AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10651, 11 May 1895, Page 6

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

THE NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION,

A special meeting of the committee of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held at the City Hotel last evening; present—Messrs F. Wilding (in the chair), W. Toaks (Auckland) ; W. J. Cotteriil, G. Harris and T. D. Harman (Wellington) ; F. Salig (Hawke’s Bay) ; H. S. B?,icho!or (Manawatu) D. Wood, P. A. Laurie and .1. C. Cusack (Canterbury) ; J. F. Grierson (South Canterbury) ; James I Moir (Kurow) ; C. H. Williams (Ashbur-! ton) 5 S. E. Webb (honorary treasurer) and L. A. Cuff* (honorary secretary). Apologies for'absence were read from Messrs W. J. Moir (Auckland) and N. L. . Macbeth (Dunedin). The Chairman said that a protest had been received from the Auckland Club in rofarenoo to the disqualification of the two Auckland men, Messrs Martin and Heberts, in the 440yda Hurdle Championship at Napier in February, He thought it would bo batter if the Secretary placed the matter before the committee and read the correspondence he had received. Tno~ Secretary read a letter from the Secretary of the Auckland Club acknowledging receipt of the report of the judges at the” later championship meeting with regard to the disqualification.' The committee of the Auckland Club desired to formally protest against 'the decision in ■ thio event. Tha judge’s report did not j contain the written evidence asked for by | the Auckland Club, so it was assumed j that tbs evidence was entirely viva voce, ■ and not recorded in writing j a very wrong procedure considering the importance of i the» ieaua involved. luGasoas in support ox , the protest were submitted by the Auck- i land Club. The Secretary stated that ho bad wrioicn to Mr E. D. Bell, president of the Wellington Club, who was present at t]ne Champiotsshlp Meeting, asking for his opinion j on certain points in reference to the disqualification. Mr Bell had replied, staling that, in hia opinion, it would be a very dangerous precedent for the Association to hoar an appeal from the judge s decision. He considered that the whole object of the law v/ao that the judges should decide with regard to an event, and the committee had no function in tho matter. With regard to management, control and arrangements, the judges had no function, andT the committee determined, subject to an appeal to the committee of tha Association. , . . Mr W. H. Martin wrote complaining that he had been disqualified without being called to make a statement. Mr Logan (Auckland) in hia letter stated that, from what he hud heard, whatever Boberta might have done, Martin had iumned the hurdles fairly. _ The Chairman said this was all tho committee had before it on the subject. After a long’ discussion, Mr Williams moved —“That, under the rules of the How Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, tha question raised by the protest in tha Quarter-mile Hurdle Face was one of fact within tho province of the judges Alone to decide, cither upon what fell within their own observation or with tha assistance, if necessary, of Other evidence.” .. , . . Mr Harris seconded tho motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Williams moved--" That the judges having coutiidared and finally decided the protest upon what they found to be sufficient, ground, this committee has no power under tho constitution to reopen tha matter either by reversing the decision or by ordering a re-hearing.” _ Mr Harris seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Williams moved--" That inasmuch as evidence was heard in support of the protest, the judges ought to have given tha competitors' protested against an opportunity of adducing evidence on their behalf before adjudicating upon the matter.” The motion was seconded by Mr Harris and carried unanimously. Tho meeting then went into committee to consider the evidence taken ia reference to tha disturbance on the evening of tho second day of the Championship Meeting. On resuming, tha Chairman reported that tho following resolutions bad been carried:—(l) “That this committee is satisfied, by the evidence before it, that some of tho competitors at the late Championshio Meeting, held at Napier, grossly misconducted themselves on the evening of tho sports, and brought public discredit noon the Association by their behaviour.” (2) “That this committee has power to take cognisance of such matters, and will nob hesitate in the future to deal severely with any offences of a similar character brought under the notice of the Associatl°Oa the motion of Mr Cuff, seconded by Mr Seli" - , it was resolved that a vote of thanks should be accorded to Messrs F. Lopan (Napiot). C. A. Knapp (Wellington) and’ J. F. Logan (Auckland) and tea Auckland Club’s committee for the assistance they hud rendered the Association in the inquiry. , Mr Webb’s namo-vraa added to the-cub..

committee appointed to revise the rules for tho annual meeting. Thia was all the business, and the meeting closed with & vote of thanks to tho Chairman.