ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 787, 9 April 1910, Page 10

ATHLETICS.

WELLINGTON CENTRE. ' THE KERR-WILSON CONTEST. SEQUEL TO A RESOLUTION. • Most of the business dealt with at last night's meeting of delegates of the Wellington Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A. related in one way or another to the trouble which has arisen as a result of certain negotiations having for their object the holding of a second trial of strength between the two champion walkers, Kerr, of Wellington-, and Wilson, of Auckland.

Mr. J. H. Pollock submitted hi* resignation of tho.position of delegate for. the centre on the council of the N.Z.A.A.A.

Mr. Dawson moved that Mr. Pollock be asked to reconsider his decision. Mr. Pollock had done a. lot of work which others were not energetic enough to do. He felt that Mr. Pollock had always done his utmost to further amateur athletics. Indeed, his loss would be felt in amateur athletic circles throughout the Dominion,. ■ Mr. S. Robinson seconded the motion.

Mr. W". H. Pollock said that Mr. J. H. Pollock could not under the circumstances reconsider his decision.

The motion was passed unanimously. ■ The St. Patrick's Day Celebration Committee wrote stating that.at a recent meeting of the centre a. guestion was debated as to- the action of some person or persons, in opening up negotiations with Auckland—negotiations which were a proper function' for the centre alone to deal with. As' their committee was' approached by Mr. Pollock, sen., with regard to inducing Kerr to visit Wellington about that time to compete; at their sports, and as it was duly advertised as such, it desired to advise the centre that it had no communication with the Auckland centre relative to Wilson meeting Kerr at their sports, although the local press had it so. Theiri committee was free from correspondence with the Auckland Centre in the matter. Mr. W. H. Pollock thought that there had been no cause for the writing of the letter so far as the centre was concerned. -.. . • > ■ Mr. Walsh was:of opinion that the letter was not altogether unnecessary. '■: It was eventually _ decided that the letter should be received. ■'■,'■■ Mr. S. Robinson brought '.up the matter of a resolution passed at the last meeting of the centre as follows: — "That the Wellington Centre, control ling as it does the spdrt in Wellington, would assure the Auckland Centre that correspondence sent to ■ the latter city, other than through the secretary .of this centre is of no official value, and has hot the approval-of members of this centre." He moved the addition of the following words to the resolution:— "Such assurance, of course, does riot apply in the case of a club in a matter of ; urgency communicating direct with, another club, nor does it'apply to the centre's delegate, who may or' may not bo an official of a club." Some members had (he remarked) taken quite a wrong view of the intention of the motion...

; Mr. Dawson seconded the motion pro. formal -'' i '.•■ ;>\'^;i - Mr. 'Heenan moved an amendment to 1 the effect that the word . "centre" .be substituted for the word "city," and that the additional words proposed by Mr. Robinson be not added. Mr. Short seconded the amendment. . Mr. W. H. Pollock thought the motion was a direct interference with the powers of clubs. move a further amendment,-that • a new rule be framed as follows:—"That all correspondence between clubs under.the jurisdiction of the Wellington Centre and clubs in other centres shall be made through this centre." -' ' ■

As this ..further amendment involved an alteration of the rules, the chairman ruled that notice of motion'would have to be given on the; subject, • ■ Mr. Robinson-, after further discussion, remarked that he was quite willing to accept Mr. Heenan's amendment. The amendment was carried by seven votes to six, and afterwards agreed to as a substantive rhotioh.- ' Mr. W. H. Pollock then, gave notice of motion that" the resolution .be 'rescinded, and that a new, rule :J as indicated by him at an earlier stage be framed. ■'■' : . \,. "-,-,- Mr. Walsh gave notice of motion as follows:'—To add to Rule 4 .."executive" the words "and provided, that members of the same club shall not represent more than one other club." ' At this juncture matters which Fad been fairly lively throughout reached a climax. Mr. W. H. Pollock was seeking information as to the requirements of the rules in connection with his notice of motion, when- the chairman (Mr. Coffey) requested him to take his seat in the, meantime. Mr. Pollock replied: No, I don't feel inclined to do so. I am entitled to the information. I want fair play. Mr. Coffey: Well, you must obey my ruling. As Mi-. Pollock continued to protest, a motion-was-carried that'he should either resume' his seat or leave the room. ' '■' .•■''■';',' Mr. Pollock preferred to leave the room. Subsequently, Mr. Robinson asked if a member could move tho motion in question or giust his club, give notice. Mr. Coffey: Either can do it. . ' Mr. Robinson: Well, that is all Mr. Pollock wished to know. Mr. Coffey assured members that he always made a point of giving everyone "a fair deal," and that he was sorry the incident had occurred.