N.Z. SPORTS PROTECTION LEAGUE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 19 January 1912, Page 5

N.Z. SPORTS PROTECTION LEAGUE.

BRANCH FORMED IN HAWERA

At a meeting convened, for. Thursday evening for the purpose of forming a Hawera branch of the Sports Protection League, there was an attendance of about sixty persons, the chair being occupied by his Worship the Mayor, Mr H. K. Whittington. , ,M^ A- A: Paape, general secretary for the Dominion, was present and explained to the meeting the objects of the League, quoting from remarks made by Mr H. D. Bell, K.C., at the meeting which resulted in the formation of the League, when he stated that the chief object of. the League ' was to unite throughout the Dominion to prevent further interference by those trying to circumscribe the actions of sports" bodies with pastimes carried on under proper and honest regulations. Mr Paape then detailed the preliminary steps taken in connection with the League's formation, and claimed that in view of the number of the Dominion's leading men who were at its head the League must command respect. Ministers' Associations in various parts of .the Dominion, had stated that the League was run in the interests of the totalisator and the liquor traffic, but this was not so, and as a matter of fact its objects were almost identical with those of the Sporting League which was in existence at Home, where there was no totalisator and the liquor question did not command nearly so much attention as it did in New Zealand. The League took no part in the licensing question and might as well "put up its shutters" at once if it did. Certain extremist sections in the Dominion objected to all sport, and while those people were quite entitled to their opinion it behoved all those who did not hold like views xto combine to prevent further interference with sports in which they participated. The League took no hand in party politics except in so far as where one candidate was opposed to its platform, and the other favored it. whatever influence the League had would be used 015, behalf of the candidate who supported its objects. The purposes of the League were to influence public opinion in^the interests of sport, to discourage all malpractices and raise the tone of sport -vhereyer considered necessary, and, as advisable, extend the facilities for honest legitimate sport, exercise and amusement. The League had been accused of desiring the restitution of bookmakers and the extension of the, totalisator to coursing meetings, which was absurd. The League did not wish the totalisator extended beyond racecourses, but considered the Gaming Act of 1910 too drastic, as it had taken away the licenses from a number of the small racing clubs, whose meetings had given pleasure to a large section of the people of the district. Another function of the League's Board of Control would be to watch all proposed legislation affecting the interests of sport, and see to it that members of Parliament possessed correct information concerning the subjects to be legislated upon. The speaker further related a number of instances where the League's influence had been successfully exerted to prevent interference with matters affecting the well-being of some of its component societies, one being the defeating of a motion in the Wellington City Council to disallow the use of the Town Hall for boxing contests. The League was not advocating a Continental Sunday but believed that as regarded recreations such as golf, rowing bicycle riding, or swimmine: (to all of whch the extremist section in some of the larger centres objected) the individual should be the best judge as to whether or not he indulged in them on Sunday, as long as his recreation did not interfere with other people." Mr Paape also devoted some attention to the matter of contributions, explaining that membership was free, and that no individual voluntary contrbution made to the League's funds had exceeded £5 5s annually. It was intended to establish branches in, every town in the Dominion, but for the meantme the district in which Taranaki was included would be run from Wanganui as a centre.

On the motion of Mr R. H. Nolan, seconded by Mr B. McCarthy, it was unanimously decided to form a branch of the League in Hawera-, and the following executive was then elected:—Matron, Mr G. V. Pearce, M.P.; president, Mr R: H. Nolan ; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Gray (racing), A; Hunter (Rugby), P. Pratt (hockey), B. McCarthy (cricket), W. F. Ross (tennis), F. Purser (Caledonian Society), J. Grant (swimming), <E. E. Nalder (trotting), C. A. Budge (coursing), A. W. Gillies (golf), A. W. Webster (croquet), F. W. Stevens (Soccer football), B. Riley (bowling), B. C. Bennett (Acclimatisation Society), R. Morrissey (Hunt Club), A. S. Tonks (A. and P. Association), and H. Graves; committee, Messrs H. A. Foyster, W. O'Callaghan, G. H. Ryan, B. Bassett, and P. O'Dea. Mr J. McNaught, district secretary, in the course of some further remarks, mentioned that as until the organisation of the League throughout the Dominion was completed this district would be run from the Wanganui centre, the Hawera branch secretary, when selected, could obtain any information he might require by communicating with him (Mr McNaught) at Wanganui. The speaker fiirther advocated that to combat the statement that the/League was being run only in the interests of racing clubs, all clubs other than racing should pay an annual affiliation fee.

In answer to a question, Mr Paape stated that membership of the League was not confined to men and that ladies belonging to branches in other towns were taking an enthusiastic- share in promoting its extension.

The proceedings then closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding.