AMATEUR ATHLETIC PROTECTION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1934, 19 March 1891, Page 26

AMATEUR ATHLETIC PROTECTION SOCIETY.

A meeting of secretaries of athletic clubs was held in the City Hotel on Monday night, for the purpose of considering the advisability of form

Sing an amateur athletic protection society. Mr J. H. Chapman occupied the chair, and representatives from the. following were present :— Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club, Dunedin Cycling Club, Dunedin Football Club, Otago Rowing Club, Albion Cricket Club, Pacific Football Club, Union Football Club, Pirates Football Club, Caveraham Football Clab, Warehousemen Cricket Club, Warehousemen Football Club, Ravensbourne Football Club, and Edendale Cricket Club. The Ohaikman said that some gentlemen within the last week requested him to call a meeting with the object of forming an Amateur Athletic Protection Society. He thought it was to be regretted that among athletes it Bhould be necessary to take such a step, but no doubt some players were in the habit of going the rounds of a number of clubs without paying the subscriptions. He though it was hardly desirable that this should be, and it was a praotice which should be put a stop to. Hia idea was that they should form an assoaiation which should include all the clubs of the Otago districts. He presumed that the first step of the association would be to elect a secretary, whose duty it would be to give each of the clubs notice of any player leaving without paying his subscription, and then the clubs would bar that player from playing with them or against them. Of course, the thing would be of no uae if that step was not taken. He had heard of a player who played for different clubs for three years and had not paid subscriptions to any. It used to be said that, in the olden times, there was a good deal more honour among athletes than there was at present, but how •much truth was in that statement he did not know. He regretted that there any necessity to form a society of this nature. If they could induce men to have a sufficient amount of honour not to leave their club 3 without paying their subscriptions it would be much better. There were 15 clubs represented at the meeting, and apologies were received from the secretaries of the Pirates and Union Football Clubs, both of whom stated that the object of the meeting had the hearty approval of their respective clubs, gome three years ago, when he was secretary of the Union Club, he had proposed a rule that they should positively refuse to play with any club who admitted a player from their (the Union) club without paying them his subscription. The rule was adopted, and they enforced it in one instance. They also took occasion to bar a player who left another olub, and tried to join the Union Club, without having paid his subscription to the one he left. Mr T. Kbeb (Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club) asked what clubs had made complaints in regard to the matter before the meeting. The Chairman replied that the clubs were chiefly football clubs who had complained to him on this matter. He thought, however, it was advisable to get every athletic organisation into the proposed society if he could. Mr Kbeb said he would like to just make a few remarks. He had merely attended the meeting out of courtesy to the invitation of the chairman, the meeting having been called at such short notice that it allowed him no time to consult his committee. He had as yet no experience of defaulters, the present being hia first term of office, but personally he hardly approved of the object of the meeting. He understood that if such a society was formed, all the clubs connected with it would be required to pay a subscription. The Chaibman: Well, yes. Some sort of subscription will have to be paid to find the ways and means to issue notices, &o. Mr Kbeb: Could we not at this meeting to-night get every club to insert a rule in their bye-laws, like the one passed by the Alhambra Club? The Chaibman : Yes. That rule was taken from the rules of the Union Club. Mr Kbbb: Well, would not that serve our purpose? The Chaibman: Yes; if it was adopted all round. Mr R. Mabtin (Dunedin Football Club) thought that Mr Chapman had stated pretty correctly what the object of the meeting was. He did not think it admitted of very much argument, because it hardly admitted of argument against it. Mr Kerr made some remarks about introducing a bye law in the rules of every club, and if such a thing were done it would be all right. A lot of clubs did not know that the Union and Alhambra Clubs had this rule, but if they could draw the attention of each olub to the rule nothing more need be dbne. There was an association like the one proposed in Christchurch, and if a man left Dunedin for Christchuroh or Wellington without paying his subscription, they could send on word and get him debarred from playing in those cities. Mr Shblton (Albion Cricket Club) would bring before the notice of the meeting the fact that there were already a great number of associations in the city. He agreed with former speakers when they said something should be done in the way of putting a stop to members leaving their clubs and joining another without paying their subscriptions. He had a good deal of experience as secretary, and must confess that the manner in which several players did not perform their duty in regard to the finances of the olub was certainly very derogatory to sport, and something or other was required to be done to make players contribute to the resources of their clubs. At the same time, he did not think it wise to start another association. He rather took the view that they should form for the time being — say, for a year— a vigilanoe committee, whose duties it should be to actively help clubs who had members faulty regarding their finances. Let the committee remain in existence for a year and then dissolve, and by that time some rule for each club would be brought into action. To establish an association would be for the meeting to take upon itself a certain amount of responsibility. He would state openly, and unhesitatingly, that some clubs found it necessary to allow players to play free for a whole year because other clubs were ready to take them at their (the players') own price. He mentioned no names, and therefore there was no disgrace to be attached to any individual. The Chaieman said he had all along contended it would be more desirable to get individual clubs to act in this matter. Three years ago it was thought to include a rule in the Rugby Union rules to the effeofc abovementioned, but he had opposed it. There was, however, a pretty general feeling abroad that some clubs attracted playing members by not demanding subscriptions from them. Mr Kebb said that he would not like to see the meeting disperse without something definite being done. As far as his club and the Ofcago Rowing Club were concerned, the matter did not affect them, bab looking at ife from a broad view, he would move a motion to the following effect : — " That this meeting adjourn until Saturday, 4th proximo, and eßcb representative present undertake to consult his club committee in the meanwhile on the desirability of formulating tho following rule : — * If any player leave the club without having paid his subscription and join another club, the hon. secretary shall inform that club by letter of such default, and request them to secure payment of the subscription. In the event of Bucb. play«r, while a defaalter, being played by that club in any matches after receiving such uotico,

all fixtures with such club shall be cancelled, and no further engagement entered into until such subscription is paid.' " Mr Shelton seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously, and a vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.