N.Z. ATHLETIC UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14800, 6 April 1910, Page 5

N.Z. ATHLETIC UNION.

' MEETING OF OTAGO CENTRE., .. • A mooting of the Ocago Ccntr-s- of tho Now Zealand' Athletic Union was held in Mi D. M'hjiy's rooms, J etiy street; last availing.. Air C...E. Keast.' presided, and there wove about halt a dozen btlior'membsrs present. .'.

..Li.. C. MXachlan ..wrote..asking that his application- for 'removal of'disqualification be, forwarded to the N.Z.A.U., and- that its attention-be drawn to the fttet-that-any disqualification {rated.'from tho" period iie v competed under file Auckland Athletic Club management (unregistered), about June, l ( Jo7,'a'ud not, as erroneously stated in the olfioial calendar of the N.Z.A.U., for competing at the . Southland Caledonian. Society's sports' at Now"" Year, 1909.—The Chairman said that he had placed this letter before the N.JS.A'.U. Confoiuncc, just held on the West Coast,' and bad pointed but tho desirability of complying with the request. It. had--been agreed-by the conference to remove the. "disqualification at .the .'end of the present season. • ..-.'.. ■;.- ..

A resume of the business transacted at, the conference was given to tho meetingby Mr Keast/who, along with Mr A. Eonwick,"- represented tho ..Otago Centre. Several of the ; Otagb- remits, he'stated,' had been carried, and several thrown out.Amorig tho various''remits adopted was one from theHawke's Bay Centre, which aimed at tho - disqualification of runners who connived, at '• ringing-in," .as well as tho actual offender himself; ' In regard to Uio Otago remit concerning rules for tho governing of Sheffield events, it was left to the excutive to draw up regulations ■on tho lines of the suggestions contained in the remit which'the'local centre Tho conference agreed by a "very largo, majority to take over the' control of oycling. In considering - the . remit from Otago to the effect that at -meetings where post entries aro received, competitors should bo refunded the money paid by them for admission :to the grounds, tho conference thought it advisable to leave trio question to the wisdom ■of the societies so' situated, it being deemed hardly necessary to establish a rule on the point. It was considered by tho conference that it was the correct, thing that scratch men should bo penalised in tho samo manner as -other competitors for '" breaking." It'-, was "decided .that .'it bo left in the hands of tho executive body to bring forward some scheme whoroby centres may bo apprised of performances registered-- by competitors at country meetings; It was also decided to fix N.Z.A.U. standards for tho' different events. The conference approved of tho suggestion that societies should, be induced to insure competitors against accident. The majority of the delegates present, Mr Koast stated, favoured the introduction of trophies, but he had spoken strongly against it, maintaining that it opened the way to what he might term roguery, inasmuch as a competitor who thought more of money than a trophy could make advances to another competitor, who as anxious to secure a trophy, to run "dead" for a consideration. The conferojice.nfter taking this aspect of the question into consideration, decided that it was in the best interests of sport that championship trophies should not bo offered. Mr Kcasfc concluded with somo- words of .praise for tho manner in which tho championship sports were run, referring specially to tho energies and enthusiasm of'Mr Perkins, secretary-of the West Coast Centre, and _ handicappor for the meeting. The quality of tho sport displayed, he said, would bo difficult to improve'upon. Mr. D. Duncan reported having visited gatherings held at Cromwell and Clyde, where,. lie stated, the promoters were keen sportsmen, and ardent supporters of tho centre.

A hearty vo,to of thanks was accorded to Mr Duncan (or representing tho centra at the Cromwell and Clyde gatherings, ak> to air-Brady for his attendance at tho Bwoskm aporte. It was decided that tho Otago Centro procure some token- to be forwarded to Mrs Woods, as a mark of esteem-of the services rendered to tho N.Z.A.TJ. by Mr 0. W. Woods, cx-prcsident. A request was received from A. 8 Duncan, Tapanui, for a ccrtificnto for strathspeys and reels won bv him under the N.Z.A.U.-It was decided that tho secretary of the N.Z.A.U, bo written to anil reminded of the fact Accounts amounting to £11 17s lid wore paswd for payment. Tho bank book showed a credit balance of £76 18s Bd,