NEW ZEALAND ATHLETIC AND CYCLING UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18351, 15 September 1921, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND ATHLETIC AND CYCLING UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union was held in Dunedin yesterday morning. The following delegates were present: —Messrs J. Kennedy, president (Gei-aldine); A. E. Davy (Poverty Bay), A. A. George (Hawke's Bay), M. J. Edwards (Poverty Bay), A. J. Curry (Blenheim), I>. F. M'Kay (Uuncdin), A. M. "YVylie, K. B. Meek, A. A. Cumpboll (Otago), C. E. Church (Gisborne), P. C. Lucas (North Canterbury), H. A. Nuttall (Taranaki), and H. H. Eraser, secretory (Timaru). The chairman said that Southland had 16 clubs in its centre, Otago 26 clubs, South Canterbury 11 clubs, North Canterbury eight clubs, West Coast - five clubs, Marlborough and Nelson eight clubs, Fielding six clubs, Raotihi seven clubs, Taranaki 18 clubs, Poverty Bay 16 clubs, Hawke's Bay six CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. The president, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, welcomed the delegates. Since the last meeting in Wellington the executive had done a fair amount of business, ine annual meeting was usually held in January, but had been held earlier this year because sport during the war had been dragging ,axid it was hoped .to put everything in proper trim for the incoming season. There was every indication they were going to have a prosperous time ahead, especially in regard to athletics. At the last conference Mr Davy had been appointed to go into matters in the North Island, and he had visited various districts and ably carried out his duties. As a result it was hoped that within a reasonable space of time the union would be controlling the whole of New Zealand, not in a piecemeal Svay as in the past. The various centres had been working loyally with the centre. The whole of the centres in the South Island were financial, and also those that were in operation in the North Island. This spoke well for the spirit and enthusiasm of the clubs that formed the centres. It was a long time since all centres had been financial and carried out their functions as laid down in the rules. Ho congratulated the various centres on their good work, and the fine reports handed in. The finances of .the union were in a fairly buoyant position. They did not set themselves out to store up finance, but were satisfied to get sufficient money to carry on and be able to give a little assistance to worthy objects in sport. Since the axemen had come in with them it would be a decided advantage, as clubs would have to pay only one fee for cycling, athletic, and wood-chopping events. The finances showed a credit of £6B 16s 6d, but since the balance sheet was closed £35 5s 6d had been recoived. comprising £4 12s 6d from the West Coast, £lO 12s 6d from South Canterbury, and £23 Is 6d from Poverty Bay. This gave them a credit, of £142 12s, and their liabilities were nil. (Applause.) With regard to reciprocal arrangements the union was in touch with the parent cycling body in Australia. As far as the control of sports meetings was concerned there had been very little friction during the year. The executive would deal with the case of two men from Taranaki. The men concerned would be given every opportunity to make an explanation. The question of resuming the big cycling races, such as the Timarn-Christchurch race, and the- round-the-mountain race (around Mount Egmont), which were held annnally before the war, had been considered, and it was hoped that this season both of those . races would be resumed. As he was retiring from the presidency after 10 years' occupancy of the office, he would like to give a brief resume of the history of. the union. It was inaugurated at Wellington in 1905 at a meeting at which there were eight representatives from different parts of New Zealand. They had carried on under adverse circumstances in many cases, and to-day were in the proud position of having a large control of sport throughout New Zealand. It was pretty certain that within reasonable time their control would lie general. He could safely say that there was no such other body in the world as theirs with such rood rules or which conducted sport, in the way they did. (Applause.) The motion was seconded by Mr Davy and carried. SHEFFIELD HANDICAPS.

The first remit stood in the name of the Otago Centre. It was moved by Mr Campbell. He said that, as there was no uniform rules for the running of Sheffield Handicaps, he thought it would be advisable to have rules put on their books. As a matter of fact, however, the rule was more or less observed in the running of these handicaps. The remit stipulated, inter alia, that the distance of Sheffield Handicaps should be 135 yards, that the race should be run ,in heats containing not more than five starters nor less than three, that if a man broke twice he should be disqualified, .after being penalised one yard for each breakaway, that the limit' should not exceed 14yda, allowing that the scratch mail might be started off three yards, thus allowing for penalties that might be incurred. Mr Davy seconded the motion. He said that the Otago Centre should be congratulated for bringing forward remit. Mr Fraser said he did not consider that the remit should go on their rule books. Ho thought it should be more in the nature of a recommendation to clubs. Some of the clubs might not be able to run a 135yds course. Mr M’Kay said that the remit was the English rule. He did not see that any hardship which would be put on a club. Mr Davy said that the remit did not compel any club to run a Sheffield Handicap. The distance could be made shorter, and the race given another name. He did not think, however, that they should stick to a hard-and-fast limit. This would be interfering with a handicapper’s duties. After discussion the remit was adopted as a rule, with an amendment that the limit of start should be deleted, and that the number of starters in a heat should bo increased to six. The Chairman explained that the race would be a special one. and the penalies as regards breaking would not conflict witlj those'provided under the existing rules. SPECIAL PRIZES AND MEDALS.

Mr Meek moved the second remit; which also stood in the namo of the Otago Centre. The remit read: —"That in the case of special prizes and medals given for most points in athletic events, and where two or more competitors tic, the prize shall be given to the competitor who is handicapped nearest to the scratch mark, preference to be given as follows: —Running (longest distance), cycling (longest distance); jumping in the following order—high, long, hop-step-and-jump; field events—wrestling, ball, hammer, and caber. The following eventsMaiden, District Race, Returned Soldiers' Races, Consolation or Forced Handicap, Tug-of-War, and axemen's events, or any event not under the jurisdiction of the t:nion—not to bo included in point prizes. Points to count: Ist, 3 points; 2nd, 2 points; 3rd, 1 point. Mr Edwards seconded the motion, which was carried. WOOD CHOPPING. Mr Edwards moved—" That a block must be chopped off clean with axe; any competitor pushing block off with his hands will be i disqualified." The mover said he would "like a definite ruling regarding this remit. At Gisborne, at the world's championship chop, a man had got down from his block, but it did, not break, and he had pushed it through with his hands. They had searched the rules, but they could not' find any ruling on this point. He thought that a sub-committee should be set up to revise the existing rules. Mr M'Kay seconded the motion. He thought the matter of framing new rulos could be left to the incoming executive. Mr M'Kay explained that they could not associate the sub-committee with the Axemen's Association, as the association was now defunct. Mr Wylio agreed that a block should be cut clean through. ■ Mr Nuttall said that axemen's rules had been in existence since 1901 or 1902, and they never had any trouble with them. Ho'had never scon such an occurrence "3 had! been relr.tec* by Mr Edwards. He held that a man lost more time by pushing a block v.ii/h his hand than ho would by' chopping on. Immediately a man, under the old rule 20. stopped chopping ho was supposed to have finished, and if the block did not break then the competitor wis out of court The Chairman said that tho Axemen's Association had given over its control to the New Zealand Athletic and _ CycVng Union. He suggested that the incoming executive should appoint a sub-committee to revise the rides. Mr Davy held that the rules regarding chopping shouM be made perfectly clear. He considered that a man could break a Work quicker with his hands than with a chop. Mr Edwards said that with the experience they already had thoy should be able to revise the rules thoroughly. It was decided that the rules be revised. and that it be a recommendation to the incoming executive to set un a small committee to carry out the work.