ROAD CYCLING CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 100, 30 April 1930, Page 12

ROAD CYCLING CLUB

SECRETARY TAKES BOOKS

EFFORT TO REGAIN

THEM

After a lively discussion, often tinged with personalities and sarcastic references, and the frequent calling to order by the chairman of certain speakers on a motion to break- away from the pre-sent-controlling body, the N.Z.A.A.A., at the annual meeting of tho Port Nicholson Amateur Eoad Cycling Club last evening, there was a scuffle outside tho meeting room when an effort was made to take the books from the late acting-secretary, who, with others not in favour of the motion, had withdrawn to hold a meeting of their own in another room. The secretary, however, with the support of others, managed to retain possession of the books, and the two meetings proceeded. For sonic time past, ever since a proposal was received from Auckland suggesting an alteration in the present control, a section of the Port Nicholson Club has been working in support of that objective, their efforts culminating in the notice of motion before the annual meeting of the club last evening. Some time ago an Auckland organisation under tho- style.of the New Zealand Union of Cyclists applied for affiliation to the world controlling body, Uuion Cyclistc Internationale, and a similar application was also forwarded by the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. Correspondence has passed between the interested parties, and the other day both the New Zealand Cyclists' Union and the N.Z.A.A.A. were advised through the. National Cyclists' Union (England) that it .was necessary before affiliation could be granted for an applicant to show that it was the governing body of both amateur and cash cycling. A move -was then made, without the knowledge of those supporting a breakaway from the N.Z.A.A.A., whereby there was a conference between representatives of the N.Z.A.A.A. and the professionalbody in New Zealand, the New Zealand Ath'lctie and Cycling Union, and- the outcome of this was a decision to establish a board of control governing both- amateur and professional cycling, and to apply at once for affiliation. N.Z.A.A.A. CONFERENCES. Prior to this development, however, a conference of cycle representatives, called by the N.Z.A.A.A., at which Mr. Stewart, of tho Auckland organisation, was present, was held at Wanganui, when certain proposals were agreed upon. It was not, as was hoped, the means' of settling the dispute, and only recently the N.Z.A.A.A. sent, a delegation of three members af its council to Auckland with the object of straightening out the position to the satisfaction of all concerned. .On top of this, however, came the communications from the National Cyclists' Union, to which reference has been made. As far as the Port Nicholson Club is concerned, a special general meeting of the club, held some time ago, passed a motion approving of the New^ Zealand Cyclists' Union's application for affiliation to the U. 0.1., and the motion discussed last evening was the outcome of a further meeting of a section of the club's members. SUSPENDED MEMBERS. At the outset-the question was raised whether Mr. A. White, the acting-as-sistant secretary, was to be_ regarded as a,' suspended member, in spite of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre's decision to that effect, but the chairman (Mr. J. S, Stalker), after Mr. White had produced a letter received from tho Centre, allowed him. to take part in the meeting. Another question followed as to whether the four members suspended by the Centre on Monday evening were eligible to vote, and tho 'ruling after discussion was that they -were not. There was then considerable discusion on the question w,hether new members should not be elected and have an opportunity to vote before-the motion was put to the meeting. ■. ■ On this point, Mr.- I. Ross, formerly of Wanganui, was emphatic that they should not have the right to vote. Mr. S. Wright: "I have never heard of such a thing before. I think it is a trick." There was general laughter at this remark, and protests that there was side-tracking, and that "the whole business was rotten," ' the chairman having to call several to order: A motion, moved by Mr. E. Evans, that the chairman should vacate the chair, followed, but it was lost. Mr. Stalker.then decided to accept the new members who had been nominated, and about twenty were elected. Mr. Evans said he would like to move again the motion that Mr. Stalker should leave the chair. Mr. Stalker: "lam not going to take the motion, Mr. Evans. I'am going to fight for my rights just the same as you are." Discussion then reverted to the notice of motion, and Mr. Boss was given permission to ask Mr. Bray questions. His main question was what the supporters of the breakaway movement intended doing for tho cyclists in the small towns, and he also asked -what was wrong with the suggestions made at tho conference held in Wanganui. Mr. Bray replied, but Mr. Ross said he was not satsified with the answers. Mr. R. Evans said that tho principal objection was that -whatever they did the N.Z.A.A.A. retained the right to veto proposals brought down by the cycling committees. BLOCKAGE OF VOTES. After some further discussion, My. H.D. Bennett, patrou of the club, addressed the meeting. He referred to the part he had ( taken in the new movement and his reasons for doing so. Dealing with the suspension of the four club members, ho said he thought it a pity that such an important matter as that before- the meeting was m some way being prejudiced because of a blockage of some of tho votes. Ho did not say that tho centre was to blame, but, nevertheless, it was most, unfortunate. With regard to the recent development a question that might weli be asked was whether the "lily-white amateurs" had gone down South and made bed-fellows of the professionals. The whole problem now seemed to reduce itself as to who the Board of Control should be, and what constitution it should take. Mr. Bennett proceeded to read correspondence received from overseas with regard to the application for affiliation by the New Zealand Union of Cyclists, and concluded by expressing the opinion that tho motion should be put to the meeting. Mr. G. S. Bright (the acting-secre-tary) suggested that two main questions were: (1) Why were the cyclists desirous, of leaving the N.Z.A.A.A.? and (2) what was wrong with tho treatment they had received? Mr. Bright referred to the acceptance of the proposals for the control of the sport at tho Wanganui conference, and contended that Mr. Bray, the Port Nicholson Club captain, and an ex-member of the Manukau Club (Auckland), had backed up the movement made in Auckland right from the start. Ho pointed out that at a recent meeting the Auckland body had allowed a disqualified

