DAYLIGHT SPORTS TRIAL PLAN OF GISBORNE CLUB

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22757, 1 October 1948, Page 6

DAYLIGHT SPORTS TRIAL PLAN OF GISBORNE CLUB

The decision to replace the former floodlight series with Satur-day-morning sports programmes for a trial period was made on a majority vote at the annual meeting of the Gisborne Amateur Athletic and Harrier Club on Thursday evening. October 23 was fixed as the season opening date. It was indicated that continuance of the daylight sports or resumption of the evening programmes would be decided by the committee after a reasonable trial of the new system. The secretary, Mr. S. Garland, who led the discussion, urged that daylight Sports be given a trial with a view to encouraging competition by young athletes, particularly high school pupils, who were unable to attend the evening meetings and developing individual performance. He suggested that athletes taking part in outside championships, which were invariably conducted in daylight, were handicapped under those conditions if accustomed only to competition in evening periods. Support to the proposal was voiced by a number of other speakers. Opposition was advanced on the grounds that many of the competitors of former seasons as well as officials would find difficulty in attending on Saturday mornings, and that in daylight the popular appeal of the floodiignt programmes would be sacrificed. Following a lengthy discussion, the motion to make a triaj of the Saturday morning system was approved by a substantial majority of the voters.