SPORTS PROTECTION LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2160, 28 May 1914, Page 8

SPORTS PROTECTION LEAGUE

WELLINGTOX IiRANCH AKNUAL MEETINCi,

The annual meeting of tlie Weilrtig- j ton branch of the New y,oaland Ssports j Vrotcctiou.Leasuo was hoM last mgltt. : The president (Mr. C. P. Skemtt) presided, and there was an ■ attendance of about twenty members. In moving the atfcption of wio. report ami balance-sheet, (as previously published) Mr. Skqrreti;. said that lie congratulated members tipon the flnanciaf position of the branch. Nevertheless they were all desirous or a fresh , accession .of members to thebranch and ho trusted the various snorts bodies would preserve tiieir interests by giv'iii" the; Leiistte their, sunport. Sir. Sliallcrass, their now setrotary, had shown an enthusiasts interost in. the braueh and the Leasiic, which,, he said, had rooro than 'justitiwl his appointment. J[r. Skcrrotl pointwt »«t. tlia.t the League.stood aloof'both from the ):ittblic and sporting bodies. They were allied to the public in that tk\v sought tr> protect and support clean sport. They would not identify theinselvcs with any class of sport not awking' for the betterment of tile community.

Sinci' tho formation of tlw , League tlicrc had boon a cessation of the at-. , tacks upon sport, winch hiwl takers place prior to its inception - . That was a point which the thought was jrood. (Applause.) It was because of the fact that there had been no attacks to be repelled that tho brunch had few matters of iinportanro to put before its members, The . Vat-seeing men saw that the best means to en* sure peace and safety against unjust attacks, was to lie prf>p-,H<MI at all times. (Applause.) It had to be ■cltxtrly understood, hnwcvi«r, thut tho Lcsyue stood right apart from -politics. It was not for them to interfere in practical politics, apart from Sitfsguft.rcling their interests. If tlie time (iwt arose, however, when a candidate was put forth, opposed to. legitimate sport, that candidate would be opposes!, by. the League, whether lie was a Liberal or a Conservative.

llr. A. Jlarryatt sccoiltol the n»tion, and spoke of tiie valuable work done by the Leaguo in saining a minimum of rates to sporting bodies, and in liolpiiif! forward the acquisition of Williams Park. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Election of Offieers. The election of uffln>rs resulted as follows:—President, Mr. , C. 1 , , Skwrclt; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. W. Ti'inghani, I:'. J. C'onrieiiity, I[. y. ],xwkie, and W. Perry: wimuiittee, Messrs. A. Jlarryatt, W. J. Oigini, S. Drown, W. L. Kolhenbers ami Br, Gilmor. 'Die coinmittcc, nomrun'C'r] the i'oilowiiifr Kentleninn for tiie Hoard of Control:—President, Sir Oect. Clifford; chairman,' Mr. G. P. Skerrrtl; lion, trrasurer, Mr. Lan (■'. Diniran; committee. Hon. Dr. CeljiiiE. M.L.C.. Mr. J. IT. R. Coatcs, ami Mr. C. W. Tritin;luuii. A vote of Minuks to the diaiiiiian coneluded the buainoss* .