DOMINION CONTROL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 232, 1 October 1943, Page 3

DOMINION CONTROL

COUNCIL OF SPORT. FORMED

PROVINCIAL DELEGATES HOLD CONFERENCE.

(P.A.) Wellington, Sept. 30. A conference of 25 delegates representing the 10 provincial councils of sport in the Dominion was held in Wellington yesterday, and decided to form a Dominion controlling body, to be known as the New 7 Zealand Council of Sport. The conference was convened by the Otago and Auckland councils, and Mr. W. A. Jenkins, chairman of the Otago Council, was voted to the chair. Mr. E. V. Phillips (Canterbury) said that the Canterbury Council of Sport was only concerned with amateur sport, and could not support the proposed constitution. He thought it would be wiser to meet the representatives of national bodies first.

Mr. A. C. Kitto, chairman of the Wellington Provincial Council of Sport, agreed with Mr. Phillips. If they were going to antagonise the national bodies they would sound the death knell of the proposed federation.

Mr. R. S. M. Sinclair (Otago), speaking for the conveners of the conference, moved that a Federation of Sport be formed. Otago had been pushed into calling the conference by numerous requests from other centres. The national bodies had had six weeks to consider the proposal and there would be no use in meeting them till the federation had been formed, and could submit concrete proposals. Some of the national bodies did not represent half of the players in their particular sports. For instance, the N.Z. Cricket Association did not represent half the cricket players of the Dominion, nor did the N.Z. Lawn Tennis Association represent half the tennis players. Mr. C. H. Croker , (Taranaki) seconded the motion, remarking that they should have concrete proposals to lay before the representatives of the national bodies.

Mr. J. Meltzer (Wellington Football Association) said that it might not be practical to form a national council ot sport. It would have been better for the conveners of the conference to have obtained the views of the provincial councils of spoft. He moved, as an amendment: “That this meeting of councils of sport recognise the neces sity for some form of national organisation to co-ordinate the interests of all sports bodies, and approves of steps being taken accordingly.”

The amendment was seconded by Mr. Kitto. Mr. A. J. Pabst (Taranaki) said delegates had assembled for the express purpose of forming the federation, and unless they did so how could they treat with outside bodies?

Mr. Croker said the delegates of the provincial councils were competent to form a Dominion organisation. Let them get rid of parochial feeling and get something done. Mr. A. T. Bell (Canterbury) said that Canterbury was opposed to the intermixing of amateur and professional. If they decided to form a Dominion organisation they might find that they were conflicting with the constitution of provincial councils.

Mr. B. N. Caulton (West Coast) said that they had representatives of both amateur and rofessional bodies on the West Coast Council of Sport. He had been a professional runner and was proud of it. There was no necessity to bring up the question of amateurs v. professionals. Both engaged in good clean sport and there was no reason why they should not sit in amity around the same table. Mr. A. A. Baker (Auckland) said his council had pushed Otago to have a Dominion body formed. Auckland had been placed in a serious position through the loss of playing fields taken over by the military. A Dominion council of sport could see to it that these playing areas were handed back after the war. Auckland supported the formation of a Dominion body. Mr. S. A. Cleal (Auckland) said his council favoured a Dominion Council being set up in Wellington, which could look after the interests of sport by keeping in touch with the Government.

Mr. Sinclair said the conference should decide what organisations should constitute the National Council of Sport. It was open to decide that it should consist of representatives of the national bodies.

Mr. Phillips said the Minister in charge of the Physical Welfare and Recreation Department had recently stated that there was no intention of faking the control of sport out of the hands of the national bodies, but. if some 0.l them were not pulling their weight the Government would have to step in. He would be very sorry to see control taken out of the hands of the national bodies.

Mr. Kitto said that ,as a member of the Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation, he could assure delegates that there was no intention on the part or the Government of introducing regimentation of sport. Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs had given this assurance frequently, and both of ther. had been most helpful to sports ot all Kind's. . ' Mr. H. J. Layne (Waikato) said there were 21 different branches of sport covered by their provincial council of sport, and they were strongly in favour of the formation of a Dominion Council. No harm could be done by having the provincial councils welded' into a parent body. There were many sports in the Dominion wh'ch had no parent body, and they were entitled to be considered. The chairman said Mr. Meltzer appealed to be of the opinion that the idea was to take control from the national bi d.es, but this was wide of the mark. The formation of a Dominion Council would greatly help the national bodies, who should, in their own interests, get behind the idea to form a parent body. Mr. Meltzer, in replying, said all wanted to see some organisation formed lor the benefit of sport in the Dominion, but Wellington thought that it would be a better approach lor the national bodies to be given the honour of forming a National Sports Council.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost by a large majority. The motion to form a National Council of Sport was then put, and carried almost unanimously.