SWIMMING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10682, 31 January 1913, Page 4

SWIMMING.

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL

AMATEUR, STATUS DISCUSSED.

A meeting of the Council of the Noav Zealand Amateur Swimming Association was held last night ; present Messrs G. Harris (chairman), K. Williams, H. 'Kent, J. Buchanan, G. Reese, F. D. Stokes and the honorary secretary, Mr N. Goldsburv. . ... .Applications'Avere received from and granted to the Wellington G.P.O. Amateur Swimming Club., Gisborne, Woolston and Rangiora Clubs. Applications ,from the Picton and Motuoka Clubs were held over until the clubs had forAvarded their rules.

The chairman of, the Wellington | Centre, Mr J. F. Atkins, "wrote regarding the definition of tho amateur status concerning a player of the Northern Union game. He stated that there 'was 'a' of opinion among the delegates at n, recent conference that anybody taking part in a professional game lost his standing as an amateur thereby. The definition of . the Council would not suit the Wellington Amateur Sports Federation, and lie had been ( empowered bj' his Association, to withdraw its affiliation to the Council as it was placing its amateur status on the same basis as that adopted in Australia and Great Britain.

In a further letter, in reply to one from €lie Council's secretary, Mr Atkins said that the Wellington Federation's definition of aii amateur was on tho same lines as that adopted both in England and Australia regarding the Northern Union game as; played in New Zealand*. The definition said that any person taking part in that game as at present constituted in the dominion forfeited his amateur status]

A letter from - the- secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was read,' stating his Association worked on.. the principle, that as long as a man could 1 sign the Association' s , amateur declaration_ he .was an amateur within tlio meaning of its rules.. - •

The secretary of the New .Zealand Amateur Rowing Association also wrote stating that under the rules of, his As-. Bociation professionals in other branches 'of sport; could compete as amateur oarsmen. A proposal to alter that state of affaits would shortly come before the Association.

v The honorary- secretary of : the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association wrote stating that there was.no rule to disr qualify any player of the Northern Union football game who desired to play in lawn tennis tournaments. Mr H. Williams' stated tlmt the present definition was quite satisfactory to the Auckland Centre. The , Wellington Centre appeared to be the only one desiring any-change. •Mr • H.' Kent said' that both the Hawke's Bay and Canterbury Associations'.were quite satisfied with l the definition. ;

Mr J. Buchanan expressed the opinion that Wellington's threat to secede would riot be carried out. ! . The chairman said that the definition was adopted at a meeting of; dele-gates where all the Associations were represented.: It was open to the Wellington Centre to move to have the definition amended. The secretary' 'said', 'that'-;! only four amateur associations were affiliated to the Wellington ' Federation. The rule adopted by the International Aniateur Federation did not say that amateurs would lose their status by competing with or -"against professionals, in ; any .game. /..That rule governed , the New Zealand, Swimming Association. = It was decided to. reply to Mr Atkins that the Council could not see. its way to alter the definition, and at the same time .to express surprise and regret that he should have written, in such a threatening m.anner, in view of the fact that the definition had been adopted at a meeting of delegates; from all the Associations. The definition followed that laid down by the International Amateur Federation. It was also decided to inform the Wellington Association that it could withdraw from the New Zealand Association if it so desired, but it was open to the Wellington 'Association to move for the alteration of the definition. .The Nelson. Association applied for the reinstatement of Michael B. Maher, of Blenheim, asan amateur. The Council decided that it could not grant the, request, but advised that application should be made again on or after October 31.

An application for the reinstatement of Percy Atkins, of Westport, was referred to the Reinstatement- Committee, consisting of Messrs J. Buchanan, H. Kent and H. Williams. Messrs G. Reese and F. D. Stokes were appointed a Certificate Committee. •

The Hawke's Bay Association wrote protesting vagainst the allocation of the 1914 championships. The Hawke's Bay Association had always been well represented at .all championship meetings, and the last meeting of delegates had favoured Napier for the 1914 fixture. The secretary reported that he had replied stating;, that the meeting was generally allotted to a North Island and a South Island town in rotation, and it had been allotted to Nelson fcr that reason.

It was decided to reply regretting that no be made. The ' Canterbury . Associatibn wrote asking if the Council had revised the ladies' standard for the 100 yds race, as at present it was below the record. It was decided to reply that to make any alteration would necessitate an alteration of the rules, and that the Council would welcome a suggestion from the conference of delegates. Letters from the .Reefton and "Westport Clubs, stating that there were active clubs there, and asking that a Centre should be formed, were received. The secretary stated that he had instructed the two clubs to communicate with each other v regarding the formation of a Centre. ,

L. A. Clark wrote protesting against the final of the Interclub'Handicap.at Lyttelton being re-swum. The. .protest had been ruled out of order by the chairman of ,the Centre. The Drotest was dismissed. It was decided to.inform the South Canterbury Centre that its re-' port and balance-sheet had now to hand. , Consideration of the recent coni*rence between the Council and the dominion Council of the Royal Life Saving Society was deferred owing to pressure of business. ■