AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18950, 23 February 1925, Page 12

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

CENTRE AND DELEGATE. EXPLANATION BY MR. AMOS. An explanation of his action in arranging to have a date booked for the appearance at the Domain of the Australian athletes other than through the Auckland Centre has been made by Mr. H. Amos, vice-president of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, and an Auckland delegate on the council. The local centre, at a recent meeting, decided to ask Mr. Amos for an explanation, whether he considered his action was "playing the game" with the centre, and if it were not a fact that ho was fully aware of the proposed holding of the Auckland championships on March 21, In his reply, Mr. Amos states that recently at Auckland he interviewed the secretary of the centre, Mr. W. Morton, in regard to a visit by the Australian athletic team, and was informed that it was impossible to obtain the guarantee or the cise of the Domain for the meeting. From tii? reply to a question, he understood quite definitely that if he wero successful in obtaining both the guarantee aud the use of the Domain the Auckland Centre would favourably consider conducting the meeting. Later he met Mr. Morton, Mr. Tilly, and other members of the local executive, and when ho said that the guarantee had been arranged, he was informed without undue circumlocution that Auckland was able to run its own affairs and was not in need of assistance or anxious for interference from "outsiders." This answer surprised him, since he hardly considered himself an "outsider " while representing the centre 0". tho council. His aim waa to assist in /rnie practical way the revival of interest in Auckland amateur athleticsContinuing, Mr. Amos says than on returning to Wellington, he ascertained that the council desired if possible to arrange a visit of the Australian team on March 21. Remembering Mr. Morton's statement that lie could not secure the Domain on March 21 he wired to Mr. H. Frost to use his influence to set the ground for March 21 if possible. When that had been decided he would have informed the council of the position, and the council's executive officer would th,sn have communicated officially with the Auckland Centre. Ho acted in what he considered the best interest of sport in Auckland, and never for 'a moment imagined that his action would have been resented. At the time he had no knowledge of the proposed holding of the Auckland championships on March 21, or of any definite fixture for the provincial championships.