A KNOTTY POINT.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10710, 6 October 1928, Page 6

A KNOTTY POINT.

EMOTION, OF AMATEUR. ATHLETIC CLUB’S EXECUTIVE.

IS RETIRED PP. OFESSIONAL ELIGIBLE?

ACRIMONIOUS DISCUSSION

PROBLEM STILL UNSOLVED,

professional now in retirement eligible for a seat on the executive oi an amateur athletic club? Afi unusual position arose at tho annual meeting of the Gisborne Amateuv Athletic and Harrier Club last w.ght and provoked a considerable amount of acrimonious, discussion, during which sharp words ana strongly divergent views were exchanged. •There were ton nominations for the executive, on which there were eight vacant eats. The candidature of two of. the nominees was ruled out earlier -in' the meeting by the chairman (Mr. H. F. Forster) under rules, of the ciub on. the grounds that the men nominated had not been elected members by the retiring committee, although they had paid their fees, before the date of closing of nominations. Thus eight nominees for eight seats on the executive were left for declaration as elected. Surprise was sprung upon the meeting as the chairman was about to declare the eight elected. “1s t professional allowed to sit upon, the executive of an amateur body?” asked Mr. 0. F. Paltridge, seeking a ruling upon the point. “I should say not,” ruled the chairman. ‘‘Then the nominations of two men are invalid,'” declared Mr. Paltridge, who, in response to the chairman’s request for tuither information, named two men, Messrs. T. Smale and S. Vaille, as being professionals. He contended that under the rules of the club and the N.Z A A.A. no professional could be an officer of an amateur club. He pointed out that lie- bore no personal feeling against either of the two nominees. Mr. C. Brown expressed the opinion that there were very few clubs in the Dominion who did not have professionals among their ranks, and in some eases officers. He cited the case some years ago of a one-time head of the Now Zealand professional sports body "being chairman of an amateur club. It might be wrong, lie argued, but it was done. “Then it" should not be done,“"asserted Mr. J. Mercer. He pointed out that according to the rules a professional could not be a member of an amateur body. He, therefore, contended that as the chairman had adhered to the rules in the other cases he should de so in this. The chairman claimed that the cases came under different rules and were entirely dissimilar. Mr. P. Fulton, chairman of the retiring committee, explained that when applications for membership from the two nominees in question bad been received, they gave no indication that they were professionals or that they had competed as such, and the executive had accepted them as members entirely without knowledge. The chairman maintained that he was not there to judge the actions of the committee and. as they liad accepted the nomiinees as members in ignorance of the fact that the men were or were not professionals, he ruled that the two candidates were members of the> executive along with other nominees. He was not there either to judge whether the men were professionals or not. Mr. Mercer (warmly). The rules are there in black and white that no professional can become a member of an aniateur athletic body. Why don t you abide by them ? The two men * are professionals.

NOMINEE EXPLAIN? PROFJES-

SION A L ACTS

Mr. T. Smale, in the course of explanation, said he had participated in a professional wrestling match nine years ago at- which Mr. Forster had acted as judge, and had made up a field on another occasion, and ha was unaware if this constituted an offence. Mr. F. McDonald: I made up a field once and I suffered for it. (Laughter.) ..., Mr. Smale added that he aid' non want the- club to transgress any rules and added that he was prepared to withdraw. He explained that he had F.tood for the committee in the hope that he might be able to assist in fostering the sport, particularly cycling, in which lie was keenly interested. He promised that in any case he would materially assist the I'lnh in any way possible, although would not be a committeeman.^ 1 tie chairman, however, held to his ruling that having been accepted as members the two nominees were entitled to be elected to the committee, and this provoked a further renewal of discussion.

RULING- FROM N.Z. COUNCIL SUGGESTED. Mr. Brown suggested that a ruling should be obtained from the New Zealand Council as to whether a- professional in retirement was eligible for the executive of the club. It was an extraordinary position that had arisen, he contended, and if held to bo untenable, there would be. a scatter among amateur bodies in the Dominion to dump professional members who held oihces. This view was shared by Mr. W. Jenkins, who contended that at present the nominations must stand. Mr. Venables commented that it was unfortunate this position had arisen, as. it would not be in the interests of the club or the sport. Mr. A. \Y. Mason suggested that the two nominees in this instance should withdraw until their position and those of the two other nominees in the previous case were inquired into .and the vacancies could then be filled, but he maintained this course would have to he done at a general meeting. CHAIRMAN THREATENS AND TALKATIVE MEMBER LEAVES ROOM.

