ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1545, 14 September 1912, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

[Bγ "Meucuby."] THE LIGHT STILL SPREADING. And Where To. Last week "Mercury" was able to chronicle the successful formation ot an amateur club in Marlborough. Since then another step has been made in the spod work by tho council of the During' tho week, tho Duller hockey loam has been in town, and advantage was taken of this fact to confer with the West Coasters as to (he possibilities of introducing and establishing amateurism on a proper basis in Westlnml. Tho hockey men, keen amateurs all, lent a very ready ear to the proposals of the council, nnd the outcome of the conferonco was ihat a start is to bo made right away with tho formation ut a club in West port. The possibility of obtaining a footin" in Oreymouth was also gono into, and, as prospects seemed encouraging, the work of organisation will be sot in train there. So it is probable that Blenheim's good example will bear speedy fruit. Set up Olympic Fund? An important step was taken by tho council at the meeting of the N./.A.A.A. on Monday night with regard to Olympic matters. This was in respect to the formation of a permanent fund to defray tho cost of representation at future games-a fund which, if such representation is to be continued, has become nn absolute necessity. Hitherto as is known the "sinews ot war" have been obtained largely by public subscription, but it has become apparent that those most irimedintely concerned—the members of the various athletic bodies-should shoulder the financial burden in future. To secure this end, and acting upon a remit, from the N.Z. Olympic Council, the N.Z.A.A.A. executive has decided to recommend to the various centres that a fee of 6d. per head • per annum be charged all club members thrcughout tho Dominion, nnd that tho roncy derived from this capitation be set aside each year for Olympic representation purposes. It now remains with tho centres to say whether tho collection of this fee by their clubs is practicable. If the schemo meets with general opproval—nnd there is no real reason why it should not, and is put into operation (his coming season —a respectable sum will bo found to havo accumulated by the time the next Games come round, four years lu-nce. The Seal Put on Two Records. - Two records have been approved by tho N.Z.A.A.A.— J. M'Holin's hammer throw of 133 ft. 83in., and A. W. I/ormer'a linin. 58 l-ssec. for the half-mile run. The former is to be recommended to the A.A.U. for Adaption us nn Australasian record, while Dormer's figures will constitute a fresh New Zealand record.