AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Evening Star, Issue 22367, 17 June 1936, Page 4

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

OTAGO CENTRE MEETING OLYMPIC CONSTITUTION EXPLAINED The Otago Centre of the Xow Zealand Amateur Athletic Association met last night, there being present the president (Mr Guy Tapley), Messrs G. Armisliaw, C. Wi Clark, E. C. Isaacs, R. Thompson, J. A. Bond, .1. Shepherd, J. G. Barnes. C. A. Pope. B. U. Al'Kcinan, J. Macassoy, C. K. Heaton, .1. •W. Holley, L. Hill, R. N. Watson, L. W. Wood, J. J. Alorris, Al. M'lndoe, Ji Gerken, and T. M. Brydone (secretary). The secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic 'Association (Mr H. AUCormick) wrote furnishing information requested by the centre concerning tlie Now Zealand Olympic Association. He explained that each national association affiliated to the Olympic Association elected three delegates to the Council of the Olympic Association. 'The Amateur Athletic Association’s members were Messrs Austad, Reid, and Ingram. In addition, the council had the power to co-opt three members. The executive committee of the Olympic Association consisted of one of the delegates appointed by each national association, together with the chairman and secretary of the association. In selecting teams for the Olympic Gaines, the standard set by the Olympic Association was as follows. —In athletics, an athlete must on performances have a reasonable chance of reaching the final six in his event at the Games. A similar standard was setfor other sports. This was practically identical with the standard set by the British Olympic Association and the Australian Olympic Federation'. A similar standard was set for the Empire Games. The Olympic Association relied to a certain extent upon national associations to abide by this standard. National associations were relied upon to nominate only men who in their opinion were up to the standard set. 'The Olympic Association, of course, reserved the right to reject nominations made by national associations, but in practice this right was very rarely exercised. When nominations went before the Olympic Association they were first dealt with by the executive committee, which made final recommendations to the council. Mr M'Corraick wrote that the question of appointing a selection committee had been considered by members of the Olympic Association time and again, but, in fact, the executive committee was really a selection committee, and it was felt that nothing would be gained by appointing a different body • to act as a Selection committee. The experience this year of tho Australian Olympic Federation, which appointed a selection committee consisting of one representative of each sport, would seem to indicate that such a method was by no means perfect. It had sometimes been suggested that members of tho Olympic Association were not fully conversant with tho standards and performances of the various branches of sport. He said that so far as athletics was concerned, there wore on the Olympic Council at least eight men who were either present or past members of ’he New Zealand Amateur Athletic Council, and so far as two of these were concerned, neither of whom was a present member of the council, lie knew of no one in New Zealand who had a better knowledge of athletics or was a better judge of an athlete. The same to a lesser extent, perhaps, applied in other sports. The Olympic Association had a capital trust fund of £13,000, the income only of which was used for the purpose of financing teams to tho Games. This income was generally insufficient to m-’"c the full expenses, but in any event tho Olympic Association felt that national associations ought to be asked to supply a certain amount of tho finance necessary for their own men. National associations had no right to assume that the Olympic Association should do the whole of the financing, and if they themselves had to furnish part of the funds, this acted as a useful “ brake ” on the associations and went a long way to ensure that they would nominate only men whom they considered to be right up to standard. If was decided to refer the letter to Lho chairman to bring before the subcommittee appointed by Otago sports bodies recently to consider the Olympic Association constitution and methods of team selection. It was also decided to write to Mr AUCormick, thanking him for _ the trouble he had gone to in obtaining the information. CONDITIONS FOR RECORD APPLICATIONS. The Secretary of the Now Zealand Council advised that it had been decided that when record applications wore considered in future, no record could bo granted unless three watches recorded the time; that if one watch recorded a different time from the other two, or all three watches recorded different times, then tho longest time would bo tho only one considered; if four watches recorded tho time, and three or more different times were recorded, then the third longest time should be tho one considered; if four watches recorded the time and three of them recorded the same time, tho fourth, however, showing a different time, then the time recorded by the three watches should bo the one considered; in any other set of circumstances not covered by the above, a time would not be considered unless supported by the majority of the watches; where the testing of the watches showed: (a) No variation, no adjustment should be made; (b) a slow variation, adjustment should be made by adding to the time recorded the amount of such variation ; (o) a fast variation, no adjustment shall bo made. It bad been decided that after the event watches must lie given at least throe tests over the time taken for the event, plus or.o-tonth of such time—o.g., if the race took lOscc, then the watches must lie checked for llscc. In addition, in races where the time taken was loss than smin, watches must bo given a tost of at least smin, and the watch tester shall certify to the association ilie amount of variation which be considered was shown by the watch over tiic time of the race. It was strongly urged upon all centres, clubs, and officials, in order

ovfiit. and that only watches yvliiel) showed a correct test bo used in timing race*. TRANSFERS. L. G. Pullnr's application for a translcr Irom Anglican to St. Raul s (Invercargill) was granted. L. T. Korr, G. Armisbaw. and IV. G. Al’Kinlay applied for transfers from Northern to Leith.—Granted. D. W. Fincbam’s transfer from Mornington to Leith was granted, and transfers from Roslyn to Mornington acre granted J. Everett and A. Birelmll. CIVIL SERVICE CLUB'S SUCCESS. The Chairman congratulated Civil Service Club on winning the Kennett Cup .steeplechase at Christchurch for the sixth year in succession, a remarkable performance. Ho also referred to the lino effort of A. R. Geddcs, of the Civil Service Club, in winning the individual event. It was decided to forward a letter of appreciation to the Civil Service Club. The Secretary of the Northern Club advised that the club bad now disbanded. and Air G. Annisliaw tendered bis resignation as its delegate on the centre. Air Tapley expressing appreciation of Air Armisbaw’s services on the centre. On the recommendation of the Harrier Sub-committee, it was decided to hold the one-mile handicap for the Ness Cup on July 26 at half-time in the Rugby match at Carisbrook. Entries will dose on -Inly 20. The New Zealand Council wrote that the I.A.A.F. had advised that it was for the referee to state whether permission should be given for the notification of lap times to individual competitors, because it was the duty, of the referee to decide whether lap times could he given without interfering with the proper carrying on of the athletic meeting. The Secretary of the New Zealand Council advised” that the application of Miss B. Forbes for recognition of her performance of 4ft llin ns a New Zealand ladies’ high jump record had been referred hack to the Otago Centre in order that the date of the certificate of one of the judges might be supplied.—The secretary reported that the matter had been attended to. ft was resolved that the centre give the Otago Athletic Clubs’ Protection Association every assistance possible in its activities. The Secretary of the Otago University Harrier Cinb (Afr L. AV. AVoods) advised that August 22 had been fixed as the date for the New Zealand university cross-country championship at Auckland, and permission was granted for the club to defend the interuniversity trophy. SUPPORT FOR REFEREES [Per United Press Association.] DARGAVILLE, June 17. The sequel to the decision the Management Committee of the Northern Wairoa Rugby Union to take no action regarding an incident where a referee ordered off a spectator for alleged objectionable language and the subsequent special meeting of the Referees’ Association last Friday was a deputation from the associat'jn to the union last night. After hearing the deputation, the union discussed the question, and a resolution was passed assuring the association that it had the full support of the union at all times. An amendment assuring the association of the full support of the union hut asking referees to uso the drastic weapons at their disposal with extreme discretion was defeated.