AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1069, 7 March 1911, Page 8

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

THE NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL. A meeting of the council of the Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held last evening. Mr. A. Marryatt presided, and there wera also present: Messrs. J. H. Pollock, E. ClmffoyJkF. Ross, K. Oram, Davis, and W. G. Talbot (secretary). Intimation was received from the Canterbury Centre that tho championship mooting at Christchurch had been postponed from March i until March 18, so os it would not clash with the trotting meeting on March i. The letter stated that the "throwing 101b. hammer" was from a 7ft. circle, not a 9ft. circle, as stated in -the preliminary programme. Tho Canterbury Centre stated that it did not intend to apply for tho control of tho Australasian Championshiris next year, but recommended that they bo allotted to Dunedin. J. P. Moore, Centre Bush, was reinstated as an amateur on tho recommendation of tho Southland Centre, n. T. Graham, of Palmerston North, was also reinstated. An application wis received from the Wellington Centre for tho control of the Australasian Championships in 1912. It was decided that tho application be held over till the next meeting of tho council. Messrs. Marryatt, Pollock, and Chaffey, who had been appointed to represent tho council on the Festival of Empire Sports Committee, reported that in conjunction with delegates from boxing, swimming and lawn tennis councils, the Prime Minister was waited upon re the question of financial assistance towards the Dominion b?ing represented at London. Sir Joseph Ward informed the deputation, that a subsidy of £1 for M would bo granted np to .£250. Arrangements were made with Mr. B. A. Guise to act as hon. secretary to a general committee consisting of members of snorting institutions interested. This committee is working assiduously, and the prospect of raising ,£2OO promises to be" realised. Messrs. W- G. Harding and Guy Haskins intimated that they could represent the council in the Australasian "team, and thc-so athletes were requested to attend at Wellington to run heats over 880 yards and one mile. Mr. Harding replied that bo was not trained for distances over 410 yards and, could not at present compete in tho distances Mr. Haskins agreed to give the Council the trial required at tho Basin Reserve to-morrow-night. Mr. R. Opie and Mr. Kcddell intimated that they would bo unable to accompany the New Zealand team. Mr.. W. A. Woodger left for Auckland en routo to England on February 25. It is proposed to send tho remaining members of tho team on March 15. Tho committee hopes to raise ample funds to send two representatives of the N.Z.A.A.A. Council in addition to Woodger. Mr. Ross raised some objection ,to tho committee having taken it upon themselves to offer to pay tho expenses of Haskins without first asking the permission of tho Council. It was pointed out to him that tho committee was not spending the Council's money, but that nevertheless they intended to ask at that meeting for permission to mako tho payment. " Mr. Ross then told tho mooting that in his opinion Hector Burk had registered better performances than Guy Haskins and should havo been considered by the committee. Burk, ho said, had registered times in New Zealand which he (Mr. Ross) thought were better than these Haskins had registered in Philadelphia, 'where tho tracks were short .and where the runners had tho advantago of the very best of training. Mr. Oram, who was also of opinion that Burk should be considered, informed the meeting that ho had no faith in American times. Messrs. Pollock and Chaffey With expressed their willingness to resign fiom the committeo and.make room (nr llr. Ross, who, they stated, knew a great, deal more about the business than either of them. After a good deal of similar discussion had taken placo the chairman produced a telegram from G. N. 'iill, cf Auckland, asking for permission to cluillenge Haskins over a mile. Eventually a motion was put to the meeting: "That it be a ii'eer.minendatiosr t.i the committee that the claims of Hector Burk and G. N. Hill l:o token into consideration in the selection of teim to no to England." This was carried. Messrs. Ross'and Or?.m voted for the motion and Mr. Davis against it. The three members of tho Festival Committee did not vote. It was then decided that permission be given foT the payment of the expenses of Guy Haskins.