SPORTS PROTECTION LEAGUE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14976, 25 May 1914, Page 4

SPORTS PROTECTION LEAGUE.

ANNUAL REPORT,

At the anunal mooting of tho Sports Protection League to be held at Wellington on Wednesday evening next the present- officers, who retire by tho effluxion of timo, will be eligible for reelection. They are:—President. Mr C. P. Skerreti, K.C.; vice-president-, | Messrs C. W. Tringhain, F. J. Courtney, and ii. F, __(:„*■-• coni-uinee, Messrs .-__,. Marryatt, Jonu Fuiier, jua., W. J. Organ, ij. brown, ana l>r. Uilmer. '___ commit-.ee has noaunated th j fo.lowiiig for positions on tho Board oj._ __iu,roi'—-_'i__-ueut J sir tieoigo Clifford, Bart.; ciiairuian, Mr C. P. dt-errott, K.C.; hon. treasurer, Mr lan G. Duncan; Mr J. H. B. Coates; Dr. \V. E. Coiiins; and Mr C. W. 1 ringham.

Reviewing the work it Las carried 00 during tne past- twelve mon*---, too tepo-.ts Protcc.ion League, in its annual report, states:—"\V-t must anticipate opposition from many who from various motives object to harmless outdoor amusements as demoralising or extravagant. .That we beliovo wo have numerous opponent- and that the opponents wouid become aggressive if thero was no organisation in existence to combat their attempts to unduly interfere with reasonable recreation aud sport aro tho reasons why we thiol. that it is necessary to maintain a leaguo for tho defence of outdoor sports. It has, however, been found that with the organisation complete throughout tho Dominion, and every class-of sport linked up into one solid body, tho league can extend jfself into n field of usefulness not altogether anticinated in its early stages. As a body to express the disabilities of individual clubs or particular classes of sport it has been able to advbeat- the cause of individual sections with much moro force and success than separate action was able to produce. Several j movements of this character havo boon assisted in various narts «->f +**c "Do-t-in-, ion, and r__-*ticular.y In W__ngloii the league has been able to successfully help in obtaining a substant-'al remission of rates on those opeu playing areas in the city, which have beon acqni-ed and formed at considerable expense by p ivate enterprise. We have now pleasure in being ablo to report that a fo* soHitiou has boon passed by "which the whole of the general rate on these areas lias been remitted —a concession to the various; sports bodies interested of abont £300 per annum. Wo hop 6 that -the example will be followed by local authorities in other centres."