ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15563, 21 March 1914, Page 10

ATHLETICS.

UNDER UNION RULES. -ST. PATRICK'S DAY SPORTS. The St.. Patrick's Day Sports meeting, which had to be postponed last Tuesday, on account of the wet weather, will be held at, the Domain this afternoon. A first-class programme of running and cycling will be submitted, and an exhibition of the game of burling, hitherto unknown in Auckland, will be given. A feature of the meeting will be a display by 2000 children, who arrayed in various colours, will perform evolutions on the ground, finals forming, in large humans letters, the words "Ireland a Nation."

AUCKLAND V. N.Z. COUNCIL. TO THE SPOHTS EDITQB. Sir, —Under the heading of "Professional Athletics, Auckland Correspondent," an article appears in the Otago Daily Times 1 of February .26 last. To those keenly interested in professional athletics', and " who have followed the recent trend/; of 'events in the relations between -the officials of the Auckland Gentle and the head union, it will not be difficult to detect the source from which the statements: in the article referred to were obtained. It may also be mentioned right here that this criticism of the head body is practically based on other correspondence that has already appeared in Auckland papers, and I judge, under the same authorship. The union has so far persistently refused to be dragged! into a press controversy for two reasons. Firstly, it has always been the desire of the head body to try and work in an amicable manner with the various centres. Troubles are given the least possible publicity until all otiher methods have failed. Secondly, members of the head body who have put forward* every effort to conciliate the Auckland Centre have been asked by members of that centre, with whom they have been ■in touch, not to indulge in writing to the papers, as it would' not tend to heal the breach. However, the time has now arrived' when the mis-statements which have been printed and published from north to south must be answered, and the attitude of the leading Auckland officials made pubic. I think the non-representation of the Auckland Centre at the conference was proof positive of '.the weakness of its case. If they had any grievance worth putting forward they should have taken that opportunity of doing so. A great deal has been said of some weird injustice that has been done Auckland, but the actual injustice has never been published, and I am still in the dark as to its nature, although I have followed-up every-, feature of the trouble. Through the good offices of the union president (Mr. Kennedy) it was ar-ranged-that Messrs. Woodlev and Gilfedder (Auckland? and Mr. Kennedy and I (union) would correspond with a view to effecting a conciliation, Mr. Kennedy and I promised to do the very best we could with regard to any suggestion,' if the particulars'of the injustice and a posowe; renwcSy were forwarded to us. We have certainly received letters from Mr. Woodier, but, speaking, for . mvself, I can say thae no specific injustice has been giyjn, ¥"* no basis of conciliation suggested- In the meantime considerable press correspondence has been going on from ■ the side, and I can only say that in view of the request made it "is unsportsmanlike:- 1 I have now been informed grouch th<» union secretary that Mr Woodley has asked Mr. Kennedy to make an oger to the Auckland Centre. I have *& j&a scwtesii Ms* &H m 4 -i

offer is expected, bat as far as I am concerned no offer will be made from this end. Auckland has been three years "with the 'union, and during that.tima the number of affiliated clubs has about doubled. Being the strongest centre it should have least need of assistance. Yet the first year's dues were waived for organising expenses. Two conferences have been held in the Auckland district and one in Blenheim. Therefore I consider Auckland should be stronger financially than any other centre. What about Otago, Southland, and West Coast Centres, who have 'had to pay their full quota of dues, meet heavy travelling expenses, and who have not at any time received any rebate from the union for organising? The Auckland Centre seems to be greatly put out over not having members on the union. How they expected to have members elected to the executive when they were not represented at the conference beats me. Their" attitude towards the conference could only give the impression that they did not wish to be represented. Allow me to correct still another mis-statement. Feilding Centre, being unfinancial, was not permitted to vote on any question at the conference. Mr. J. Owen Robertson has already capably replied in the New Zealand Herald to the question of secession from the point of view of competitors,, and if extreme counsels do eventually prevail in the present centre, pedestrians should have no difficulty in deciding to join the new union centre which will certainly be formed. The risk of being debarred from all meetings in New Zealand and Australia with the exception of a few in Auckland that might remain with the old centre should decide them, apart from the other aspects of the trouble. One of the most audacious objections of Mr. Woodley is to the so-called' interference of the union in Auckland Centre matters. Look at the question this way. Auckland had decided to secede and made the decision public. Yet Mr. Woodley objects to a union representative putting the other side of the case before a Frankton meeting'and to the executive meeting the competitors in Auckland. Surely there are two sides to every question, and the union had 'cause under the circumstances to make their own views plain to the parties most interested, namely, the clubs and competitors. In referring to the dues of Auckland, which is made so much of, I might point out 'thajt when Mr. Gilfedder was resident at Invercargill and secretary to the head body, Otago forwarded £59 8s to him for one season's fees (1906-7), in comparison with Auckland's £55 10s for last season, yet nothing was said about that being excessive. Auckland just pays on the same basis as the other centres, and should have no reason for complaint. In conclusion I wish to say that I have even- desire to see this matter amicably settled, but I am not in favour of making any further financial concession, as so doing would be unjust to the other centres. ' I trust the present Auckland Centre will decide to try, and further the interests of their district by working with the union and not against it. If they cannot do this the sooner another centre (or centres) is formed the better for all concerned. D. F. McKay, Vice-president N.Z.A. and Cycling Union.