AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 263, 10 November 1906, Page 6

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

yETV ZEAL-AXT) ASSOCIATION". ' The nineteenth annual meeii-g of theli New eZaland Amateur Athletic Associ- 11 ition w-.1l be held in Christehurch on the j ] iOth inst.. when the following annual re- ! rart; will be presented by the Council:.. I] "In .submitting the nineteenth annual !' eport and balance-sheet, we desire to j 1 ongratulate you upon the year's opera- } ions, the most successful perhaps that i iavc been achieved in the Association's « ustory. Tlie year commenced with al c redit balance of .€24 5/1. and after meet- i ng all liabilities and receiving or.tsland- J HJJ dues the amount at credit Btnr.d's at COO 6/11. After prolonged negotiations 5 nth the New South Wales and Victoian Aesomtions over certnin disburse- y :ients by the New Zealand Association n connection with the visit of Slirtibb nd Ehiffey, it was finally decided to " ecept a compromise, resulting in a loss o the Council of £ 13 3/. This has ffected an adjustment of the Shrubb>ufiey accounts, without in any way im-aii-ing the friendly relations existing etween the three associations concerned, he annual (Jiampionship meeting was b!y conducted by the Utago Centre at hinedin on March 3. 1900. end resulted { Q a profit of £23 l-i/0. The Otago r ontre won the shield with 62 points— - .'ar.terbury (57) being second. The ! 'ouncil has made satisfactory arrange- c aents wth the Commissioners of the C -.'ew Zealand International Exhibition '. or the 1907 Championship JieL-t.ng to 3 a held at Christehurch en Febiuary 21 I nd_23 nest. G. P. Keddell established J New Zealand broad jump record by uniping 23ft. 3in. The Otago, Wellington and Southland entres des.-rve the utmost credit and the r >est thanlcs of the council for their vig- l )ur and enthusiasm in extending the sphere of the association's influence in heir respective districts. Principally r

owing to the efforts made by the above centres the strength of the association was considerably augmented, and the number of clubs on the roll is now thirty-eight, which constitutes an easy record. Unfortunately one club (the North Otago A.A.C.) ' dropped out, but it is hoped that early steps will be taken towards its resuscitation. Xew olubs at Jliltoii and Wellington have been formed, but have not yet been affiliated. There ' still remains a good deal of organisation ' work to be in Auckland and i; Hawke's Bay districts, and it ia hoped 1 that the. coming year will see an mv i' provement there. During the year a n:w ij centre was formed in Southland, and ] I amateurism in that district is now in a j' very flourishing condition. The exeeu- I \ five officers of the New Zealand Athletic i Union and the N.Z.AJLA. met in Christchurch in July last and agreed upon a ' basis of agreement, which was confirmed i by your council, but had not yet been j ratified by the New Zealand Athletic ; Union. The question has be?n held in j abeyance, pending a conference betweer , th 3 two bodies iv January nest. 1 Evidence of thn increasing popularity j of omatour athletics throughout the [ colony is afforded by tlie large number i of applications for reinstatement re- ' eeived last y/sar. These numbered j forty nine, of which forty-four were | granted. A team consisting of Messrs. j' Fleming, Koss, H. (}. Burk, H. S. Wil- < liams and 1". E. Drake, were selected to * represent New Zealand at the Austra- , hisian Championship Meeting at Sydney t in November last. The season being j J barely commenced here the men were |! not in their best form, and although I j fully justifying their selection failed to I attain to Championship honours. In j ( conclusion, it is rlens'ng to be able to|! sate that the coming season promises j to bo the busiest, from a spoit'e pro- . moting point of view, known in comiec- ' tion with a.ma.teur athletics in New Zea- ( land. AJrcady many clubs have given i notice, of their intention to keep the '- amateur side of the sport prominently ' before the public, and the formation of , dubs in connection with tho Civil Ser- , rice will bring in to the competition t field a large additional number of ath- I 1 lcte.?. The. sport was never so sound as it is to-day. With the Centree work- t ing in unison with the Council there is t no reason why it should not continue to extend and increase in popularity."'