AMATEUR SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 100, 25 October 1934, Page 11

AMATEUR SPORT

CONTROLLING OFFICIALS CYCLING ASSOCIATION The New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association desires that amateur sport in the Dominion bo controlled by amateurs. At last night's meeting of the association, the following letter was received from Mr. H. D. Bennett, chairman of the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association: — "You are no doubt aware that some difficulty is being experienced by the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association iv connection with its relationship tn amateurism. As chairman of that body I •would be glad to have an expression of opinion from your committee. It seems to me that it is of paramount importance, that the constitution of the Cycling Association should be such as to comply with all conditions required by your committee. The position is that there is not a majority in the Cycling Association to carry a resolution ensuring the restriction of office-bearers to men who can qualify as amateurs, reinstated or original. Theru is no personal squabble in the matter whatsoever, all parties being on quits friendly terms. It would be of soinu assistance towards finding a way out if a ruling from your body could be given with regard to our affiliation with the Empiro Gamea Committee. It occurred to some of us that in any case your attitude and that of bodies you represent should ba made known, as it would surely: be futile to proceed with a constitution •which might later be found to be a bar to th» acceptance of nominees from the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association." After discussion, the following resolution was carried: — "This association is of the opinion that officials of amateur sports bodies in New Zealand should themselves be amateurs. The association assumed this was the position when application for affiliation wa# made by the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association." The secretary, Mr. 11. Amos, said that Mr. Bennett and himself intimated at tho last meeting of the Cycling Association that they would tender their resignations as chairman and secretary respectively if the association did not see that amateur ~ sport was controlled solely by amateurs, At the present time two or three largo centres in New Zealand had professionals in control. As far as was known about! the rules of amateur sports bodies in other countries, there was no provision for professionals to be in control of centres or associations, and it was thought that in the interests of cycling in New Zealand the same conditions should apply. The chairman (Mr. H. McCormick) said that the only interest they had in_ tin? matter was whether or not professional men on the controlling body of the Cycling Association affected that body's affiliation with the Empire Games Association. On» of the primary objects of the Olympic movement generally was the encouragement of amateurism. In answer to a question, Mr. Amos said that in Victoria, which was one of tho strongest cycling centres in Australia, amateur cycling was definitely controlled by amateurs.