CASH ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2857, 16 December 1908, Page 63

CASH ATHLETICS.

FIXTURES. ; Dec. 25.— Athletic Spoits, Kaitangat*. Dec. '^.-'-Caledonian Sports. "VVaikouaiti. Dec. 26.— Ca'edonian Sports, Balclutha.. i Dec. 26.— Caledonian Sports, Dun-troon. Dec. 26.— Caledonian Spoitu, Dunback. , Dec. 26.— Caledonian Sports, Lawrence. Dec. £6.— Caledonian Sports, Arrowtown. Dec. 26.— Athletic Sports. Roxburgh. Dec. 26. — Athletic Sports. Enfield. rj ec 26.— Athletic Sports, Waipiata. Dec. 28 — Caledor.ian Sports, Owaka. Dae. 20.— Athletic Sports, RatanuL : Dec. 30. — Athletic Sports, Miller's Flat. Jar. I.— Caledonian Sports, Middlemarch. Jan. 1 —Caledonian Sports, Berwick. Jan 1 —Caledonian Sports. Naseby. > Jan. 1 — Caledonian Sports, Clinton. Jar. 1. — Ca'edonian Sports, K«1bo. 1 Jan. ]. — Caledonian Sports, Port Molyneux. : Jan. 1 — Athletic Sports, Beaumont. 1 Jan. 1. — Athletic and Cycling Sports, Rox- 1 burgh. , Jan. 1 and 2. — Caledonian Sports, Oamaru. Jan. 1 and 2. — Championship Sports, Dunedin. . Jan. 2. — Athletic Sports, Rae's Junction. , I By Sport. The Siruth-Taicri (MiddlemarcW Cale- <

donian Society is out with a varied programme of events for its annual sports on New Year's - Day. Running, wrestling, cycling, jumping, hammer-throwing, etc., are all included. All events are post entry. The question of tho New Zealand Athletio Union taking over lh« control of cycling in the Dominion is a matter that will be considered at the annual meeting in January. For a number of years now cycling matters have been on the down grade, with the result that very few societies now cars whether or not they register w/th the controlling body of that branch of sport. Here in Otago in particular there is a great laxity in the direction indicated. I am pleased to see that* this season there are signs of a revival in cycling, and with this one may expect increased -energy in the control of these events. While of the opinion that the union would be acting unwisely in endeavouring to control cycling, I agree that bodies affiliated to- the union, should not be asked to pay permit fees for. such privileges. Cash societies putting on one of two cycling events should not be made to pay for fostering another branch of sport, at the same time contributing to their own upkeep. If this fee were remitted there would be more societies in the Dominion under the control of the league. While waiving this point, the league can still keep the fees from the competitors, the increase in which would easily make up for the amount remitted in permit fees. The Tuapeka Caledonian! Society has drawn up an attractive programme for its sports on January 1, 1909. The chief running events are:— l2o Yards, £•$. £1 10s,. 15s ; 220 Yards, £5. £1 10s, 15s ; 300 Yards. £3, £1 10s, 15s. Entries close for the 120 Yards Handicap on the 18th inst. All other" events aro .pest entry.

The Middlemarch Caledonian Society reports a few omissions from its printed programme. A gold medal is to be given by the society to the competitor gaining most points. Two events are alsc omitted — the ♦40 Yards Handicap, £2 10s, £1 se, 10s ;| and the Higrh Jump, £1, 10s, ss. I A remit similar to the cycling one already quoted is to -be considered in regard to amateur running. For * considerable tim<i now cash societies have been catering for amateur athletics, and never, as far as I< can remember, have I. seen a cash event; on an amateur programme. This is not fair, so as long as no return is given to cash athletics, why should cash societies have to pay * permit fee to put amateur events on their programmes? The position is one that the amateurs themselves have to blame themselves for, and it will occasion verylittle surprise if the remif mentioned results in amateur events being absolutely; " wiped off " cash projrrammea. There are some good country gathering* during the holidays. Balclutha on BoxingDay has a £12 handicap, over three dis-. tances — 100, 220, 350 yds. Entries close on Saturday, December 19. Owaka, on December 23, has a Sheffield of £8, £3, and £1,. entries " closing on December 26. Clinton, on January 1, has a Sheffield, 135 yds,, 06 £9, £4, £2, entries closing on December: 23. -Mr D. F. M'Kay (Dunedin) advises that he forwarded on 10 entries received locally? for the Sheffield Handicaip to be run afe Kaitangata oh Christmas Day. Tbsse> should help materially to swell the number* received by the society's secretary. The South Canterbury Caledonian; Society's programme for January 1 and i. contains the following nedestrian events: — < First day: 75yds, £7; "150 yds, £7; 220 yds,, £7; 440 yds, £8; half-mile, £8. Second day :> 100 yds, £11; 880 yds, £8; 220 yds, £7; mile, £8. The League of New Zealand Wheelmen; has notified that it is willing to abide by. the decision of the New Zealand Sports Federation in regard to their officials whof may act in connection with the Southland Caledonian Society's sports. Entries for running end walking eventst in connection with the Otago Caledonian Society's championship gathering close, on! Saturday next, the 19th kist., at 8 p.m., with Mr William Reid. 27 Rattray street. , Mr W. M'Donald, the well-known handicapper, left last %eek for a trip to Napier for the benefit of his health. During hi» absence " Mac " will made endeavours to secure entries for the coming championship gathering here, a particular effort being: made to induce the present lOOyde cham* pion (C. J. Morris) to make the trip to> defend his title. Under the auspices of the Wanganui Caledonian Society the Highland sports an<J Pipe Band contest will take place in picturesque Wanganui on January 22 and 25 of next year. The Begg Challenge Cup, at present held by the Dunedin Pipe Band, will be competed for for the second time;also the Jessie M'Lachlan gold medal, valuer £10 10s, -At present held by James A. , Center, of Edinburgh, Scotland. Prize-*-money amounting to £300 will be distributed. The gathering promises to be the* most representative yet held in the North Island. "The society will spare no effort to ffive visitors a pleasant and enjoyable time at Wanganui. NEW ZEALAND SPORTS FEDERATION. CHRISTCHURCH, December 10. At a meeting of the New Zealand Sport* Federation to-night the matter of the Caledonian Society of Southland came up for discussion. The federation had, at. a previous meeting, requited the society and the Athletic Union to hold a conference with the object of arriving at an amicable settlement of the matters in dispute. The Athletio Union reported that the society* had declined to agree to what the uniont considered was reasonable terms, and it recommended that the federation should* pronounce a general disqualification" upon the Southland Society throughout the Dominion. It was resolved to ask tho society and the union to place the matter in the hands of the federation for arbitration. QUESTION OF CONTROL. ' INVERCARGILL, IV- iber 10. At a meeting of the exec wire of tfo*. Irish Athletio Society it was resolved: — " That the time has arrived when, the societies should co-operate against the payment'of fees to and interierenoe by outside governing bodies, recognising that the N.Z.A.U. is fully competent to rule kt this direction" The feeling of the meeting was that as the society, under the union, contributed a- large amount of money to the amateur athletic and cycling events, as well as to the axeman's competitions, the time had arrived when the N.Z.A.U. should take over full control.

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