THE SPORTS DEFENCE LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1758, 24 May 1913, Page 3

THE SPORTS DEFENCE LEAGUE.

WELLINGTON BRANCH. THE FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. Tho first annual meeting of the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Sports Protection' League ivns held at Turnbull's rooms, Panama Street, last evening, Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., president of the branch, presiding over an attendance of about 30 members.

The Annual Report. The annual report, which was adopted seated that the branch was formed at a time when a wavo of sentimentalism against sport was passing over tho Dominion. Shortly after formation it was decided to protest against the action of a section of the community who, by deputation to tho council, mado a strenuous effort to prevent boxing in the Town Hall, which, for a number of years, had been ably carried on by the local association. The branch arranged a representative deputation who waited upon tho council, and put their side of tho question, with tho ultimate result that a certain proposal (to ihavo permission for the conposal (to have permission for the contests rescinded) was lost lost. In connection wth the recent Easter .Carnival, the offer of the Boxing Association to carry out a benefit tournament in aid of the funds, was endorsed by the council without opposition. Tho Town Hall was let without charge, and a sum exceeding .£45 was handed over. Various other matters, such as protesting against tho cutting up of tho Basin Reserve and remission of rates on sports grounds, were also dealt with. Many misstatements had been made concerning tho purposes of the league. The secretory (in his capacity as general secretary) had in hand the organisation of the league throughout the Dominion, and had successfully launched some 75 branches from Dargaville to Riverton, and this accounted for tho fact that, up to the present, no active campaign, has been mado to have all tho governing bodies of sport affiliated to the league in this city. Tho main concern in tho immediato future was to have tho various associations of sport affiliated to tho branches. One of tho principal planks for the future should be to protect the people's rights in the way of recreation, and, if its only achievement was to preserve recreation grounds and parks from the cupidity of public bodies, and to assist to secure more recreation grounds, this alone would

justify its existence. Tho finance of the branch was sound. The sum of .£37 10s. was' granted by the board •of oontrol. Tlie expenditure amounted to .£IG 155., and the credit balance at the bank is w£2o_los. The present membership of the branch was 5732, but in accordanco with the old rules the payment of a subscription has not been a condition of membership, the league being supported by voluntary contributors., The position with regard to membership was now as follows: —There shall be two classes of members, namely : (a) Members who shall pay an annual subscription of 2s. 6d., and shall be entitled to receive a badge of membership from the branch league, (b) Contributingmembers who shall pay an annual subscription of Is., but shall not be ■ entitled to a badge, but in every other re-, spect to all the rights of a member, including the right to vote, (c) Any person of either sex above the age of IS years may propose himself or herself for membership of the league, specifying the class to which he or she wishes to belong. All sudh proposals shall be submitted to the committee of the district within which the proponent resides. The branch committee may direct that the name of such person be enrolled or it may not be enrolled. Immediately upon a direction that the name be enrolled the proponent shall become a member of tlie league. .

Tho Chairman's Remarks. Speaking to the motion for tho adoption of the report, tho chairman stressed the point that "neither the league, of which wo are a branch, nor this branch, has any connection with any political party. "Ate have no political opinions, said Mr. Skerrett, "and' wo should not allow our organisation to be weakened in its (fi'ectiveness by any appearance of devotion to any particular party in power. Our purpose is purely defensive—to resist any undue encroachment upon tho liberty of men to indulge in clean, useful, and legitimate sport.' Members, he went on to say, would not countenance any sport which in itself, or in its conduct was degrading .in its influence upon tho community. (Applause.) Tho League, further, had no desire to interfere in any way with authority or control exercised by clubs or associations in connection with their particular sport. Since the league was first organised, somo work had been done, and he beljeved that the time would come when it would justify its organisation. But that time was not yet. They should fortify and perpetuate their existence, for as an organised body they could be of great value at moments of political excitement. We have no personal antagonism to our opponents," said the speakor, in conclusion. "We rwill respect their opinions and carefully consider them. _ We are not ■against reform, but against undue restrictions detrimental to the mental and physical vigour of the country, and we will use our votes and brains to resist any undue aggression upon our Tights and liberty. (Applause.) .

Officers Elected. The following officers were elected for the enusing year President, Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C.; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. W. Trineham, F. J. Courtney, and M. M. Luckie; committee, Messrs. A. Marl'yatt, W. J. Organ, J. Fuller, inn., S. Brown, and Dr. Gilmer. The office of patron was held over for the time being. Mr. A. Paape was re-eleoted honorary secretary and treasurer of the branch. The following were reported to have been nominated by the branch for positions on tho Board of Control-.—Presi-dent, Sir George Clifford; vice-president, Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C.; hon. treasurer, Mr. Lan G. Duncan; members, Mr. J. H. B. Coaites, Hon. Dr. Collins, M.L.C., and Mr. C. W. Tringham.