NEW ZEALAND CHESS ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 207, 26 May 1908, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND CHESS ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. CASH PRIZES OR TROPHIES? Tho annual meeting of the Now Zealand Chess Association was hold at tho office of the secretary (Mr. F. B. S'narpe) last evening, when there were present: Sir. C. W. Tanner , (in tho chair), and Messrs. F. K. Selling, J. Milesi, R. J. Barnes, H. L. James, and F. B. Sharpe (secretary). The annual report and balance-sheet were read. Tho report stated that during tho year three new clubs had joined; they were the Auckland Working Men's Club, and the Wairoa and Gisborne Clubs. The twentyfirst annual championship was held in Wellington, play commencing, on Easter Monday and finishing on the eighth day. Twelve competitors entered, and although foreign competition was invited, only New Zealand players took part. The result was as follows:—First and champion, Mr. A. W. O. Davies; second, Mr. F. K. Kelling; third, Ar n ,• Jinics, all of Wellington; fourth, Mr. B. Mason, of Auckland. Five games only were entered for the brilliancy prize, and the result of the adjudication of these J la , ~n ° t taen received from the judge. The holding of the tournament' at Easter, was a departure which might have affected the list of entries, representatives of the extreme s°utli not being present at all, whilst Auckland was only meagrely represented. It was tho congress secretary's experience, too, that the tournament was too long, a slight slackness in tho play being 'noticeable.in tho closing rounds. This difficulty of rekindling enthusiasm might be met -by instituting a break, of a day or .a half day when the tournamont was half-way through, though tho Association would probably feel that this was a matter for the clubs directing such tournament. The important principle of amatour status was brought before the Association by the action of the Congress Committee, and it was hoped that the delegates were fully instructed, _and -that the, : matter would bo settled definitely in. favour 1 of either the amateur or professional status, and that either no cash inducements would be pormitted to be offered to. any chess competitor by this Association, or by any body within its jurisdiction, or that the institution of money prizes would bo definitely determined on by the governing body of chess in this country.' During ' the past two months, : chess had been deprived of an extremely strong and sympathetic supporter m the person of Mr. C. W. Benbow, of Wellington, a vice-president of .the.Association, who died recently in! this city. This was a loss to Now Zealand chpss generally. , The late, Mr. Benbow,- both by. his services and his financial support, rendered very valuable help to the pastime. The thanks of the Association were tendered.to the president, Mr. Justice Denniston; for his. valued assistance, and it was with great regvet that notification had been received that he.was unable, to continue.to serve in this office, he having decided to give up all public positions of this and a similar nature. His .lively interest in-the Association and its doings was exemplified during, the ■'■.recent., congress, and the announcement would be received with very real regret by all who had the interests of chess at heart. Thanks wore also due to Mr. Hollins, of Huirangi, for his labours in connection with the brilliancy prize. ; The balance-sheet'showed a credit balance' 6f £14 13s. lid. The balance from the Congress was a credit of Is. lOd, ; Tho report and balanco-sheet were adopted, i The Wairoa Club and Auckland Working Men's Club were affiliated to the Association..

