AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23016, 20 October 1936, Page 4

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

OTAGO CENTRE’S ANNUAL MEETING MR G. L. TAPLEY RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT The annual meeting of the Otago Centre of the' New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held last night. The president (Mr G. L. Tapley) presided over a large attendance of delegates representative of town and country clubs. CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS Reviewing the activities of the past season, Mr Tapley said that, the most noteworthy performance of the year was that of J. E. Lovelock, who succeeded in winning the 1500 Metres (event at the Olympic Games in Berlin in world record time. This performance was not only a magnificent effort in athletics, but had also done a great deal in bringing New Zealand to the fore to a greater degree. Members were now all looking forward to Mr Lovelock’s visit to New Zealand, when it was hoped he would be able to spare some of his valuable time in fostering the sport generally. “The next item which I would like to refer to and which was of such great importance to Otago,” Mr Tapley continued, “was the holding of the New Zealand field and track games in Dunedin and the winning not only of the New Zealand championship shield, but also the Queensland Memorial Shield and the Speight Cup. There have/ been many tributes paid to the management and control of this meeting, which, I think you will all agree, was held under conditions which were probably unprecedented in New Zealand, and which, I feel sure, was a definite step in the right direction in raising the standard and importance of this national gathering.” Referring to tht harrier season, Mr Tapley said that Mr Clark (chairman) and his assistants were deserving of congratulations for the successful season concluded. Although the Otago cross-coimtry team was not successful in winning the New Zealand Championship recently held at Auckland, they nevertheless put up an excellent Eerformance in gaining second place, eing beaten by a margin of only three points. It would appear that the most outstanding athlete in this branch of the sport was undoubtedly A. R. Geddes, who ran so successfully throughout the season. "In conclusion,” Mr Tapley said, “1 would just like to add a few words in connection with the future. As the track and field season has now commenced I would like to make a special appeal to all members of the Otago Centre and athletes alike to do their utmost in carrying out the high standard which was attained at the closing meeting of the season—the New Zealand field and track games. The regulations introduced during the season dealt mainly with punctuality for both officials and athletes, athletes’ dress and the general efficient running of all meetings. It was decisively proved at the national games that the carrying out of these strict rules was a big factor in the highly efficient way in which the meeting was conducted; and it would be a grave mistake if this standard were allowed to weaken in the future.” Mr Tapley then moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet. ADOPTION OF REPORT

Seconding the motion,. Mr C. WClark referred to the success of the past season, but mentioned the necessity of the centre making its evening meetings pay. He said that the winter season had not been quite so successful as in'previous years, but this was probably due to the staging of so many important Rugby matches in Dunedin during the season. He congratulated Mr Brydone on his excellent report and referred to the valuable services of t Mr J. L. Gerken as harrier secretary during the winter, Mr E. C. Isaacs,: speaking to the report, congratulated Mr Tapley on the way he had filled the position of president. stating that the success of the past season was largely due to his un- • tiring efforts. He also referred to Mr Clark’s work as chairman of the Harrier Sub-committee, and Mr Brydone’s services as secretary. The report and balance sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The following office-bearers were elected:—Patron, Mr W. B. Taverner; president, Mr G. L. Tapley; vice-presi-dents—Messrs C. W. Clark, E. C. Isaacs, and R. Thompson; secretary, Mr J. G. Barnes; treasurer, Mr W. H. Masters: sports secretary, Mr J. Shephard; auditor, Mr A. C. Melville; starter, Mr H. J. C. M'Kenzie; assistant starter, Mr R. Thompson; clock starter, ' Mr T. P. Williamson: surveyor, Mr F. J. Williams; time-keepers —Messrs T. P. Williamson chief time-keeper), W. E. Matthews. J. B. Nelson, C. A. Lucas, sen., and A. J. Holloway; track handicapper, Mr B. R. M’Kernan; field handicappers, Messrs H. D. Morgan and W. J. Bennett; record clerk and radio steward, Mr L. R. M’Millan; sub-local officers—Messrs R. J. Smith Invercargill), G. H. Mitchell (Balclutha), V. Walker (Milton), F. Perkins, H. Hesson, J. H. George (Central Otago), and R. E. Dimick (Oamaru); trustees of trophies—Messrs C. W. Clark, W. H. Masters, and J. Shephard; delegates to New Zealand Council, Sir Charles StEftham, M.L.C., and Mr F. M. Reid; Sports Committee—Messrs Tapley (chairman), Clark, Isaacs, Thompson, M’Kernan, Masters, Barnes, Brydone, J. L. Gerken. Shephard, and J. W. Holley: Harrier Committee—Messrs Clark (chairman), Thompson, J. A. Bond, M’Kernan, C. K. Heaton. Barnes, Shephard, Gerken, and C. A. Pope: Finance Committee—Messrs Tapley (chairman), Clark, Isaacs, M’Kernan, Shephard, Barnes.. Masters. Brydone. and Thompson. INCREASED CAPITATION FEES Moving his notice of motion that capitation fees be increased to 3s, reducible to 2s in the case of country clubs, Mr Masters said that the work of the centre was always hampered by lack of finance, and this was one way of obtaining money for the benefit of athletics in general. Last year capitation fees brought in only £l2. but with this new scale the centre would gain over £36. which would pay the travelling expenses of one Otago championship team a year. Mr Isaacs suggested that Is of the capitation fee be put aside solely for the purpose of paying the travelling expenses of the Otago championship teams, and the motion was altered to include this provision. Mr K. Miller moved as an i amendment that Is 6q of the fees be earmarked both for the travelling expenses of Otago championship teams

