SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 693, 18 December 1909, Page 9

SWIMMING.

(Bγ Splash.)

..■.;■ CARNIVAL DATES. ;':. -: X.M.C. A. Club-January 8. ". ■.'}'■ '>, .'■■:■ - ~ Swifts Club—February "12.. .■'■'■■. '■ Thorndon Club— 26. '/■ ■'-' ■'■ ■"'■■•■-. '■■''.[ At tho adjourned annual meeting.of Aho New Zealand Council, the Auckland Centre's letter asking whether. a player or an official. taking part in Northern tlnion football, a professional gatoe, was eligible to compote or hold ottico m> au amateur swimming club was considered. The chairman said that the rules had not contemplated such a case, and according- to them tndi-e was no disqualification.' It might be advisable to amend the rule to bar such players or officials. Mr. Burns gayo notice or a motion to amend the rule to provide disqualification for Northern Union players, and it was decided,to reply accordingly to the centre's request. • ;■ ■-;'.. ... : In order that other centres may make their arrangements to suit, the Auckland Centre has fixed February 19, 23, and 26 qs the dates for the 1909-1910 Incw Zealand swimming championships. .''..'■ . . !■■■■- 'ina Auckland\Ccntre. is; distributing 12,000 Icallets on liie-saving and resuscitation amongst public schools and aquatic bodies. : ,'■•.-. The agitation' into which Wellington swimming omcials have worked themselves over the allocation of this season's NewUealand championships to Auckland appears foolish (says the .■'lieralu"). Auckland certainly has u prior right to the meeting, if only for tho reason that tho local centre has always given more support than : Wellington to; championship meetings. A comparison of swimmers sent from Auckland in recent years as against Wellington is as follows:—Australasian championships, at Christchurch, 1907, Auckla'nd sent'three swimmers to represent Neiv Zealand, against ono from Wellington; Hawke's Bay, 1008, Auckland live, Wellington two; Timaru, WO9, Auckland three, Wellington two.-. In each case the Auckland swimmers havo had to travel very much longer distances to compete than tlio Wellington men,, and have thus competed at a great disadvantage witli southern, swimmers. Wellington's contention that they have not had a championship meeting for eleven years is wrong, because in 1906 they delegated their right to. Nelson, a body affiliated to the Wellington Centre. Auckland was greatly grioved last season when the championships were awarded to South Canterbury, but did not: act the "spoiled" child, as Wellington is', doing, and threaten to boycott the meeting, a very unsportsmanlike suggestion, and one that must do harm to the sport. On that occasion Auckland only lost on the final ballot, -whereas on this occasion the vote was practically unanimous for Auckland. . The sub-committee, of tho New Zealand Council appointed to report; on tho conference of contro 'representatives hold at Timaru in connection with tho championship meeting in February, reported to;last 'Friday's meetinir that tho council's own expenditure in- the huinano branch did, not permit of it complying with, the suggestion that a larger sharo of the Government grant should be allotted from tho huniano to tho competitive branch. Tho circumstances of each case : must govern the council's action as to tho number of clubs necessary to constitute a centre. Tho committed recommended that championship meetings should extend over threo days with ono daV°s interval between racing daj's.' The report ivas adopted. .'""■:'■ •, :, " : " ! . '.'■■. ..'