PEDESTRIANISM

NZ Truth, Issue 94, 6 April 1907, Page 3

PEDESTRIANISM

(AMATEUR.)

(By Centre.)

We are told that the Otago Centre, otherwise Mr. Marryatt, intends to take, up a very firm stand on the question of amateur bodies being allowed to place professional races on its programmes and professional bodies having the opportunity of putting amateur events on their programmes, and no such mixing of the two sports will be allowed m the sister province. I don't suppose anybody, outside of Mr. Marryatt and his friends cares a dump what the Otago Centre does on this reciprocity question. It will not affect the question m the shghtest m other provinces, the officials controlling tke sport having too much " gumption " to fall m line with the narrow-minded views of a few humbugs m the Sabbyterian City. It will be a bad day for the Colony if ever Marryatt and his friends get the upper hand m the administration of amateur athletic sport. / The date of the next Australasian championship rrieeting is now announced by the Tasmanian Amateur Athletic Association, which has selected November 9th and llth for the fixture. This is far too early m the season for New Zealanders, who, with the exception of the Otago Harriers, rarely commence training until well on m October, and aro consequently not m fit condition to do themselves justice m an inter-State competition. The wide divergence between .the climates pf Australia and New Zealand adds further weight to the unequal pressure which the Australasian Union exercises upon New Zealand, for it is only once m fourteen years that we can conduct an Australasian, championship meeting at a. suitable season of the year.