ATHLETIC DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18939, 10 February 1925, Page 11

ATHLETIC DISPUTE.

THE AUSTRALIA; j VfSITO li.G. ' LOCAL CENTRE'S GRIEVANCES. DATE FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. A special meeting of the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur. Athletic Association was held last evening to consider recent developments in connection with the provincial championships and steps which had been taken by tho New Zealand council with a view to arranging a carnival in Auckland next month, at which the Australian athletes would appear. Tho president, Mr. A. | Tilly, occupied the chair, Ihe meeting endorsed the action of the secretary in writing to the council, stating : that the two persons communis cated with by the council relative to tho proposed carnival were not members of the Auckland Centre, and that the executive was in a quandary as to whether it controlled amateur athletics in Auckland, or whether that responsibility had been conferred upon the gentlenfen re* ferred to. It was decided to ask Mr. E. vice-president of the New Zealand coun« cil and an Auckland delegate, for a»® explanation of his action in endeavouring to arrange a carnival in Auckland aft which the Australian athletes would ap« pear; also whether the delegate was of opinion that he was playing the gama with the centra he represents. Further, was it not a fact that he was fully awara the Auckland centre proposed to hold the provincial championships on March It was also resolved that the New Zealand Council be asked (1) whether th« action of Mr. H. Amos, in arranging with Mr. H. Frost for a visit to Auck* land of the Australian athletes, had tha full knowledge and sanction of tho council; (2) whether the council did not consider that the ordinary courtesies which were extended to tho Otago and Canterbury centres should also have beea extended to the Auckland centre ; namely, that when the centre declined to provide a guarantee, and the council was willing to send the visitors to various cities and take tho chance itself, Auckland was not given this opportunity; {3} whether the attempt to arrange the carnival at Auckland on March 21 was not influenced by information supplied to the council that the centre intended to conduct the provincial championships on that date; (4 whether the council considers that centres have any right to attempt to extricate their finances from a difficult position, and if ithe council concedes this right, whether in its opinion the council members are furthering the best interests of athletics by deliberately attempting to deprive tirn Auckland Centre of the best date available this season. It was further decided to communicate with Mr. A. T. Davies, as ono of Auckland's delegates, requesting him to give his view of the attempt to enlist outside assistance in arranging a carnival in connection with the visit of the Australian athletes. Did he liave any knowledge of: this attempt being made, and, if so, did he not consider it a slight to the Auckland centre ? Further, did he consider the action of the council member or members to be fitting, and did he consider advising the centre of all details ? Arrangements are now being made by the Auckland centre to ensure the success of the championship • meeting on March 21. In addition to 23 championship events, five handicaps will be decided, and entries are expected various parts of the province, and also from Gisborne. From inquiries made it is understood that the pencilling of the Domain for March 21, on behalf of the New Zealand j Council, was cancelled early last Thursday morning—tho day after"tho date had j been provisionally booked —that an official t of the Auckland centre was notified of this fact on Thursday, and that Mr. Amos was informed by telegram that day of the fact of the provincial championships being fixed for March 21. AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES. i ARRIVAL THIS EVENING. The major portion of the team of Australian athletes who are about to tour New Zealand will arrive in Auckland this evening from Sydney by the Maheno. They will be met on arrival by representatives of the Auckland Centre of tho Amateur Athletic Association. The visitors will leave for Wellington by the first available train.