AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20919, 26 September 1939, Page 11

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

WAIKATO SUB=CENTRE EFFECT OF WORLD CONDITIONS CLUBS ASKED TO CARRY ON Delegates from all parts of the Waikato, from Tauranga, Paeroa, Te Aroha and Te Kuiti attended the annual meeting of the Waikato subcentre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association held in Hamilton last night. Mr R. L. Manderson, the president, presided and also present were Mr H. L. Towers, president of the Auckland Centre and Mr W. J. Hindman, a member of the Auckland executive. The annual report and balance sheet (previously published) were adopted. “The Auckland Centre has not yet decided what its policy should be,” said Mr Towers in connection with the holding of the Auckland championships in relation to the present world situation. He said that during the last war no New Zealand or Auckland championships had been held and that course might again have to be followed. Mr H. J. Somers (Tauranga) said he would be very sorry to see the championships discontinued as it was the duty of those who remained in New Zealand to carry on normal activities. Games Postponed Continuing Mr Towers mentioned that the Centennial Games, part of which were connected with athletics, had been postponed until the situation changed. This course had been made necessary owing to the inability to secure competitors from overseas, the probable defection of leading New Zealand athletes and the fact that the mass physical displays which were to have been a feature of the games at Auckland would not now be practicable. Although it might not be possible to hold the New Zealand or Auckland athletic championships, clubs were being asked to carry on and a wider application of the system of inter-club contests was being advocated as a means to strengthen clubs and thus to assist in a national duty, that of improving the standard of physical fitness. After a long discussion Easter Saturday was allotted to the Te Kuiti Club. Applications to hold meetings on this day had been received from the Te Kuiti and Matamata Clubs. Decision on the date and venue of the Waikato championship meeting was held over until the first meeting of the executive. An outline of a scheme to provide systematic training to athletes was given by Mr L. Cross, Waikato area instructor of the Physical Welfare Department. The following officers were elected:—Patron, Mr G. C. A. Gould; president, Mr R. L. Manderson; vicepresidents, the presidents of affiliated clubs and Messrs A. E. Graham, C. G. Hunt, F. A. de la Mare and H. J. Somers; secretary and treasurer, Mr F. S. Robinson; assistant-secre-tary; Mr A. G. Blore; starter, Mr C. G. Smythe; auditor, Mr S. E. Senior; press steward, Mr Manderson; delegates on Auckland Centre, Messrs J. Hogben, M. Reid, L. Jones and Somers. Affiliation was granted to the Ngongotaha Sports Club.