ATHLETIC CONFERENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10960, 28 December 1911, Page 3

ATHLETIC CONFERENCE.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington. December 27. The annual meeting of the Board,..cf Control of the Amateur Athletic tmois of Australasia was continued to-day, Mr !R. Coombes presiding. The balancesheet showed! a credit of £lO 18s 3d. The consideration of the Olympic definition : of an. amateur was referred to the different .affiliated' associations, whose-report-will be forwarded to the executive. Mi- Parkinson (Victoria) said that thefAustralasian rules included the following^:—"The teaching of athletic exercises in schools is not professional provided it includes scholastic exercises."- VThe Olympic definition was considerably different to that, and with the new-duties imposed upon schoolmasters'in the colonies it would practically classify them as professionals. The President reported upon the proposed alliance of Australasia with the English Amateur Athletic Association, and the Canadian Amateur Athletic Union.

The Board of Control, said the President, had accepted the • principle of alliance with other parts of the British Empire, and an alliance was already \n existence between Australia and Canada; "So far as South Africa was concerned the position remained exactly as in 1909. At the Brisbane Conference South Africa could not enter into an alliance because they, were affiliated with the English Amateur Association. Though they were agreeable to such an alliance the English Amateur Athletic Association were unable to combine with Australasia, and Canada, because their constitution would not allow it. Australia, however, was still hammering ai the door for a workable scheme, and the .question was under consideration at Home. A speech of tho President's at the dinner of the Olympic competitors and others at Home where he had spoken strongly upon the suggestion and urged a united Empire front (with equality for all parts) at the world's championships, had been enthusiastically and sympathetically received, and there seemed to be a desire for the alliance at the conference at Home. Canada had been deputed to submit a scheme, and a sub-committee would be set up in England to consider that. Mr CoomTbes said that the following points for consideration had been drawn up by Mr Meurick (Canada) and himself: —(1) An amateur definition common to the Empire; (2) uniform track and field rules and regulations; (3) alliance and closer unity between the English Amateur Athletic Association and the unions of Canada, and Australasia; (4) the Olympic Games at Stockholm and Empire representation thereat; (5) a few hints and suggestions on track and field management, and systematic coaching and training; (6) co-operating plans to regulate the "tripper athlete in international contests; (7) tho use of club and national devices and colors' at meetings. With regard to the interchange of athletic visits, Messrs Parkinson, Pollock, and Marryatt rcfered enthusiastically to the good work accomplished by thePieident in the direction indicated while at Home. It was re-

solved that the conference, approve what had been done, and request those who had the matter in hand to continue their negotiations and submit them to the members of the Union for their final consideration and approval. Mr E. S. Marks (Secretary to the Union) was appointed to represent Australasia at the conference at Sweden in connection with the Swedish international games next year. The question of amateur status was considered. The present Australasian definition includes the following: —"Amateurs shall not lose their status by competing with or against professionals in any game for which no money prize is offered." It was proposed by the Australasian executive for the Board's consideration that the following be added to it:-—"Provided', however, that hi. all competitions for trophies the game or games held must be under the control of an association or club having recognised amateur definitions for its amateur members, together with a code of penalties for any infringement thereof." The idea of the' President was to bring Australasia into line with England and other parts of the Empire. The Northern Rule football players (except in Queensland) in Australia were required to forfeit their status .without exception, because the Northern game was played- under professional rules in 'The amateur, status of players of the Northern game was not interfered with, because players were not paid; for their services. It was a very difficult question to deal with, the President said, and the executive suggested that tlie above proviso, which practically widened the status, would meet a rather complicated situation. It suggested, in effect, that the Northern League control should allow among its players those who come under an amateur- definition. This would virtually be permitting a practice that obtained in the Association football .ranks at Home. Mr Marryatt (New Zealand) said his association regarded the position practically in the light that Queensland did.. For that reason, before any "exceptions" as suggested were agreed to, he felt that all the New Zealand associations should be consulted. He moved in this direction, and the motion was carried—the question to be treated' as one of urgency. The Executive proposed—-"That with a view of bringing the reinstatement rules of the union into line with unions in other parts of the world, it is desirable that the rule bo so altered as to read 'no ■person who has at any time been a member of an amateur athletic club (school clubs not included), and has competed in any amateur event and has knowingly and wilfully forfeited his i amateur status after such event, shall be eligible for reinstatement." Mr Marryatt (New Zealand) moved that the recommendation be forwarded to the affiliated associations for their consideration. He said that with the scattered population of this country and the desire of the amateur body to promote sport it would me ftal in somo districtsif men who, because they had taken part in a professional meeting where no amateur sports were held, were to be barred l absolutely from all future participation in amateur .gaherings. It was as well thai there should still remain a discretionary power in the hands of the governing bodies. . The- Queensland and New South Wales delegates spoke on similar lines. The motion was then withdrawn by consent as an indication that the time had not yet arrived for "the alteration suggested. The reinstatement of Arthur Charles Williams (Masterton) was agreed to. Wellington," December 28.

At the hnal meeting of the Board of Control of .the Australasian Amateur Athletic Union it was resolved that the Associations be recommended to consider their duty to sport in the changed circumstances likely to be brought about by compulsory military service.