AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 330, 17 October 1908, Page 5

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

SERIOUS FRICTION.

WELLINGTON CENTRE AND THE COUNCIL. SECESSION POSSIBLE. • A special mooting of the Wellington Centre ' of the New Zealand Amateur Athlotic Association was held at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms last evening, Dr. A. K. Newman presiding. The principal business was the consideration of a letter written by Mr. W. G. Atack, chairman of the council of the New Zealand Amatour Athletic Association, forwarded on by tho returning officer for the forthcoming election of members to tho council,.in which an opinion was expressed as to the eligibility ,of certain' nominees as candidates for election. . Nominations for the Council. The secretary of tho Now Zealand Amateur Athletio Association wrote intimating that the- following had been nominated for the council of tno N.Z.A.A.A.: —Messrs. J. R. Olliver, L. Whitcombe, G. H. Mason, J. F. Cfrierson, E. Nordon, J. H. Aitken, and D. Hoare. Messrs. W. G. Garrard and A. C. Norris were appointed scrutineers for the election. There was also forwarded a ruling by tho chairman of the council of the N.Z.A.A.A. as to , the eligibility of those nominated for elec-tion-on the council: —" . . lam of opinion that persons nominated for the council must ■reside at the headquarters of the association. There is no definite rule on this point; at the sarno time there is no rule to say that persons residing , in any place other than at headquarters can be clected. This being so, the custom .that has hitherto obtained as regards election must b« accepted as the law on the subject.. •, I • know of only one amateur ; sports body, in the Dominion that has special, reference, in its rules, to the matter; in all other bodies—including tho N.Z.A.A.A.—the rules are framed on the assumption that tho persons elected to the governing body must be resident at headquarters. I would merely mention the impossibility of calling an urgent meeting of the council, if the' members resided at any distance from headquarters, to show the absurdity of tho proposal to consider a council consisting entirely of Wellington. residents. ,As ..you have referred, the matter to me for ah; official ruling, I have no hesitation whatever in saying that the nominations you have received are quite out of order, and that the only candidates eligible for election are those who.-reside at the. headquarters of the association. I need riot say what 1 mean by 'reside at'headquarters." i ."A Preposterous Ruling." The above expression of opinion was received with very strong disapproval. ■The chairman (Dr. Newman) said that ha was 'perfectly amazed at Mr. Atack's action, which, he considered, was utterly indefensible. He bad never heard of such a. preposterous ruling in all his experience of sports bodies. He was of opinion that the meeting should enter a strong protest against the unwarrantable action of the chairman of tho N.Z.A.A.A. in interfering, as he was attempting! to do, with the conduct of the ejection, and he could find, in the rules, no'justification for such action. It was a deliberate attempt, on the part of Mr. Atack, to disfranchise the Wellington and othor provincial centres.' Mr. W. Coffey said that it was the most extraordinary ruling that had, ever emanated from the president of a sports body. It was a matter seriously affecting the Interests of a.thletio associations. He was strongly of opinion that tho candidates, severally or conjointly, should enter an emphatic protest vagainst" this 'latttsiript '.to disfranchise them; He moved:—' ;'<nThat this, centre recommendsi.that tho who have been nominated by - the. Wellington delogates for seats on the N.Z.A.A.A., either severally or conenter, on emphatic protest to the ■ returning officer against the ruling of the president that they, the candidates, are ineligible on the ground that they are 'not resident at headquarters, and that the returning officer be asked to (explain his official position as re- . turning officer and candidate. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously,.. Another Motion. Mr.-Pollock then moved:—i ; That the council be written to and : asked to explain why the returning officer; consulted anyone in connection with: the nominations, and why he was not guided, by tho rules as laid down; and: that this centre insists upon him proceeding with the ejection according to rules, and that the deputy returning officer of this centre now. awaits the voting papers containing the names of the whole of the candidates nominated.

This was carried, and as an addendum, it was resolved, on" the motion of Mr. Bridge, 'This matter be treated ap 'urgent,' and bo dealt with by the council as at present constituted." Threatened Secession, The opinion was freely expressed by various speakers that: the matter, as being of vital importance, could have but one of two issues The ruling as to the qualifica- ■ candidates must either be reversedj .1 uest '°, n , °f seceding from the JN.I>.A.A.A. would; in'the interests of local centres of the association, have to be seriously considered. Declared Elected. ; (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Chrlstchurch, October 16. . For some time past there has been friction between the Council of the N.Z. Amateur Athletic Association and some of the centres, particularly. Wellington and Otago. Tho outcome was that , the Wellington Centre, wpported by Otago and Southland, norninited Messrs. W. F. Larlrin, F. Rosa A Kavies, W. Coffey, E. A. Dawson, A. arryatt, • and W. H. Pollock for election t6 the council, these candidates being pledged to support the removal of headquarters from Chnstchurch to Wellington. When the secretary of tho association received these nominations ho referred them to the president (Mr. W. G. Alack). That official ruled that .as tho custom hitherto had been to receive nominations only from the place in which tho • headquarters of the association are situated, the _ Wellington nominations could not bo received, as in tho absence of any specific rulo tho custom that had always prevailed must bo observed. The other candidates wero Messrs. H. S. Batchclor, J. F. Griorson, J. H. Aitken, G. H. Mason, J. R. Ojliver, and S. F. Whitcombe. In order to save the trouble of an election, Mr. Batchlor withdrew, and tho remaining seven have boon declared elected. INDIES' TAILORS. The oldest and best firm in Australasia. Eton fiovrns and Costumes from £b 55.; Skirts from £1 10s. Nodine and Co., 20 "Wellington Vorracc.

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Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., in conjunction with Messrs. 'Wenley. nhd Lanauze, are to dispose of the subdivisions of the Riverside Estate, Woodville (87!) acres), at the Town Hall in that town on Monday ne.it. Oil the same occasion Messrs. Wen ley and Lanauze are to sell a farm of G2 ucres adjoining the abovo estate Messre. ICirkcaldie and Stains announce that their promises will be closed for business from 1 p.m. to-day, notwithstanding tho fact that Labour Day was observed as a full holiday. "The Scriptural View of Confession" is Mr. Jos. J. ■ Franklyn's subject nt the Christian Chnpel, Vivian Street, nt G. 30 p.m. to-morrow. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., will hold an important cattle sale at Mastcrton on Twwlay, October 27.