NEW ZEALAND CYCLISTS' ALLIANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 37

NEW Z EALAND CYCLISTS' ALLIANCE.

The fifteenth annual meeting of the New Zealand Cyclist-,' Alliance was held at Christchurch on the 14th irisn. at the City Hotel. Present — Messrs M. H. JBroHti, Welli»gton (in the chair); J. C. Caaack, "Wanderers (hon. sec); W. E. Mills, Auckland (hon, traas ) ; W J. S. Hay ward and H. Thompson, P.B C. ; T. Kerr and I. M'Kechnie, D.0.0. ; R. T. Lee». A»hburton C.C. ; D. Sutherland and F. Denby, Invercargill ; F. E.. Dumford, 0.C.(J. ; B. I. Gully, Ndion ; G. E. Good, Napier Wanderers ; K. J6\ Kngland, Vincent ; J. Martin, Waimate ; T. E. Chisnall, Wanganui; 11. R. Martin, North Canterbury ;A. E. Whit«, Timaru Tonri«ts ; K. 11. punsford, Gore ; J. C. Gusack, Roxburgh, Apologies were received for th« absence ot Messrs J. H. Parker and T. Hunter.

The r»port of th» committee states that five new clubs have joined during tha year, bringing tho number of affiliated clubi up to 31. Reference is made to the scheme for amalgamation, to the proposed appointment of a paid secretary , and thanks due to the press of the colo»y for prominence given to cycling in their columns during the p»sfc season. The balance sheet shovvx the receipts, including a balance of X 9 Ifla 2d, to have been -S7:nSi Bd, the expenditure £C,l G* sd, and the baliac« in hand and in bank £I*2 12s 'M. The report and balance sheet were adopted.

The election of officers re»ulted as under :— President, Mr W. H. Wynn- Williams ; vice-preai-dents, tbo presidents of the affiliated clubs ; auditor, Mr Il'.I I . R. Dunsford.

') he elections of secretary, treaairer, and executive were allowed to stand over.

The Duuedin Cycling Club repotted a strength of 'i 76 member.-!.

Tb«* Gore Club wrote supporting amalgamation.

The meeting proceeded to discuss ths amalgamation scheme."

Mr Dunsford sai<l that the league at the conference had met the alliauce delegates in a fair aa;i iquare manner. The greatest question for decision was that of the amateur status, which was decided ou the lines of the National Cyclists' Union, which did not altogether meet with the general approval of amateur*, who wanted bicycles and op»ii order" — in fact, it appealed to him that tbe colonial amateurs' ware of a shoddy kirul. Perwmally he waa of opinion that there was .tmal! difference between the cash man and the amateur.

Mr fi.ifvruT.-i co iM not agree altogether with Mr I nnf-foreVn reimrk*, as there wa.< aotre diff?-r-t c: be'.vreea *he two bodies?.

Is was movt.il an«l aucouJkd — "That in the in-tere-.*s 'it aniftleur cycling it i* not desirable that this body aunlgauiata vrith the New Zealand League of Wheelmen." M.- Uood said he had been instructed by the N*piov Club to vote against amalgamatiou, especially on the lines proposed. He felt tho cas-li life< |J « had not acttd in the beat . spirit. They lmagiiicil the alliance was going to tba wsll, aud eagerly jrrasped at a supposed opportunity to get all the amateurs over to their side. He con-t-idere'l that the alliance could get on to a better footing, and vrith a paid secretary and every de)«-3-*te takiujj a proper and full interest in tho alliance, it would soon show that it, wad alive body.

Mr Hay ward, on behalf of the Pioneer (Jlub, stated that its 'ielrgates were instructed to vote againbt amalgamation.

Mr Cusack said he was instructed to oppose amalgamation. He agreed with other delegates that it was desirable that the alliance should have a secretary who was paid, or had more time to give to the buninesi than he had.

Maseru H. 11. Martin and Gully said their clubs were opposed to bicycles being excluded as trophies.

Mr Tbomp-on opposed amalgamation. Mr England said it would be impossible to run amateurs on the very strict proposals in the scheme. They vrould drive all amateurs to cash. He at the same time believed that the alliance wanled reorganisation. He deprecated the hurried way in which this scheme had been started, and suggested that the position the alliance should have taken up was that of propounding a scheme and then conferring on it with the league. He was instructed to vote for the amalgamation, but felt that had his club had the matter fully before it it would have seen how impossible it was. Mr Denby opposed amalgamation, aad aaid that all that was wanted was ieorg»nit>ation. Mr Lees said the whole trouble arose from the secretary's impossibility to overtake the work and the little interest the clubs exhibited in their delegates after having appointed theru._ He considered it would be aa utter impcioibilily to run the National Cyclists' Union's aiu*teur definition here.