pacer on. tho track. Surely there was something wrong with an. organisation that allowed that. Other speakers in support of the motion expressed the opinion that cyclists would bettor themselves by taking the action suggested. Mr. N. Bobinson (one of tho founders of tho Port Nicholson Club, who recently returned from Australia) drew attention to the effort made a few years back to revive the support. "The Port Nicholson Club has made progress," he added, "and now there arc certain riders who are trying to rob us of the club." .After some further discussion, in which Mr. 1\ Christensori suggested that those supporting the breakaway movement should form a club of their own, the motion was put to the meeting, and was carried by 26 votes to IS. DIVIDED CAMPS. Mr. Stalker then vacated \the chair, and with Mr. Bright, who took the club's books, and about 20 others, including Messrs. M. Gane, 1., Ross, and N. Robinson, went to another room. A brief scuffle followed outside. Mr. Bright retained the club's books, and those who had followed him and Mr. Stalker proceeded to hold a. meeting, those left in the other room continuing their own. Mr. Stalker announced tho meeting over which he presided as a meeting of the Port Nicholson Amateur Boad Cycling Club affiliated to the N.Z.A.A.A. It was decided to advise the Post Office authorities at once that Mr. Bray was no longer a trustee of the trust account. Officers were then elected, with Mr. A. J. Couehman as patron and Mr. Stalker as president, and it was decided to hold an extraordinary general meeting next week. . . ■ In the other room, Mr. Bennett took the.chair vacated by Mr. Stalker, and after there had been a suggestion that he should persuade Mr. Bright to return the books, officers were elected. There were about 33 present at the meeting. Mr. Bennett was elected patron, Mr. A. W. Croskery president, and Mr. A. White secretary. Mr. Bennett expressed the hope that they would not bar the door to any discussion, conference, or any overtures that might be made in the immediate future with regard to some amalgamation of the forces. He saw no reason why they should not work in a friendly way with their old rivals, if he might use that term,* and he urged those present not to be hostile towards the N.Z.A.A.A. , . ■ It was decided that the secretary should write to Mr. Bright demanding the books, and also advise the N.Z.A.A.A. of the decision to disaffiliato with that body. The meeting then closed.