MEETING OF CENTRE

Evening Star, Issue 26030, 19 February 1947, Page 10

MEETING OF CENTRE

Disappointment in tlie attendance at tile meeting in which the visiting Americans took part was expressed by the president, Mr C. W. Clark, at tne monthly meeting of the Otago Centre of the .New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association held last night. From tlie point of view of the racing and tne finishes it had been a good meeting, he said. There was considerable discussion about the running of the meeting, and the opinion was expressed by several speakers that there had not been as great a response from the public as expected because the Australian sprinter, J. Treloar, and the New Zealand half-mile champion, D. M. Harris, had not •been able to appear.

In this respect it was suggested by several members that Otago was being penalised by the New Zealand Council when tours were being planned (for visiting athletes, it was decided to write to the New Zealand Council requesting permission for the Otago Centre to invite three Australian athletes to compete in Otago in 1948. Mr J. G. Barnes moved that the centre’s case for an appearance in Otago of tlie Australian, J. Treloar, should be put before the New Zealand Council. Even if he did not compete in Dunediu, his appearance in Kaitangata or Oamaru would be of immense value to either of these two centres* Mr Barnes commented.

New Zealand Council stating that the Otago Centre as a body was opposed to overseas athletes competing in New Zealand national title events.

The question of the application to have Al. Hershey’s shot putt and discus throwing records recognised received considerable discussion when it was reported that the shot and the discus used had' not been officially checked after the meeting. They had, however, been weighed and measured at Invercargill. It was decided to send the application without the customary certificate, but to write a covering letter describing the conditions at the time when the records were established.

_ The Otago Men’s Baseball Association was granted the use of the Caledonian Ground on March 1 for tlie Canterbury-Otago match. The transfers were approved df S. F. Weedon from the Mornington Club to the Presbyterian Club, and of K. W. Paterson from the University Club to the Anglican Club.