WAR-TIME DEFAULTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18198, 18 September 1922, Page 6

WAR-TIME DEFAULTERS

ATHLETIC UNION'S DECISION. DISQUALIFICATION IMPOSED PENALTY FOR CLUBS. [BI TELSORAI'H—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ELTHAM. Saturday. At the annual conference of the New Zeala-nd Athletic and Cycling Union a remit was moved that do military defaulter be allowed to compete at any sports meeting -under the rules of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union. Members considered that the remit threw the onus on the clubs, which, however, might not be aware that a competitor was' a military defaulter. I The president, Mr. G. D. F. McKay, i said any society allowing a defaulter to | compete could be dealt with as an in- j subordinate club. i An amendment was moved by Mr. A. Hansen (Taranaki), and seconded by Mr. j A. J. Fisher (Blenheim) :— "That, no military defaulter be knowingly allowed to compete at any sports meeting or become a member of any club under the rules of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union." Mr. C. Burke said his attention had been drawn to the fa/* that every man j who refused to drill wa- termed a miliitary defaulter. There •«•« n\ nbers of I these every day, and they nuist l.» careful ior they wo:ild be encouraging something like German militarism. There might be so many defaulters thai they would have no competitors. He thought the rule should apply to those who shirked their duty during the war, and he suggested that a proviso should be made that the amendment applied to military defaulters prior to peace day. This was added to the amendment, which was carried. In regard to the ban of disqualification, it was VfiKolved that any official or club who knowingly allows a disqualified competitor to compete at a. meeting be liable to a fino or disqualification. It was further moved that any competitor disqualified by the union be warned off all sports grounds where meetings under their jurisdiction were being held, and that clubs be empowered to have any disqualified persons removed. After discussion, the mover of the remit agreed to amend the rule by adding the words, " for life," and this was carried.