AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20905, 20 December 1929, Page 4

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

MEETING OF OTAGO CENTRE. Mr P. W, Breen occupied the chair at the monthly meeting of the Otago Centre of -the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association in the absence of the president (Mr E. LI Macassey). The Tokomairiro Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club advised that it had been decided to hold its annual ■ athletic meeting on February IS, if this date were- approved by the centre.— Date approved. Several applications for reinstatement were referred to the Reinstatement Committee to consider and forward to the New Zealand Council, if in order. An application for' affiliation of the Palmerston-Waihemo Amateur' Athletic and Cycling Club was considered, and it was decided to forward it to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association with a favourable recommendation as soon as the rules and list of members came to hand. The • secretary reported that the Otago Cricket Association was seeking the support of the centre for its sports meeting at Forbury Park on March 15, The Cricket Association asked the centre to fix four events for the afternoon and three for the evening.—lt was decided to give the association every possible assistance, the selection of events being left to the Sports Committee. A suggestion by Mr Walmsley that the centre should institute a decathlon championship was referred to the Sports Committee. Several members paid tribute to the splendid work of Mr R, O. Johnson in the encouragement of field athletics in Otago, and the opinion was expressed tha,t the, present high standard was largely due to his efforts. The secretary of the New Zealand Council- wrote stating that the control of cycling had been considered in view of the result of meetings held by cycling clubs during the last few weeks, and the centre was requested to call a meeting of all registered cyclists to obtain from them concrete proposals for the further control of cycling,—Mr J. A. Johnston said that the Otago Amateur Cycling Club had held n meeting, at which the cyclists had expressed every satisfaction with the present control of the sport in Otago.—Mr G. Walmslev said a similar feeling existed in the Pacific Club.—lt was decided to advise the New Zealand Council pf the views expressed by the two local cycling clubs! lu reply to the centre’s letter asking how the Otautau ■ Athletic Society had been gi anted permission to stage amateur events, the secretary of the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club wrote stating that it had been the custom of varioils sports societies in Southland for some years to include on their programme amateur events, the retaining of these being dependent upon the support accorded hy _ amateur runners. The Otautau Society had approached the Invercargill Club for permission to stage two amateur events on its programme, of the fact that a permit fee was -necessary.—Mr Breen said that the rules would have to he carried out, and they provided for the payment of a permit lee. He did not think societies would object to paying the small amount of the permit fee, especially when such good Bporfc was provided bv the amateurs —The secretary was instructed to write explaining the position to the Invercargill Club, and pointing out that the permit fees would have to be paid, and application made for the inclusion of amateur l .events on professional programmes* 1 The secretary of the New Zealand Council advised that advice had been receivcd British Empire games U hC .. d fr °“ -Migust 1G to August Zealand Amateur Athletic Association receiving an invilotion to be represented. Final xm- I sideration of the proposal had been dcferred until after, the present season, but jii-the mant-imo the council desired to obtain the views of all centres on the matter.—lt was decided that the centre had no recommendation to make. Mr Bastings moved that no ontiv fees be-charged and no prizes given in‘relay races with the exception of the Barton Cup for most points during the season, j this scheme to be rcstrospoctive. Ho 1 thought more clubs would compete.under those conditions.—The motion was de- ‘ touted, and Air Bastings gave notice of : motion that no entry fee be charged in relay events, but that the centre should provide trophies for, such races. 1