TWO SPORTS MEETINGS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 37, 7 November 1919, Page 3

TWO SPORTS MEETINGS

— RIVAL SCOTCH SOCIETIES A PECULIAR SITUATION . A deputation representing the Wellington Caledonian Society, consisting of Mr. ]). Clark (chief), W. M'Kee (secretary), and .Mr. T. W. Leslie (convener) waited oil the Reserves Committee of the City Council on Wednesday with tho request that the comitiittee should foreo the Scottish Society to say whether or not they were going to hold a sports moating on New Year's Hay. Ho explained that the Scottish Society had announced that they wero going to hold such a meeting, but further than getting permission from tho council to use tho Basin Reservo on that day, there was no indication that they were proceeding in the matter, and tliey (the Caledonian Society) wero awaro that the Scottisii Society could not proceed with their sports as the society could not get a perluit from tho Wellington centre of tho W.A.A.A. to hold amateur athletic events bscauso tlio permit for that day had been issued to .Masterton (the Wairarapa Caledonian Society's meeting). Tho position was that the Caledonian Society had arranged for a permit for a sports meeting on Boxing Day, and could obtain the consent of the Wellington Cricket Association to have tho Basin Reserve, if tho Cricket Association could have tho Reserve on New Year's Day. This they could ensure if the Scottisii Society w'as not going on with'its sports. "Wo don't see how they, can go on with tho gathering," said Mr. Leslie, "as they havo no permit from tho Wellington centre, unless they piako it a professional meeting." Ho also stated that the Caledonian Society had 480 fully paid-up member?. They had oeen to the Cricket Association, and Messrs'. C. G. Wilson and M. Crombie wore going to ask tho Scottish Society to produco its permit from the Wellington centre, which, of course, tliev could not do, as it had been given .to Masterton for that day. Councillor 11. P. Luckio thought that the Caledonian Socicty should havo tho preference. It was a revival of tlio old socicty, which had dono so much for tlio Basin Rcscne, nnd which helped to build the present pavilion. Councillor G. Erost (chairman) said that tho truth of the matter was that tho Scottish Society had got in first, and councillors did not then know that there wero two rival bodies. It was unfortunate that the one 6oclety had been givou permission to uso tho ground on New. Year's Day, but had 110 permit from tho Amateur Athletic Association, whilst the other body had a permit, and was only prevented from securing tho Basin Reserve for Boxing Day by the fact that the Scottish Society had it for Now Year's Day. Mr. M'K.ec outlined tho origin of the Caledonian ' Socicty, which had its rise about a year ago, when it. was decided to hold a sports meeting. Within twenty-four hours the Scottish Society, through Iho Press, announced its intention ot also holding a meeting though it had never thought of such a thing before. It was just a bit of suleen on their parr. He read a letter which had been sent to the Scottish Society asking if it intended going on with its meeting, and the reply from Mr. David M'Laren, which, tlio speaker said, misconstrued his meaning, entirely. Councillor Frost said that tho Scottish Society had a right to tho ground—and that • could not be altered, but he promised to interview Mr. M'Laren to,seo if there woro no way of settling tho matter.

Mr. M'Koe stated that whether tho Scottish Society- held a meeting or not, the Caledonian Society was goinjj on with their meeting on Boxing Day, if not on tho Basin Reserve, on Newtown Park, which would enable competitors to attend both the Wellington and the Masterton meetings. As evidence that tho Scottish Society had neglected such meltings, Mr M'Kco mentioned that the. Lauder Shield in ,its possession had not been competed Lr' for five years.