CYCLING IMBROGLIO

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 84, 6 October 1931, Page 7

CYCLING IMBROGLIO

NEW ZEALAND CONTROL

A LUCID STATEMENT

A statement regarding the position of cycling in New Zealand was given at last evening's meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association by the chairman of the council, Mr. H. I. Austad, in which he expressed confidence in the N.Z.A.A.A.V claim, to the control of cycling in the Dominion. Letters had been received from various affiliated clubs expressing the desire that the troubles which had arisen since the inception -of the New Zealand Union of Cyclists should be eliminated. One of the members of the council had been subjected to some severe . criticism recently, and it was obvious that some action should be taken. The member in question, Mr. A. C. Sceats, expressed the opinion that it was about time that cyclists were made aware of the exact position in regard to amateur cycling in the Dominion. He had made no attempt to reply to the criticism, but felt that from the cyclist's point of view the present inaction was .only aggravating the situation. Mr. Austad related how the matter of affiliation had been held over until the cases of the two bodies in New Zealand had been referred to arbitration. Negotiations with the N.Z.U.C. had resulted in a refusal to take their case forward. "We would be very happy to arrange some sort of compromise with the opposing body and to advance the code in the best way possible. There has been some misleading propaganda in a certain section of the Wellington Press regarding the situation, and in this it was stated that the council has no interest in cycling control. Such is not the case." The N.Z.A.A.A. had made formal application for affiliation with the International Union of Cyclists, through the New Zealand Board of Control. The case of the Ne Zealand Association had been prepared showing that there were between six and seven hundred active cyclists affiliated to the N.Z.A.A.A. Affidavits from clubs showed that the N.Z.A.A.A. is the really representative body of amateur cyclists throughout the Dominion, oven in Auckland, "which is the stronghold of the breakaway movement," while in the South Island the N.Z.A.A.A. had complete control. "Our case is so strong on the face of it that I am sure the New Zealand cyclists can await with confidence the result of the decision of the International Board of Control," said Mr. Auslad. A member: "It would be an excellent plan to lot the centres know fully what has been done in the matter."

It was suggested that a conference be convened advising all members of clubs of the actual position, and Mr. Austad recommended that a sub-committee be elected to meet the 'Wellington Centre at an early date.

Mr. L. A. Tracy: "Say two members from the council, two from the AVellington Centre, and the whole cycling subcommittee."

After further discussion Messrs. Tracy and Austad were elected to represent the N.Z.A.A.A. Council and to meet the Wellington Centre ;it an executive meeting to be held next Monday.

Mr. J. O'Sullivan: "And to let the other centres know the information obtained." Further discussion in this connection was held in committee.