Messrs .7. Martin and D. Sutherland said they were instructed by their club* So support amalgamation, but personally they did not approve of it. The latter observed that tbe conference could not get a late issue of the National Cyclists' Union's rules, else something better might have been proposed. He was of opinion that the matter of amalgamation should be postponed for at least 12 months, -when the alliance would probably be in a better positiatt to consider it. Mr Kerr said that up to very lately the scheme appeared to be going very well, and the po»ition it wi» now in he could only attribute to the intrigue a,nd underhand dealing which had been

going on. The whole affair seemed to havo resolved itself into one of personal feeling between the two Chiistchurch clubs. If amalgamation were not carried it would be owing to spite — (" No» no.") While not a champion of the league ho must cay they had met the alliance in a fair <in<l equitable manner. The alliance had proved itself very weak, and bad been influenced by interested parties. Misrepresentations had been made. < The Chairman said Mr Xerr must not make such general statements.

Mi' Kerr continued that he knew of one firm which wanted bicycles kept in as trophies. The Chairman said that was generally accepted. He went on to say that his club had instructed him to oppose amalgamation.. From reading the scheme and the accounts of the meetings he had conic to the conclusion that the league was not prepared to work with the alliance, and for that among other reasons he was not now prepared to support amalgamation, though originally he voted for tha consideration of the scheme.

Mr Dunsfoi'd, ia answer to a question, said bicycles had been excluded owing to the way in which orders had been ft bused.

Mr Thorapsou mentioned that the Natioual Cyclist*' Union's rules provided for cash pacers for records.

Mr Dunsford moved as an amendment — "That this alliance amalgamate with the League ef New Zealand Wheelmen conditionally that trophies include bicycles and acceieories." The Chairman was of opinion that it would be inadvisable to movo such a motion, as it was not known whether the league would amalgamate under such a condition.

Tha amendment was not seconded,

Mr Mills said that no fault had been found with thfl constitution of the alliance, and if the delegates were prepared to see the 1 ules properly carried out there need be no doubt about the future success of the alliance.

The motion was carried by 11 votes to 7 votes. Aye* : Wellington, Wanderers (2), Auckland, Pioneer (2), Ashburton, Nelson, WanjEanui, North Canterbury, and Roxburgh. Noes: Otago, Gore, Dunedin (2), lnv*rcargill, Vincent, and Waimate. Mr Ousack moved, pursuant to notice, to alter Rule 9, to provide for the alterations of rules at a sptcial meeting ctllad for the purpose. Mr England seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Hay ward gave notice of the recommendations of the Pioneer Club.

The Wanganui Club was permitted to hold a provincial championship for two miles on November 9.

The Wanganui Club applied to have the championship meeting of 189S held there in February next, and in a long letter advanced reasocß for the application, the chief of which was that it wouM be the time of the sporting carnival «f that di«trict.

The question was deferred until the next meeting. Mr W. P. Hearne wrote complaining that he had not received his prizes won at the Timaru Tourists' meeting in December latt year, and naming the jewellers on whom he wished the ordor made. The Secretary stated that he had informed tha club of the firms on which this and other orders were made, but no reply had been received. It was decided to write the Timaru Club pointing out that it was liable to suspension if tha ordars were not at once fulfilled. Mr F. Denby, a delegate for the Invercargill Club, forwarded his resignation owing to his removal from Christchurch.

Hi* resignation waa accepted with regret, and a vote of thanks r>a*sed to him for his past ser: vices.

As there was a feeling that a paid secretary was adrisable, it wat decidod to postpone the appointmeat until the rules could be amended, Mi Cusack volunteering to undertake the duties iv the meantime. Mr Cusack was elected hon. treasurer. A vote of thinks aud a donation of £1 1* wor« passed to tha Linwood Ulub for the usfc of tkeir rooms. Messra Brown and Mills with the hon. tecretary were appointed the executive. It was decided to advertise for a secretary at a romuner*tion of £15 per annum. , f The meeting closed with the usual complinieafc to the chairman. '' '