' The following officers were elected-.--Presi-dent, Dr. Fitchett; vice-presidents, Messrs. H. M. Lund, V. G. Day, and H. J. Nightingale (South Island, upper division), and Archdeacon Gould,' Mr. A. R. Barclay, M.P., • and the Rev. A. T. Chodowski (South Island, lower division) Messrs'. E. W." Petherick, F.'W. li. Kummer, and' A. I. 'Littlcjohn(North ' Island, lower division), and >. Mr. Alfred Hdskinp,'the'Rev.^A.'Miller,;and the iexisting,■president of the, Auckland Working Men's,' Club (North.-Island; upper, .division); auditor, ■; Mr. ;W. Mackay;. secretary'' and treasurer,.Mr.; A. ft. Fell. w , ; The Chose, and Draughts Club of the Wel- . lington Working Men's Club and Literary Institute advised. that. their delegates, were Messrs. J. G. W. Dairyrrnilo and J.. Milesi; : The Auckland Chess Chifi ipformed the Association . that their delegates were, Mr. Alfred Hoskinss and the Rev. A. Miller. ' THE QUESTION OF PROFESSIONALISM. : The following resolution was forwarded by the Congress Committee: — : That :' this committee recommends i that_the New Zealand Chess, Association* : consider the whole question of tho alio-', : cation of tho prizes in money or tro- ; phies which aro given annually for the . chess tournament: A: letter was received from Mr. T. E. Fraser,'. Secretary of the Canterbury Chess Club, in reference to a circular of April 15 on . this subject. _ The Committee wished to express the opinion that the present; system of cash prizes should continue, as they considered that there , was ■no likelihood of "professionalism" arising in " chess play. They also took into, consideration the heavy expense most of the competitors were' under in attending the Congress. As an alterna-. tive, they considered that if the Association decided to abolish, cash prizes in favour! of trophies the successful' competitors; should', have liberty of selection left to them. The Wellington . Working Men's Club advised that it was in favour of continuing . the present system of giving prize's: The Auckland Working Men's Club was of the opinion that tho prizes should be allotted in such , manner as to allow, for reimbursement to candidates winning prizes for expenses incurred,!but not to relinquish the principle of awarding trophies, although' .reduced in value. : Mr.' Barnes (Otago) said that his Club thought that no action was called for at the present time,-but if prize-giving meant professionalism, then the sooner it came tho better, as it had always been for the advancement of tho game. ! Mr. Milesi (Wellington Working Men's Club) moved that the present system be carried on in future. At present the matter was at tho option of tho player. Mr. Sh'arpe emphasised the' necessity for deciding the issue, one way or other. Mr. Barnes seconded the motion. Mr. Kelling.,spoke in favour of the present system being maintained. . It had, he said, been in vogue for the past thirteen or fourteen years'.' ' ' , : The motion was carried. 1 THE COMING CONGRESS. | Mr. Barnes intimated that his Club was aigreeable to holding the next Congress at Dunedin, and urged that the date be fixed for Christmas, as all were against Easter. A Delegate : We're all against it, after our recent experience. ... It was decided to hold tho next Congress at Dunedin, under tile auspices of the Otago Club. Regarding the surplus, Mr. Milesi gave notice of motion to. the effect that tho subscriptions bo increased, so as to raise £20 for tho purchase of a cup or trophy, to be held by the winners of tho championship each year, to be called the "Dominion Trophy." Mr. James suggested that n sum be allowed for travelling allowances to thoso candidates who were well up in tho Congress championship each year. He gave notice of motion that GO per cent, of the available funds of any Congress be allotted to partial reimbursement of travelling expenses to thoso competitors who had made more than 50 per cent, of the possible wins. The Congress Committee reported that, , as a result of tho usual meeting prior to ' tho ■ commencement of play, its chairman Mr. F. W. H. Kumtner, announced that the players unanimously opposed tho intention of the committeo to substitute as prizes trophies for cash. They further lecommended tho committeo to. increase the prizelist from four to six. . It would seem desirable, in view of the action by tho players that the powers and duties of the committee of and to both the Association and the players be . defined with greater precision than at present exists. To this end it is strongly suggested ■ that a set of i \ .

Congress rules be drawn up for the conduct of all tournaments broadly defining and regulating these, matters. . The thanks of the committee are due to those gentlemen who were kind enough to act as umpires during the course of the tournament, though beyond keeping order and guietude their duties were not over-arduous. ■; In-this, regard it was the secretary's experience' that the exaction of penalties by a player against his opponent dealt rather hardly with tho player so entitled. , It was felt that an eminent- y more satisfactory metlioa would instead be to leave the exacting of penalties m the hands of the umpires rathor than in tliafc of tho players. . Tho committee would like to seo. something done in the way.of evading the difficulty of putting on the player tho responsibility of deciding whether 1 the penalty shall be exacted or not. Af, a whole it is recommended that the tone of the playing room be made even more, strict' and oxacting than was permitted during tho late Congress. Little matters! such as the occasional loud talking, tho starting or stooping of tho clocks without reference to tlie umpire, the crowding of the players, n;nd the number of spectators admitted, to the room, might well he more vigorously r-nforcod' rules.- Then there were the informalities of the players, games handed in to gentlomen other than the one in charge, unsigned score sheets; unchecked times, and sometimes. no score • sheet at all. The6o matters might also come within the scope of the Congross rules. , '' The report will be forwarded to tho various, clubs. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair.