AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES

Evening Star, Issue 21630, 27 January 1934, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES

POSSIBLE APPEARANCE IN OAMARU At a special meeting of the Otago Centre of the New ZealandNAmateur Athletic Association last night the question was discussed whether the centre should allot to Oamaru the forthcoming interprovincial CanterburyOtago. meeting or grant the Oamaru Club the meeting at which the Australian athletes—E. W. Barwick, J. Metcalfe, and T. E. Hampsqn—will appear, and after considerable discussion no decision was reached in the meantime. Mr E. L. Macassey (president) presided, and there were also present Messrs L. Buddicom, B. R. M'Kernan, A. T. M'lndoe, C. Clark, R. Cabot, P. W. Breen, W. H. Masters, R. Thompson, W. J. Bennett, C. H. M'Lean, C. K. Heaton, and T. M. Brydone (secretary). A letter was received from the secretary of the North Otago Amateur Athletic Association making application for the Canterbury v. Otago meeting to be held at Oamaru on March 3, and pointing out that, unless some meeting of a championship nature -were held in Oamaru, then the interest there in amateur athletics would bo in danger of declinTho suggestion had been made, that the Australian meeting be held in Oamaru on Saturday, February 24. It had previously been arranged that the visiting athletes compete in meetings at Dunedin on February 24 and at Invercargill on Wednesday, February 28. Considering that Oamaru had about 100 honorary members, and that there were two, and in future possibly three, champions from North Otago, the president said that he thought that Oamaru was entitled to consideration in the matter. As it was the Dunedin Caledonian Society was holding a meeting on the same nay as it was intended to hold the Australian meeting here. The opinion was generally expressed that it would be regrettable if the visitors did not appear in Dunedin at all, and it was thought that an exhibition might be arranged here on the Monday night. • . In order to test the feeling of the meeting Mr Clark moved—" That the centre allots the Australian meeting to Oamaru, and that the Canterbury v. Otago meeting be held in Dunedin.” This was seconded by Mr Brydone. Mr M'Kernan moved as an amendment—" That the motion be conditional on the council’s granting its approval of an exhibition being held on the Monday night.” Mr M'Kernan suggested that a talk with local athletes should be arranged at the Caledonian Ground. Mr Bennett seconded the motion. - After considerable discussion neither the amendment nor the motion was put to the meeting, but it was decided that, before anything definite was done, the president should communicate with Mr H. Austad; chairman of the New Zealand Council. It was also decided that the Caledonian Society be approached. In, response to a request from the combined committee of the Southland Harrier and Athletic Associations,, the sum of £5 was voted to help to defray the expenses of sending about fatty Southland members to Dunedin for (the Otago championships on Saturday, February 3. A sub-committee was appointed to make arrangements for entertaining the southern visitors.