AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1930, Page 2

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

(To the Editor.) gi r Your correspondent, Mr. L. B. Tuffeiv, in his letter in this morning's Neds is endeavouring to sidetrack the point at issue. I do not intend to enter into a controversy concerning piofessionalism versus amateurism, nor do I in any way to -belittle the piofessidnal. Everyone is entitled when he enters the athletic field to please himself under which banner he competes, but I want to make it quite clear to all interested that under the rules of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association “cash amateurs do not exist. Perhaps Mr. Tuflery can tell us how an athlete can be a cash amateur” when the amateur rules distinctly say that competing for money or other pecuniarv reward makes the competitor a professional. It would appear that Mr. Tuffery is one of a few who are endeavouring to establish a ‘‘halfway house,” but this is impossible in imagination. As I stated in my previous letter an athlete must be either one of two things—-i.e., a professional or an amateur—and I have quoted the rules for the definition of an amateur. Ml. Tuffery admits that he was an amateur and is now competing for cash prizes. His position is that he is automatically disqualified under the New Zealand Association rules, and, what m.rnore, he can never get back to recognised amateur ranks, for it is ruled that once an amateur turns professional (it is no nee saving “cash amateur”) he cannot toe reinstated. Docs Mr. Tuffery or any other self-stvled “cash amateur contend he would be eligible to compete at the Olympic Games or British Empire Game's?-Any such contention would be absurd; they are not amateurs. 1 am ’ etC “ A. GRANT. Hawera, November 5, 1930.