GOOD SPORTSMEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2588, 9 October 1915, Page 3

GOOD SPORTSMEN

SANTA CLATJS IN THE .TRENCHES,

Mr. C. G. Wilson presided at a meetling of. sports bodies lield at . Banks' Commercial College," calledto .devise isomo . Dominion' :'scheme for' providing -Christinas • gifts for oiir. boy's -at. the front. Those present .were'the'representatives of f the. following bodies The Wellington Boxing Association, the Wellington Football Association 1 , " the Wellington Swimming Centre, tlio Wellington Rugby Union, the Wellington Amateur! Athletic Association, the New Zealand 'Amateur Athletic.'Association, the' New Zealand ,Tennis Association,, the Wellington Rowing Council, the Wellington Golf Association,, and the Wellington Bowling Centre:' > . Mr. A. Marryatt'said that the idea, was. that .in each centre. every* sports body should set. up a'committee which would bo able: to act at a moment's, uotice in support of any of their r:ghts which might be threatened. That wan only 0110 portion ,-bf the proposed Iraovement. The othor idea was'that, through their combination,' they should' arrange to send V Christmas gift of tobacco and sweets to every British soldier at the Dardanelles, as"a gift from, the sports bodies of ,New.Zealand.' : .'He' wastold, also, was W great : necessity for recruiting, and he contended tliat a combination of sports 'bodies' 'would', be. well qualified to assist in such a movement. Most of the' capable sports .had already gone or' were 1 going, .and the. representatives of sport were the men' best able to carry-, on tho recruiting campaign. (Hear, - hear.) ' A.s to the Christmas gifts, lie pointed out that for tho Belgian Relief" Fund £4000 was raised in shillings at an expenditure of' £20, and he believed that an equally good result would be achieved on this occasion. Their- aim. vwas .. to . .raise £10,000: nothing less would be' any use. The Mayoress,/who- Bad been working at high pressure,'had offered to do all'in her power for the'promotion of the scheme. (Applause.), ■ Mr.. 6.. Hill stressed the need' of bringing about a federation of ; spdrts bodies for the protection of their mutual interests. Many, things had occurred in the past to demonstrate the necessity for such, a combination. . In answer to a question, the chairman said lie had; little doubt but that.ar-. rangements could be made with a reput--able Home firm to send our-men at the front the gifts which it was proposed to. send.. The organisation was complete, and if tho principle was affirmed there would he very little delay in raising the money, sending it Home, and having-the gifts sent out,to the trenches in time for Christmas. Mr. Marryatt moved that the meeting resolvo itself into a. committee for the purpose of raising funds for Christmas gifts from the amateur sports of New Zealand for the troops at the Dardanelles and in Samoa. The motion was'seconded;by Mr. R. B. Grange and carried unanimously; _ On -the motion of the chairman, it was decided that the delegates bring before their various bodies the question' of federation referred to earlier in the evening. - The appointment of Mr.' Amos as hon. secretary was unanimously confirmed, amid applause. He was also" appointed lion, treasurer to the fund. V ' It was also decided to arrange for a social evening at the Town Hall with the object of bringing together' representatives of all classes of sport in the City; Committees were set up to carry out the objects proposed, aud it was stated tliat they would commence work at otico.