SCORT WANT PROFESSIONAL SPORTS; ARE AGAINST WHANGAREI CONTROL

Northern Advocate, 26 May 1949, Page 3

SCORT WANT PROFESSIONAL SPORTS; ARE AGAINST WHANGAREI CONTROL

ATHLETICS at the VVaipu sports, held under the control of the Waipu Caledonian Society, will be run on a professional basis in future unless an amateur athletic club is formed in the district. This decision was made at the 79th annual meeting of the society last night after several members, including the chief (Mr Mac Finlayson), has expressed dissatisfaction with the way the sports were controlled last New Year’s Day by the Whangarei Amateur Athletic Club.

“Last season the sociely decided to change from professional to amateur athletics, and, in my opinion, the result was not successful,” said the chief.

but I found that we could not,” he said. Difficulties which might arise between the society and a local athletic club were described by Mr J. Bryham.

"The rules of our society are in direct conflict with the rules of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association,” he said. "Furthermore, 1 do not think there would be sufficient interest in amateur athleics in Waipu. "Most oE the sports bodies in places neighbouring Waipu are of professional status, excepting mainly Whangarei. "This would debar Waipu boys who took part in our sports from attending the meetings run by those clubs.” Mr Brvham said. Mr J. C. McKay said he had also fought for amateur sports, but he had been disappointed. The last meeting had not been a success, and he thought that, while amateur meetings might be all right in a town, they were not suitable for a country centre such as Waipu. “If the young people want to form an amateur club they should do so themselves," he added. UNTIL CLUB IS FORMED The amendment was lost, only four of the Iff present voting for it. Mr Bryham then proposed a further amendment, which provided that the society should hold professional meetings until such time as an amateur club was formed. Mr A. D. McGregor: “I can’t see how an amateur club could hold a meeting on our ground during our sports day. They would want something out of it.” The chief: "They would be dealing with Scotsmen.” Mr Bryham’s amendment was carried unanimously.

“To get over the difficulty, I would suggest that an amateur athletic club be formed in Waipu.”

Mr J. Ryan: As a field steward, I would not have anything further to do with the Whangarei crowd. Mr J. C. McKay then moved that the society should revert to a professional basis for its sports. An amendment, proposer by Mr 11. McAulay, called for the society to convene a meeting of all interested to form an amateur athletic club in Waipu. AMATEURS PROGRESSING

Mr W. R. Lung said he considered that if the society reverted to professionalism it would probably never again be allowed to hold amateur sports, which had to have the approval of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. “Amateur athletics are progressing in this country, and I think a public meeting should be called to allow the young people of Waipu an opportunity to decide their status fop themselves,” he added. Mr Mac Finlayson remarked that it would be much better, as far as the society was concerned, if the sports were under amateur control, as expenditure on prizes was only half that necessary for professional athletics. Mr F. R. McKay: “If we run professional and athletic sports together—as we would if we included the professional ‘tossing the caber,’ and 'hammer throwing"—it would be the ruin of the Caledonian society RULES IN CONFLICT

Mr A. D. McGregor said that he was among those originally in favour of the change to amateur sports. “I was under the impression that we would be able to run our own athletics,