ATHLETIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14976, 23 April 1909, Page 9

ATHLETIC.

NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR ASSOCIATION.

THE QUESTION OF CONTROL

A special meeting of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held yesterday afternoon; present—Messrs D. Hoare (chairman), H. S. Williams, R. Twyneham, S. Moore, R. King, C. T. Mosley, J. H. Aitken, G. B. Shaw, F. Pratt, H. St A. Murray and F. L. Murray (honorary secretary). A letter wag received from Mr J. H. Aitken, secretary of the Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, which stated that the Council had considered the report of the business transacted at the conference held in Dunedin on March 20. It had decided that tho proper course to pursue was to take a mail vote of the Centres on the questions of the removal of the headquarters from Christchurch to Wellington, and the alteration in the method of appointing the Council. The Council had no desire to place obstacles in tile way of giving effect to the decisions arrived at by the conference, but simply wished to have the decisions carried out in accordance with the constitution of the Association.

The chairman moved —“ That this Centre fully endorses the action of the delegates at the recent Conference in Dunedin, and that in. respect of the circular from the Council a reply be forwarded to the effect that the Centre records its vote in favour of the removal of the headquarters to Wellington, and also in. favour of the altered methods of representation as approved by the Conference.” Mr F. L. Murray said that ho thought that as the Council had failed to resign within the thirty days that the Conference had fixed for its extinction, the Centre might to ignore the Christchurch Council. That was the only thing to do if the Centre intended to adhere to the decision arrived at in conference at Dunedin. He moved that tho words “ and that in respect of the circular from tho Council a reply be forwarded to the effect that,” should be deleted from the motion. Mr H. St A. Murray seconded tho amendment, and said that it would bo a great mistake to recognise the Christchurch Council in ■ any way. Mr Aitken said that it must be remembered that the Council was not a registered body, and if it refused to

hand over tho funds it could not be proceeded against. Ho thought the Council was acting rightly in approaching the Centres, for that was the only way it could get proper authorisation for handing over the books and funds it now held. The amendment was carried by seven votes to three, and the amended motion was passed.