PUBLIC SCHOOLS' ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12571, 5 August 1901, Page 7

PUBLIC SCHOOLS' ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

THE ANNUAL ''-MEETING. Thxi annual meeting of the Public Schools' Amateur Athletic Asa-elation was- held at the Normal School on Saturday, when the President (Mr L. B. Wood) presided, »nd frheTe was a good attendance. The first annual report stated that tho Council felt justified in being satisfied at the -work accomplished during the year, and wished to express its indebtedness to Messrs P. Seiig and Dr Jennings, of tho New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, for their active interest in the formation of the Association. The number of members on the roll was one hundred. Of these only four were not members of the teaching profession, and.thaCouacil confidently looked forward/to a substantial increase in the membership this year. During tho year, handsome donations had been made by the President, Mr L. B. Wood, who had provided a championship shallenge shield, and had giv.n a subscription towards the Association funds; by the Lancaster Park Company, which Brad donated £ls j and by Mrs W. Recce, Dr Mcorhouse, and Messrs P. Selig and T. S. . Foster. A most successful sports 'gathering had been held on Nov. 29, at ■which 1721 entries were received from com- j jetitors, representing 33 schools. 'A pro- j ' : <jra«Hne of 57 events had been gone j through, afcrd in several events the entries i bad ranged from 50 to 70. During the j year the Council had assumed control of the cricket and football competitions, the former of which was won by Sydenham] School for the second time, with an unbeaten record, while the latter was still dm progress, with■ fifteen teams competing.,';. connection with the football competition," a school team was to bs sent to play Wellington during the nest vacation. Tire Association appreciated heartily fog encour- j agement given-by the Council cf the New Zealand 'Amateur-Athletic' Association in •ppomting a sub-committee to bring up a ;. report on the best means of encouraging j beys who showed promise at the school I sports to continue in the ranks of the ; amateurs, and also the steps taken by the ! Council of the New Zealand League of \ .Wheelmen in a similar direction. In conclusion, the Council wished to express its j'thanks to'the editors and! staffs of the! | s6cal Press far valuable assistance! in mak- !; ing known, at different times, the objects and doings of the Association. ~< ~' The balanc3-s]i£et' showed receipts aihoijnt.- ;' fog to £94,12s lOd, and expenditure ""to" £72 183 lOd, leaving a credit balance of ' £2l 14s. The President, in moving the adoption. ; of the.report and' balance-sheet, congratulated the. Association on the excellent'work done during the year. It had..-shown that the teachers could do something else for the children besides " cramming," and could foster those manly sports which Went towards the "making of ;good men. He had" • Keen reference" in the newspapers to a' Hill being passed through the House, and it eeemed.'.frbm the manner in which membsrs of the House had spoken that they imagined that military drill in schools Was-quite it, new- thing. Tin's was surely lamentable ignorance, for military drill "had been a subject in the public schools for many years,i.and had been taught well. The jpublio werd beginning to wake up to the fact that teachers did valuable work in the physical as well as mental training of tho children. The demonstration' 'sports gathering that had. been, held in Lancaster Park had been a revelation to many people. He congratulated the.sub-committee 1 on the, excellent system. of ' wand, exercises and other physical drill drawii up..; The girls had not been, forgotten, and hockey and other suitable competitions were arranged for them. Physical training obtained by cricket, football, and other athletic sports ihad tended largely to make the British nation if was in comparison -with'other Haitians. (Applaxise.) , , , Thereportand balance-sheet were carriedunanimously. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr L. B. Wood; vice-presi-dents, Messrs R. J. Alexander, T. S. Foster, J. Baldwin, J. B. Mayne, J. J, Ad'ams and! P. Selig; hon sec, Mr C. T. Aschman; hon treasurer, Mr P. T. Evans; council, Messrs C. W. Garrard, P. Merizies, T. M'Gallon, W. D. Bean, J. J. Adams, S. C. Owen, G. Schneider, M. Lynskey, W. N. Sesy, G. ..W- Bishop, J. M'Leod, J. M'Gregor, ( the. Rev; Brother Arthur . and Misses Baldwin and Dynes. ' . , It was;deei&ed that •rule 2"0 of the regulations sli6uld.be amended;so that teachers. ■with a.salary;of over £2OO should : pay an annual subscription of 55, :; and'teachers with a ealary» of under £2OO should pay 2s' 6d; The Secretary stated that "a football team ' would ba-seht-to Wellington. This would. ■ cost money, and lb had; been' proposed to ask the Bright Hours Children to contribute pa/rfc of an entertainment, which it yas proposed to hold to obtain; fuuids., The meeting them terminated. ' !