ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 10

ATHLETICS.

UNDER UNION RULES. FIXTURES. March 7.—Takapuna Axemen's Sports. March 7.—Auckland Local Bodies' Sports. March Matiere Athletic Club. March 14. —Mangapehi Athletic Club. Maroh 17.'Manunui Sports Society. March 17.—St. Patrick's Day Sports. March 17.Paengaroa Sports Club. March 17.Maungaturoto Sports. March 18.—Bombay Athletic Club. March 19. —Tauranga Axemen's Sports. March 21.—Victoria Valley Club. March 28.Huntly Athletic Sports. March 28.—Ohaupo Sports Club. April 1. —Matangi Athletic Club. April 11.—Warkworth Sports Club. April 11.—Papalnira Athletic Club. April 13.—Thames Foresters' Sports. NOTES ■ AND COMMENTS. To-day a number of axemen's events will be held in connection with the Takapuna Show, at Takapuna. Some of the leading choppers of the Dominion will be competing, and great interest is being taken in the sports. Late entries will be received by the Mangapehi Sports up to Monday next. The champion axoman of the world, W. Peck (Australia) will be competing at these sports, and several local axemen expect to extend him in the handicap events. Nominations are due to-night for the St. Patrick's Day Sports in the Domain, on March 17. Two new clubs have joined the Auckland Athletic Union, the Putaruru Sports Club and the Whangapiro Athletic Society. A chopping match of interest is to take place within three months between D. Pretty and C. O'Rorke, for , £200 a-side. The block will be 18in, standing. Deposits have been lodged, and final arrangements will be made later on. Both axemen chopped at the Exhibition carnival last Saturday, and each showed ease and science. Pretty has a record of championships to his credit, having come first in the "world's championship, 2ft standing block, in 1905, 1906, 1908. 1909, and 1910, while he was world's champion in standing chop, 6ft 4in girth, in 1908, 1909, and 1910. C. O'Rorke has a lengthy list of wins in handicap chops in Tasmania., Invercargill, Orepuki, and on the West Coast of the South Island, where he at present resides.

The handicaps for the Blenheim sports, to be held on St. Patrick's Day, do not find universal approval in Auckland athletic circles, the chief cause of criticism being Lambert's place in the Cup race, in which ho is called upon to give 3yds to Cleland.

The Local Bodies' Sports are to be held to-day in the racecourse reserve at Takapuna. The officials have arranged all details, and the secretary (Mr. D. Kelleher), is sanguine of a successful day. The* Exhibition sports commissioner (Mr. Gilfedder) reports that the recent five days' sports meetings were a great success in every way; in fact a triumph from an athletic point of view. He would like to have seen more pipe bands taking part in the contest, but in all other competitions record entries were received. In some quarters the idea was held, months ago, that the axemen's carnival would be too heavy an undertaking, but the results have proved the reverse to have been the case. The close finishes were a feature of the meetings, and not one protest or complaint lias been lodged with the union. The most experienced officials obtainable were selected, and the result of this was eminently satisfactory. The multifarious details were attended to by Mr. A. J. Woodley, ,who acted as sports, secretary on behalf of the Exhibition,' with every sue ess. Mr. Gilfedder was secretary of the New -Zealand Athletic Union when that bodv held the Exhibition championships at Christ church in 1906-7. and he admits that Auckland comes an easy first in the I way of such demonstrations. -»

THE- SECESSION QUESTION [TO the sports editor.]