and in paying the cost of athletes travelling to country meetings. This, he said, would assist the country clubs which were not getting the benefit o? the centre’s equipment in Dunedin.' Mr L. W. Woods, speaking against the motion, said that the raising of the capitation fees would reduce the number of athletes competing, and he suggested that it would be better for the centre to reduce - its trophies, which he termed as inducements to get athletes to turn out.

Mr Brydone stressed the necessity of the centre securing more, financial support from clubs. There were two courses open to the centre —either for the capitation fees to be increased or the trophies to be reduced. He would prefer the latter course, as it had always been his hope to sec athletes running without trophies being awarded. Mr Gerken, on behalf of the Civil Service Club members, said that they were willing to compete without trophies. ~ After a lengthy discussion Mr Miller’s amendment was carried on a show of hands by a small majority. Mr Brydone gave notice of motion that -at a special general meeting of the centre he would move that the motion be rescinded.

PRESENTATION TO MR BRYDONE The chairman referred to the retirement of Mr Brydone from the position of secretary of the centre, a position which he had held with outstanding ability from April 19, 1933, to September 15, 1936. The centre had decided to present Mr Brydone with an illuminated address in recognition of his services. Presenting the address to Mr Brydone, Mr Tapley conveyed to him the best wishes of the centre for the future. The address expressed appreciation of the service and time given so ungrudgingly by Mr Brydone during his term of office—a term which included the appearances in Dunedin of Australian athletes, and a British and Finnish team, and the staging of the New Zealand Crosscountry Championships and the New Zealand Track and Field Championships. In the success of all these fixtures Mr Brydone was no small factor, his organising ability, attention to detail and unfailing tact being greatly appreciated by members of the centre and runners alike. Although he was resigning from the position of secretary, it was hoped that his experience would still be available to the sport and that his interest In amateur athletics would long continue. Mr Brydone made a suitable acknowledgment of the gift. GENERAL Mr Shepherd moved that the centre endorse the proposed scheme of the Sports Protection Association and that all clubs affiliated to the centre be recommended to enrol as members of the association and that the annual subscription of 4s per club be levied and paid with affiliation fees.—The motion was seconded by Mr Clark and carried after a brief discussion. It was decided that a letter of appreciation be sent to Mr Melville in recognition of his services as auditor over a long period of years. MONTHLY MEETING

Preceding the annual meeting, the centre held its monthly meeting, the president (Mr Tapley) occupying the chair. , The secretary of the New Zealand Council wrote stating that the council for some time past had been investigating the question of securing a team of Japanese athletes to tour the Dominion during the coming season. The Japanese Association had been communicated with, and the present proposal was to invite two athletes, a jumper and a middle-distance runner being suggested. The council’s subcommittee proposed that the team should have at least a week in each town visited to. enable the visitors to strike form and to give local athletes a better chance of learning something from the visitors. If this proposal were adopted it would mean that, if the team could spend only four weeks in New Zealand, only the four main centres could be visited, but if the team stayed longer other centres would be included in the itinerary. It was suggested that the team arrive in January next. —Members , expressed approval of the proposals, and the sub-committee’s actions were confirmed.

The secretary of the Harrier Subcommittee of the Wellington, Centre wrote stating that it had been found impracticable to alter the date of its Marathon from Labour Day, and the event would therefore be held on that date in conjunction with the Labour Day sports conducted at Newtown. Park. Entries would close to-mor-row, and the course would be practically the same as the previous year. —Received.

The secretary of the New Zealand Council advised that arrangements had been made for talks on athletic training to be broadcast from 2YA Wellington at 7.40 p.m. on November 6 and December 4.—Received. The Sports Committee was instructed to draw up the programmes for a number of evening meetings, and also to appoint officials for the secondary schools’ championship meeting to be held on November 7.