SECESSION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 216, 16 October 1914, Page 5

SECESSION.

A NEW ATHLETIC UNION. No athletic body in New Zealand has made more progress in the past two or three years than has the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union, and therefore the secession of that centre is of great importance to cash athletics in the Dominion. The position is thus summarised by a writer in the "New Zealand Herald";—. " <' Events in cash athletic circles in Auckland have been moving fast during the past few weeks. The practically unanimous secession of a powerful body, formerly the Auckland Provincial Association, then the Auckland Centre N.Z.A.U., and now the Northern Athletic Union, was a severe blow to the New Zealand Athletic Union, Timaru, which during the twelve months' notice of secession given by the old-estab-lished Auckland provincial clubs, never made the slightest attempt at conciliation. At the end of the period of notice the Auckland clubs met again, and, by 57 votes to 5, decided to secede. ' During last. season the union aggravated the grievances by calling together a meeting of runners registered under the old Auckland Centre, and thus violated one of the first principles of constitutional practice in so far as governing bodies are concerned. For instance, how would the members of the Auckland Eugby Union view the action of the New' Zealand Eugby Union if an official from the latter body called a meeting of local players and attempted to raise an agitation against the local authority? It is always admitted that it is sound policy for a governing body to interfere as little as possible in local government, and then only on request. "The position in cash athletics in Auckland, briefly summarised, is that the Auckland provincial clubs which were affiliated last season with the New Zealand Athletic Union, and which thus formed the Auckland Centre, have seceded, with five exceptions out of a total of' 120, and formed the Northern Athletic Union. The officials, who converted the Auckland Provincial Association into the Auckland Centre three years, ago, some of them with misgivings because of past experience of the doings of the New Zealand Athletic ; Union, have gone over in a body with , the clubs. These men, during the past seven years, raised the standard of

cash running in the province, and their efficient organisation and control of such large- gatherings as the PostleDonaldson meetings, and the Exhibition sports gained for them well-deserved praise. The competitors owe much to them, for they have effected reforms in the running of country meetings, and stamped out all crooked practices. These reforms were carried and the sport extended in spite of frequent rebuffs and discouragement from the headquarters at Timaru. '•'The old officials brought to Auckland such masters of the track as A. B. Postle and J. Donaldson, and thereby gave local runners an opportunity of studying the methods and styles of, and of working with,- such worldfamous runners. Because of Auckland's success in this matter, southern jealousy was aroused, and the executive of the New Zealand Athletic Union took action against the visitors in such a manner that it will remain a standing disgrace in the annals of cash running in this Dominion. It is true that they afterwards expressed regret for the stand they had taken against Postle and Donaldson, but the injury was done, and the men left the country incensed against the Timaru body. Competitors, in deciding which body to register with, need only a little common sense to guide them. By registering with the Northern Athletic Union they have a tangible series of meetings ahead, controlled by men who have proved successful in the past. The first meeting will be held on Labour Day, and after that come Huntly, Waipu, Te Aroha, Papakura, St. Patrick's Day, Thames, and Helensville, and all the Par North, Waikato, and King Country meetings. These clubs are determiued ~to run their meetings even if nominations are small. Local competitors should remember the fate of Wanganui cash runners. The Wanganui Caledonian Society had a disagreement with the New Zealand Athletic Union, and was disqualified. The "Wanganui Caledonian Society is still in existence, but all cash races were eliminated from the programme < and a good meeting was thus lost to runners registered under the N.Z.A.U. Except Auckland, every centre in the Dominion lost ground last year; therefore, it is fair to presume that it was the men who composed the executive of the Auckland Provincial Association for four years, the Auckland Centre for three years, and now the Northern Athletic Union, that made the sport what it was in Auckland Province in recent years, and not the prestige of the. New Zealand Athletic Union."