Sir, —Your correspondent in last Thurs day's issue discusses the above questioi at some length and incidentally question! why the Auckland Centre did ' certair things without first submitting " ful particulars of the matter . . . t< the only persons ... affected bj the movement." Allow me, sir, al this juncture, .to state that the onlj parties interested clubsdecided al the last annual meeting to give notice to the executive of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Unior that after the expiration of the present financial the clubs form ing the Auckland Centre would f<sra themselves into a separate'body and forn the nucleus of a North Island union, This action has naturally raised a stormas was fullj expected. For the benefit 01 your correspondent I may state that tin question of the advisability of twe separate bodiesone for the North anc *ne for the South— been discussed al previous conferences, and has been continually discussed with officials of different clubs , when occasion offered, The prominence given to a sugge» tion that the annual meeting die something illegal in deciding on seoessior must fall flat with the gTeat majority ol clubs, as the fact has bden fairly noticeable that clubs really know little or nothing of officials outside of those controlling the Auckland Centre. As finance looms largely in the discussion, allow me to briefly state the position since the Auckland Provincial. Association merged itself into the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union, The initial funds were provided by Mr, Gilfedder to start the centre, and it musl appear patent that the pioneer official! accepted an obligation which few organisa tions have been 80 successfully built upon, The New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union's financial assistance was nil. Since the inception of the centre success upoi success has followed the labour of the centre officials the union officials— nnd the satisfaction the Auckland Centre has in the success of its labours is the knowledge that for every 20s it receive! 10s nett is remitted to Timaru, and the 10s remaining to the centre is absorbed in the organising and ordinary business working of the centre. No wonder the union .executive does not want secession. It must appeal to the common sense o: the community that the advantages to be gained "by remaining with the union d< not compensate for any slight disadvan tage the proposed new union may be )laced at. The interest created, and the Experienced officials whom I presume will De at the helm of the new union, will give nore satisfaction to all concerned, as well is the knowledge that the clubs subscrib ng will be sole deciding factors in the natter of finance. Does your correspondent seriously ask your readers to believe ,hat the 700 competitors in the Auckland province oppose the secession ? My views ire not in accord. Of course the New Zealand Union will anathematise the new Oody, all clubs joining, and all competi ;ors affiliating but would such action be >portßmanlike ? Are there not some nutual benefits to the Athletic Union and ;he new body in the creating of an elastic igreement covering competitors. From ny knowledge such a proposal would nol ie turned down by Auckland; but the ntention seems very fixed that provincial ift airs at least must have no outside influence (taxing its progress. What a landicap the great majority of Auckland provincial competitors will be placed at f they do miss Blenheim and Timaru. The opportunities are greater for the cash runner in Auckland district than in anj )ther part. The question of champion(hips has been raised. Well this it nerely a question of title, and there, is 10 denying tie fact that within a reasonibly short time (with proper management ind organising) the question of running irovincial and North Island championships trill be quite reasonably raised by the new union— earned out by club: inder its jurisdiction.' The Auckland Centre, at favourable opportunities, meet competitors and discuss matters of mutual nterest, and if some competitors were •eally sincere in their desire to know 'where they stood," it appeals to me ,hat the more loyal . position to take uip jvould have been to 'ask the centre to ar■ange a date to clisausa the position. At east one member of the union executive continues to hammer At the question i of

secession, when the president of the Auckland Centre has moved in the direction of having the whole question .reopened." This action oil the part of, the president of the Auckland Centre lias been taken at the express wish of a prominent official of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union, and really means, as far as the centre officials are concerned, the question is not definitely settled. In conclusion allow me to point out that the New ■Zealand Athletic Union (of which the Auckland Centre is still a part) is not in. existence for competitors, but clubs, and while anxious at all times to safeguard the interests of competitors, such a question as secession affects the various clubs within the centre, and the clubs only.— Te Kuiti. Jno. H. Trinneak.

THE AMATEUR CODE. CARNIVAL AT HAMILTON. A number of Auckland athletes will compete at the Hamilton athletic carnival this afternoon. This will be the last meeting in which the American team will take part, although the Auckland Clul' is making an effort for G. L. Parker, the champion sprinter to appear at the .club's sports next Saturday. Auckland enthusiasts were very disappointed at Parker being unable to compete the last time the Americans were here, owing to his having met with an accident at Wellington, and his appearance would lend a considerable amount of interest to next week's meeting. Large entries have been received for this carnival, the 100 yds Handicap drawing an entry of 33. The entries for the boys' scout relay race and the mercantile firms relay race have been extended until today.