ATHLETICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13938, 21 December 1908, Page 9

ATHLETICS

AMATEUR CRISIS. ACTION OF THE AUCKLAND CENTRE. A conference of the council of the Auckland centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held on Friday evening with Mr. J. H. Aitken, secretary of tho council of the N.Z.A.A.A. The following letter was drawn up, after discussion, and signed by Mr. Leo Myers (president) and Mr. F. J. Ohlson (secretary), on behalf of the Auckland centre, and sent to the New Zealand Association :—" Wo desiro to refer to the unfortunate breach that at present exists between certain centres relonging to your association. . The members of our centre havo recently had the pleasure of discussing this matter with several gontlemen in Wellington, who are taking a prominent part in organising the removal of tic' headquarters of the sport to Wellington, and also had an opportunity of going into tho subject- with your Mr. "Aitkcn, who placed tho position very fully before us. Wo have recently also been .favoured with a visit from Mr. Sanderson, of Dunedin, and after reviewing the whole position very carefully, and regarding it only from tho point of view of benefiting generally amateur athletics in New Zealand, wo beg to suggest that a compromise between the opposing forces should be effected somewhat on the following lines:— That the headquarters remain at Christehurch for the present season; the present council to be the governine body during that period, and to be recognised as such by all the affiliated centres. 2. That during the season thc council effect alterations in the constitution of tho association to the end and intent that direct representation on the council .should be afforded the various centres, instead of having the council nominated generally, as at present. 3. That before the expiration of the present season a vote of the centres be taken as to tho desirability or otherwise of removing the headquarters from Christehurch, and if it be considered desirable, then as to what centre. _ We desire now to place on record the obligations that tho adherents of amateur sport in New Zealand are under to those gentlemen in Christehurch, who 1-avo given so much of their time and energy, and have displayed so much enthusiasm in tho interests of sport in the Dominion for so many years."