CYCLING CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1933, Page 14

CYCLING CONTROL

INTERESTING POINTS

"UNCONSTITUTIONAL ADVENTURES" The control of amateur cycling in New Zealand is a subject that has loomed large in sporting circles lately. As tho ■annual report of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association had already been prepared, no reference is made in it to tho recent developments, more particularly the endeavour to gain control by tho League of "Wheelmen. Nevertheless, it contains some interesting points in regard to the man-, agement of the sport, some of which place rather a different complexion on some of the statements made so freely from : other quarters during the past fortnight. , "Contrary to the1 anticipation's recorded in the last annual report, affairs in connection with tho control of cycling in' New Zealand have by no means been as satisfactory as they should have. been," the report states. "The New Zealand Cycling Federation, as reported last year, was duly set up under %ho agreement between the amateur and the cash sections and affiliated to the Union Cycliste Internationale (the world controlling body). The agreement between the two sections provided that the administration of the domestic affairs of each should not be a charge on the federation, but that each class should use its own respective organisations, amateur and cash, to conduct all cycling activities. There cbuld not, of course, possibly be any other practical system. A body whose constituents consist of a combination of • two opposite codes could not be expected to traffic in the domestic, affairs'of either. Cycling under the cash code was thus left to the care of the New Zealand Athletic Cycling . and Axemen's Union, while the amateurs we're, left to the newly set up bodyj the New Zealand Cycling Council, which is associated with the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. "ON AN UNEVEN KEEL." "In -the chairman, Mr. J. Eerinedy, tho cyclists of New Zealand found an admirable head for tho federation. Unfortunately, the state of his health enforced, his absence from the federation leadership ■ for some months. It was during this.time that tho federation seemed to lose its bearings and drifted rather hopelessly. Mr. W. J. Walter, a representative from the cash section, acted as deputy chairman. In-. terference with the administration of the amateur section of a most pronounced nature precipitated a crisis, and tho Cycling Council was obliged to take drastic steps to protect amateurism from the intolerable dominance in any form by a representative of the professional code. Difficulties were added to by- the resignation of one of our delegates, , Mr. Taylor, and to a greater extent by the defection of our other delegate, Mr. H. D. London, -who had openly become a rebel against the -authorities who.1, sent ,him to office^ With the federation thus out of' balance and on an uneven keel, <it is easy to imagine what could and indeed what did happen. The Cycling, Council, in an important letter dated -June 14, clearly and definitely indicated to the federation that, it required it to revert to the original conditions under which it was- set np, and in a categorical analysis clearly set out the terms upon which our amateurs would continue to support the federation. The statement took the form of an ultimatum. With Mr. Kennedy still absent, Mr. Taylor's seat vacant, Mr. London hostile, and Mr. Walter in the chair, some amusing irregularities were perpetrated in the name of the New Zealand Cyclr ing federation. Some of these consisted of acting without a quorum, electing new members, accepting direct afflliatioas, and sundry other acts against constitutional law and practice. There wasonly one other thing' Jeft to do to clear its .own decks, the suspension of the New: Zealand Cycling Council, and this.it hastened to execute while. the going was good. The position ; had become extremely ludicrous when the chairman, Mr. Kennedy,' landed back to view, the wreckage. He immediately took charge, and in a masterly manner brought the federation back to its senses. AMATEUR CONTROLLING BODY. "The Cycling Council displaced Mr. London, and appointed Messrs. Giles and Polkinghorne as its representatives. Thus properly constituted, the federation lost no time in stripping itself of the result of all unconstitutional adventures.' It has since officially resolved that the Now Zealand Cycling Council, and no other body, is to be* recognised as the official amateur controlling body. Having now achieved a clear understanding with the federation, the Cycling Council is determined 'to administer amateur cycling in this country in the best interests of the young men whose devotion to tho tracks make them worthy of all the1 support that can be given. "The members of the Cycling Council, especially those forming tho central management committee, deserve to be complimented on the masterly way tho cycling " troubles have been handled."