An inquiry by. Mr.' Mercer as to how the vacancies would bo filled was answered by the chairman who said the. committee would undertake this dutv. Mr. Mercer: The cyclists have not been properly represented. on the executive for years, and it’s only a fair go we should have some consideration. The speaker was proceeding on an irrelevant point when he was called to order bv the chairman “What db we come to an annual meeting for' but to talk,” retorted Mr Mercer hotly. “Dll' have you understand, Mr. Mercer, that I’m 'chairman and yeu are not going to address me in that manner/** replied the cbairman with asperity. “I’m not a paid servant. I’m' here to control the meeting as chairman ’ he - added in making • an appeal. to members to deal with the matter >fairly.‘ “If'you make any nidre remarks like that I’ll have to ask you to. leave' the room.” . “I’ll go then,” said Mr. Mercer, reaching, for' his hat. and he left the root'd'' . ... . - . - ■ ■ Then the discussion was renewed, Mr. Venables pointing-out that the act. of 'professionalism on the part of tji& absentee'nominee for the executive was comparatively recent. He asked the position as to other professionals seeking to become members of the. amateur body. Wdl' hive' toi apply for reinBtaitemept,’’. said the chairman, to obtain a ruling from

the Council concerning the eligibility of professionals was rejected overwhelmingly.

CHAIRMAN CHANGES HIS VIEW

After further reference to the rules, the chairman changed his view, stating that he thought the best course would be for the two nominees to withdraw. , . This decision was accepted by the one nominee present, whilst a delegation left post haste to obtain a similar undertaking from the other absent nominee, later returning to report the success of their milssion. A.t tho conclusion oi the. mooting the chairman expressed regret that he had been compelled to pick upon a member in controlling the gathering but no doubt., that member was somewhat carried away by his keenness for the sport.

A PRIOR. CONTROVERSY. ALLEGED UNFAIR TREATMENT OF CYCLISTS NOMINEES NOT ELIGIBLE H \D PAID FEES BUT NOT DULY ELECTED A warm exchange of pleasantries between the 'chairman and a garrulous member marked a prior incident on the same subject, the election of the executive. The controversial issue was raised bv Mr J. Mercer just prior to the election of tlui executive. He understood, he said, it was undesirable that competitors should be on the committee and therefore the cyclists bad put forward two nominees whom he understood were not eligible. “Is that so?” ho asked. The chairman (Mr H. F. Forster) confirmed this view, stating that no outsider who was not a member of the club could hold office. > “But they have paid their membership fees”, declared Mr Mercer. The chairman: The fact remains that they were not duly elected members of the committee. “Then why were their fees taken?” demanded Mr Mercer. The chairman said that the fees could be returned. “That’s not much good retorted Mr Mercer. “The cyclists, won’t be represented on the executive then.” The chairman pointed out that he was not in any way opposed to the two nominees in question ; he was merely abiding by the rules of the dub. 'He believed that the two men would be excellent committeemen. He had no knowledge as to who was standing beyond these two men. Mr Mercer persisted in his protest and claimed that the nominees could have been elected at the last meeting of the committee, which met every week. The secretary explained that a meeting had not been held for some time and further the nominations of the two men for tho executive had been received only at 5 p.m. on the day before the closing of the nominations. Mr Mercer suggested that the election of new members might be taken first so that the two nominees should be made eligible for office. ’Hie chairman pointed out that this could not be done. Nominees had to be members at the time of the closing of nominations. “Why don’t you cut out the red tape and give us cyclists a fair go” demanded Mr Mercer. The chairman: I have given my ruling and it stands. “I regard your ruling as an opposition to the cyclists”, retorted Mr Mercer.

“I object to those sort of remarks”, observed the chairman. Mr McMahon: We were given to understand that a special meeting would be held to pass new members.

Mr Fraser: Where did you get that idea?

Mr Chas. Brown explained'that as a member had indicated that nominations of outsiders might be expected, from the cyclists mentioned, he had told those competitors that a special meeting might be called to elect tho nominees as members. He thought the executive had acted unwisely in not calling a special meeting. The chairman: Tho nominations were received only twenty-four bourn be.ore nominations closed and the executive cannot be expected to attend meetings for one section of the club at a few hours’ notice.

“The cyclists have not had fair representation on the executive for years and now when we put up two nominees you block us”, declared Mr Mercer.

Mr O. Paltridge expressed the opinion that the whole trouble could have been avoided had the committee not accepted the membership fees and he suggested that no similar action should be taken in future.

Tho chairman insisted upon his luling, and the nominations were excluded.

“ I withdraw my nomination”, declared Mr Mercer. “I’m not going to work with people who can't be fair.”

However, his proposer and seconder declined to riermit him to do so, and he agreed to submit to election. The business then proceeded quietly once more.