ATHLETICS.

NZ Truth, Issue 72, 3 November 1906, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

(By Centre;)"

During the past" season no fewer than six new clubs came into existence m the Wellington district, viz., Port Nicholson, Hutt Valley, Y.M. C.A., Wanganui Civil Service, and Manawatu, which goes to prove the prosperous condition of amateur, athletics under the regime of the Wellington Centre at the present time. The multiplicity of clubs, however, Is not favourably entertained m certain quarters, it being argued thab the public is likely to be surfeited with sport of an inferior character. Competition is said to be the soul of trade, but with too many Riehmonds m the field there is always the chance of a retrogression in' the. quality of sport provided, especially m a city which boasts of only a population of 60,000.

The Wellington Centre has a great opinion of Mr J. E. Green, who took up the secretarial reins of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association what time, everything connected with its affairs was m a fearful state of muddle, a legacy bequeathed by his predecessor, East, whose unbusiii ess-like methods should have got him. the kick oyji long before he was told to quit. TVIr Green soon got iq graft, and ihatters were righted m much Quicker time than could reasonably have been expected m the circumstances. The Wellington Centre states m its' report that it has every confidence m Mr Green and expresses a hope that he will see his w c ay clear to accept a further term of office when the. annual meeting of the Council takes place shortly. It was d ;good thins for the Wellington Centre when the services of Mr Davies were enlisted as secretary.. He has filled the bill admirably, an-d eulogistic reference to his work was made by several delegates at the annual meeting last week. A small bonus was" voted to this energetic official, regret being expressed that the fund.? of the Union did not permit'of a larger sum being passed.

The WelH^S* 011 Amateur Athletic Club is feeling; a wee bit sore over the decision of the Centre to allot February 16th, to the Port Nicholson A. A. Club', as^tbe date for its annual sports' hieetine:. The younger club is accused of sharp dealing m connection with; the ■ application for this particular date. The W.A.AvC. members were <anxious to have a meeting sometime m February, and just prior to the colonial championship meeting m Christchurch, consequently they don't altogether relish the fact of having been dished m a way by the rival institution.

A strong effort was recently made by the Wellington Centre to' induce the various schools hi the Wellington district to co-operate with "the Centre m establishing an annual interschool championship meeting m the city, on lines similar to the South Canterbury public schools carnival , the .proposal being that the initial gatfoernwr should be held at .New Year's time. The headmasters of the various schools, were circularised on the subject, but the response was so poor that- the Centre thought it best, for this year at least, that the movement should; be, abandoned. In many insi>aiiees : . the-, school -officials did not have sufficient manners or breeding to forward a reply to the circular issued, while : others asserted that no ffopd .results were likely to accrue from! ijhis scheme; iff put into execution, for the reason that a great number of the children would be scattered all over the place at the festive season . and Teat difficulty would be experienced m bringdnc. them to.^ether. There was a manifest inclination on the part of the teachers as a body to throw cold water on the project, and the Centre was wise m not push-, ing the matter ahvJurther.-

In the annual report ot't-h. ■,-■.<." i ton Centre mention is made of the room that exists/for, more clubs m various parts of the -district govern-^ ed by that body. It recommended that; further /appeals be made with the object of creating VJubs . m such places as Napier, New Plymouth, Dannevirke, etc. The Centre, at its annual" meeting last week, decided to urge upon the Council of the N.Z. A. A. A. the desirableness of giving effect to the resolution passed by it last season, that a travelling representative be sent round the colony to further the interests of amateur athletics. The Centre had voted a sum of £10 towards the expenses of such representative, but the Council seems to have done nothing m the matter beyond approving of the project and thanking the Centre for its practical promise of support. It is up to, the,; Council to do its duty to the sport and justify its existence by adopting measures calculated to bring about a better state of affairs than' exist now m many parts of this Island. In the meantime, while the Council's representatives are standing still and sucking their thumbs, the cash body is getting to work with a will and< it will be only a question of time when the latter makes such substantial headway that our controlling body m Christcharch will be unable to bridge over the gap. The Council has a slashing opportunity for giving rein to its administrative functions, but past experience indicates that the Micawber-lifee policy of "sitting on the door mat waiting for something to turn up," finds the greater favor with the Christchurch Executive.