ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1097, 8 April 1911, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

THOSE INDEPENDENT DELEGATES. (BT Mercoei.) Dunedin or Wellington? On Tuesday, the council of tho New Zealand Amateur AtMetic Association decided a rather momentous question—tho allocation of next season's Australasian championships. Last week "Mercury" ventured the opinion that the deliberations on'the matter would be interesting —and they were. Still more interesting should bo tho result, in. so far as the various centres are concerned.

The issue lay between Wellington and Dunedin. A decided indication of the wishes of the centres had been given by the recent conference in Christchurch, which decided to recommend that tho honour should go to Dunedin. As a sequence, the Otago, Southland, and Auckland delegates to the council were instructed to vote accordingly. Of the other two districts, Wellington had given its representatives a free hand, and Canterbury's instructions (if any) wero.riot divulged, although, again (it any), they are not hard to guess. Certainly they were (if existent) not in favour of Vvelllngton. The council had tho two claims before it, and, after hearing tkem, the award-was given for Wellington.

Mr. Oram Opens Fire. Mr. Oram, a Canterbury delegate, in an extremely lucid and forceful speech, opened the ball on Wellington's behalf, and it soon became very apparent that, despite instructions .and the recommendation of the Centre Conference, he had the council with him unanimously. Tho Otngo representatives voted.directly against their centre's instructions, while the Southland and Auckland delegates (although voting to order) expressed hearty concurrence, with the choice of Wellington as the most' suitable locale, and so the matter ended.

What Will Happen to Delegates Now? What remains to I>B settled now is the relations between tlio centres, and their recalcitrant delegates. Otago's fiat has already gone forth—her representatives must resign. Still tlio fact remains, and the cenlro must know that, if their delegates are worthy of the position which they hold, they aro guided in their actions by what they consider to be the best for the sport. Parochial considerations tlo not weigh with them. Anil, since this is so, it is unjust that members should bo tied on such a question. Tho council is clected to govern the sport in the Dominion as a whole, and tho members thereof are elected to the council because of their capabilities to carry out such government. The council is 'tho governing body for tho Dominion. the centres aro not. The centres exist to govern their districts, not to govern tho council. As with any elective body, the council is, of course, responsible to its electors for a good "and proper government, but such government is not to be obtained by tho centres tying the hands of the council. Such action would lower the status of the council in making it merely a sub-committee for carrying on routine business and correspondence, and would, of necessity deprive it of any governing powers at all. This is distinctly not tho position that the council was meant to occupy, and members of the executive body havo been wise to make the position clear to the centres on this occasion.

A Sportsmanlike Otago Opinion. That this view of the council's functions is held in other ccntrcs is evidenced bv the following paragraph from tho "Otago Witness," which is of peculiar interest as showing the feeling in Dnncdin, -where feeling on the matter may reasonably be expected to run highest:— The allocation of tho Australasian championships is a matter of much moment, particularly to Dunedin, to which city the conference of ccntre.s has recommended the meeting should be giren. Wellington appears to be favoured by the council, and colour is

lent this theory by the references to the meeting made recently by the Victorian and New Eolith Wales Associations. And if this were not so, the motion of Jlr. Pollock (Wellington), and supported by tho Wellington delegates only at the conference'"That the allocation of ' tho Australasian championship meeting is entirely a matter for the council"—would almost convince one that the council had already made up its mind to have tho Australasian gathering held in Wellington. In this matter of the venue of tho Australasian championships, wo do want to get away from any savour of provincialism. If Dunodin is entitled to it, all other considerations being equal, then to Dunedin it should go; if Wellington has better claims on the score of convenience for competing athletes, gate, grounds, etc., then by all means let the Australasian championships be held at. Wellington. The council should decide the matter without further delay. It. will have the conference of centres' recommendation before it, but not of necessity will that rceommcudation bo accepted.

