ATHLETIC AND CYCLING UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18325, 16 August 1921, Page 8

ATHLETIC AND CYCLING UNION

OTAGO CENTRE MEETING. The annual meeting of the tltago Centre of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union (Incp.) was held in the Empire Buildings last night, Mr A. M. Wylie, in the absence of the president (Mr R. G. Varcoe), being voted to the chair. Mr Wylie, in returning thanks for his appointment as chairman of the meeting, said that the progress of athletics was gradually coming up to pre-war standard. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet the chairman said inter alia that the past season had been most satisfactory, the interest in sports meetings' having practically revived to that of prewar years. The standard of pedestrians had also greatly improved and the various societies holding sports meetings conducted them in a very creditable manner, with the result that the sport was kept clean, only one disqualification of a competitor being recorded. The competitor appealed to the Centre against his disqualification, but the executive was unanimous in dismissing the appeal. During the year 27 societies affiliated with the Centre and two permits were issued. Those figures show the same result os last year. The number of competitors showed a total increase of 99 for the year. The annual conference was held at Wellington on September 15, 1920, the centre being represented by Mr L). F. MTvay. The financial position of the centre was \ery satisfactory, the year commencing with a credit balance of £27 15s Hd. There was now a credit balance of £36 9s lOd, un increase of £8 13s lid as compared with last year. The executive desired to place on record its appreciation ot the good work done by the retiring secretary, Mr J. T. Gwynne, and regretted that on account of his leaving Dunedin, he was unable to oiler himself for reolection. The executive regretted that several societies were very dilatory in sending in their affiliation and registration tees with the /result that the annual meeting of the centre could not be held at its usual time, and had to he postponed to a later date. The executive therefore recommended that in future the rule ho strictly adhered to —viz., “That no club be granted affiliation unless the fees accompany the application.” The thanks of the centre were due to Messrs R. B. Meek, A. Pohvorth, A. M. Wylie. J. Matheson. and D. F. M’Kay, for attending country sports meetings on behalf of the centre at their own expense. The executive wished to extend its thanks to the various competitors for their loyal support, and trusted that the incoming season would be even more successful than the past.—The report and balance sheet was adopted. , The election of officers lor the ensuing year resulted as follows: —Patron, Mr J. Long (Dunedin); president, Mr A. M. Wyiie (Port Molyneux); senior vice-presi-dent, Mr A. Po.worth (Dunedin); junior vice-president, Mr K. B. Meek (Oamaru); hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr D. F. M'Kay; auditor, Mr G. Davidson (Dunedin) ; executive—Messrs A. A. Campbell (Dunedin), J. D. Forbes (Oamaru), J. Cunningham (Port Molyneux), J. Mathieson (Berwick), G. Gerrie (Oamaru), J. T. Ramsay (Kaitangata), T. Forrester (Ranfurly), W. Kenmck (Berwick), and T. W. King .(Dunedin). • • it was decided that the next annual meeting be hold before the end of August, 1922. The president, vice-president, and Mr A. A. Campbell were appointed to represent the Otago Centre at the annual conference of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union, which will be held in Dunedin on September 14. Mr A. M. Wylie moved, Mr A. Polworth seconded—“Tluit a sum of money be voted for the purpose of entertaining the delegates at the annual conference.”—The motion was carried, the amount to bo decided upon by the incoming executive. The secretary was instructed to write a letter of sympathy to Mrs H. George, of Berwick, in the death of her husband, a leading member of the Berwick Caledonian •Society.

Following the annual meeting an executive meeting was held, when Sir A. Polworth and the secretary were authorised lo sign cheques on behalf of the centre. Messrs A. Polworth, A. A. Campbell. J. T. Ramsay, W. Rcnnick, T. W. King, and the' secretary were appointed a sub-committee to go into the matter of entertaining the visiting delegates and to issue permits and attend to any urgent business. Votes of thanks were accorded to the chairman and the press.