an inscription, was also presented to Mr. Tracy as an expression of the goodwill of his fellow council members. In reply to a ruling asked for by Mr. Travers, the chairman said that Mr. Tracy would not be entitled to vote. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected:— Patron, His Excellency the Governor-Gen-eral, Lord Bledisloe; president, Mr. R. W. M'Villy; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. P. Kalaugher (Auckland Centre), president of the Wanganui-Taranaki Centre, A. C. Kitto (Wellington Centre), E. H. Cross (Canterbury Centre), and E. L. Macassey (Otago Centre); chairman, Mr. H. I. Austad; hon. secretary-treasurer, Mr. L. A. Tracy; hon. auditor, Mr. R. W. Shallcrass; Administration Committee, Messrs. R. W. M'Villy, H. I. Austad, A. Urquhart, and L. A. Tracy; Reinstatement Committee, Messrs. V. Hugo, F. M. Reid, and A. C. Sceats;. Finance Committee, Messrs. R. W. M'Villy, H. I. Austad, and V. Hugo; Cycling Committee, Messrs. H. Amos, J. O'Sullivan, W. F. Ingram; delegates to Olympic and British Empire Games Association, Messrs. H. I. Austad (chairman), F. M.Reid, and A. W. O.'Travers; overseas representatives, England, Dr. A. E. Porritt; Canada," "Mr. M. M. Robinson; South Africa, Mr. Ira Or. Emery; Australia, Mr. E. S, Marks; United States of America, Messrff. C; G. Krogness, senr. and junr.l.JJose Trust Fund trustees, Mr. R. W. M'Villy and the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop); hon. secretary-treasurer of Rose Trust Fund trustees, Mr. H. 1.. Austad; representatives on' Cycling Board'of Control, Messrs. T. A. Grose and 0. H. Taylor, junr. • NEXT YEAR'S CHAMPIONSHIPS. The various championships for the 1932----33 season were allocated: as follows:— Track and field championships, Canterbury Centre; New- Zealand cross-country championship, Canterbury Centre; New Zealand road cycling -championship, Wanganui-Taranaki Centre. MID-NORTH ISLAND CENTRE. The proposal to form a Mid-North Island Centre (including the Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Poverty Bay, and Hawkes Bay districts) gave rise to a fair amount of discussion. Finally it was decided'to defer, the matter of'the formation of the centre, but to take steps in the meantime with a view to the suggested, conferences being held. REINSTATEMENTS. The following reinstatements were approved:—R. A. White (Wanganui), H. .T. Reid (Taupd),... G. I. Batchelor (Hawera). Considerable time was devoted to a reconsideration of the applications for restatement by D. H. M'Fedries (a cyclist), and R. C. Dobson, members of the newlyformed Marlborough Club, whose applications were declined at a recent meeting of the council of the association. Dobson's reinstatement was declined, and when delegates were asked to vote on M'Fedries's case the voting was equal each way. It was stated that a threefourths majority was. required, and accordingly the moticji to reinstate the applicant was lost. Mr. Ingram questioned' the authority of the association to reinstate cyclists or otherwise under its present rules, and at hjp suggestion M'Fedries's case was re-

Fen-ed to the Cycling Board of Control in Christchurch for an opinion. OTHER BUSINESS. The Hawkes Bay Sub-Centre was granted permission to invite a team of Canterbury University athletes in January. The Canterbury Centre raised the question of the words of command to be used by starters—whether they should use_ the words, "On your marks, set," or ''On your marks, ready." It was decided to reply that the word "ready" was laid down in the rules. In regard to the proposal that the centres should hold athletic meetings this season with a, view to raising funds to assist in sending athletes to the Olympic Games next year, the Auckland Centre wrote stating that it was concentrating its efforts toward building up the sport, but in the event of the season being successful in Auckland it would be in the position, it hoped, to make a donation. A scheme for the encouragement of <n-eater participation in field events was put forward by Mr. Austad. At his suggestion, it was decided to make £25 available for the five centres in the proportion, of £5 each, to provide a shot and, as far as possible, a javelin to each of the secondary schools of standing in the respective districts. The suggestion .was also made by Mr. Sceats that it would be beneficial if motion picture films could be obtained from either America or England of leading athletes in action for distribution in New Zealand for coaching purposes, and he recommended that either the manager or some member of the New Zealand team which went to the next Olympic Games should make inquiries in this direction.