When We Meet Those Victorians Last week reference was mado to -some of the outstanding features of the Victorian championships, held at Melbourne last Saturday week. Full details are now to hand, and are appended. As the Victorians will be the most formidable of our challengers for the Australasian Champion Shield at tho big meeting next season, the results of their championships and of the recent New Zealand championship are shown, so that the relative strengths of tho two countries can bo more easily gauged:—

Victoria. 100 yds., ,T. Burton, lOsec. . 220 yds., J. 11. Slater, 23sec. 410 yds., A. E. Hartkopf, 52 4-ssec. 880 yds., S. G. Hollow, 2min. 2sec. Olio Mile, G. Wheatley, 4min. 50sec. Three Miles, S. S. Long, 15min. 45! sec. One Jlile Walk, W. Murray, Cmin. 40 4-ssec. Three Jlilo Walk, W. Murray, 22min. 38} sec. 120 yds. Hurdles, ,T-. L. Davis, lGsec. 410 yds. Hurdles, -T. L. Davis, 60 2-ssec. Broad Jump, J. L. Davis, 22ft. Tin. High Jump, L. H. Kelly, 6ft. OJin. Pole Vault, L. Walker and J. Brake, dead hoat, 10ft. Shot Putting, A. D. Robertson, 36ft. Sin. Hammer Throwing, W. G. Eouse, 10ft. 6in. New Zealand. 100 yds., R, Opie, 10 1-lOsec. 220 yds., li. Opic, 22sec. 440 yds., I?. Opie, 50 4-ssec. 880 yds., W. G. Harding, Imin. 58 4-ssec. One Jlile, Ct. N. Hill, 4min. 25 2-ssec. Throe Miles, G. N. Hill, 14min. 53 2-ssec. One Jlile Walk, H. E. Kerr, Gmin. 4G 3-ssec. Threo Jlilo Walk, H. E. Kerr, 21min. 46 2-ssec. 120 yds. Hurdles, G. P. Keddell, 15 3-10 sec. 410 yds. Hurdles, G. P. Keddell, GO 3-ssec, Broad Jump, G. P. Keddell, 21ft. 3Un. High Jump, R. F. Mitchell, sft. GJin. Pole Vault, L. M'Kay, 10ft. 2in. Shot Putting, W. do Thier, 36ft. lOJin. Hammer Throwing, A. Bisset, 123 ft. 2in. On this showing tho New Zealand representatives scoro in ten of the fifteen events—the llop, Step, and Jump has not been included, as this event docs not figure in the Victorian championship competitions. Ono curious coincidence is brought to light by the comparison, namely, that the two hurdle events and the broad jump should have fallen to one competitor at each meeting. Good as Keddell's performance in Christchurch was, Davis rather outpoints him in his "treble." The walks also produced a "doublo" for a single competitor in each case. Murray, tlio Victorian, must be a great advance on Australian walkers of-recent years to have hoisted the times credited to him. It appears from the reports that he won with ridiculous ease, and in tho three-mile event lapped his field. Ho is also a fine distance runner, aiid won tho East Melbourne Harriers' "Marathon" last October. Wheatley, the Festival of Empire representative, did not start in tho "half," preferring to save himself foiv tliei inileH a precautionary' measure whiclr appears to have been quite unnecessary, as ho won in the appallingly slow time (for him) of, 4min. 50sec.. On his usual form, Wheatley could rim this .backwards. Tho high jump was commented upon last week, Kelly s Gft. -Jin. being a particularly filio effort, and an Australasian ■record too. Eric Russell, tho other Victorian six feet "topper," was not competing owing to a family bereavement—a great pity. Kelly v. Russell would bo a great competition.

Can this be True? Thus tho "Bulletin" on tho Festival of Empire hurdle representative fov Australasia"Young Frank Brown, Of Melbourne', who was to have taken the boat' for England this week, has acquired tonsilitis in a severe form, and is under treatment at a private hospital. It is now doubtful whether ho will take the trip at all, and almost certain that he will not. in any case, be fit to represent Australia in the 120 yards hurdles at the Coronation Games. Frank, though still 'young Frank,' is already a veteran in exploration. The Mount Maroomba field saw him ere the 'boom' arose on tho reports of his party, who, by the way, arc not yet convinced that the place is no good. More recently ho was snooting buffaloes in tho Northern Territory, and he has a notebook stuffed with interesting mattn- about his adventures." There is -no mention of this possible defection in the "Referee," so it is to be hoped that the renort is exaggerated. The Victoria College sports meeting on Sfltufdny last was a bright little affair, and was responsible for good performances 011 the part of tho three collego representatives "for the. University tournament at Auckland on Easter Monday—A. T. Duncan. T. Kigfr, and G. Strack. Duncan won the 220 handicap, from .a big field, in 23 3-sscc., nnd the 410 yards handicap in 53sec., both from scratch. Rigg, from scratch, ran an excellent mile in 4min. 35 2-ssec. and won, and Strack won both hurdle handicaps—the 120 yards (ofring 12 yards), in 18 2-sscc., and the 4-10 yards (from scratch), in G5 4-ssec.