NEW ATHLETIC CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 90, 13 October 1932, Page 5

NEW ATHLETIC CLUB

FORMATION NOT FAVOURED

"DETRIMENTAL EFFECT"'

The formation of an Old Boys', Amateur Athletic Club for ex-pupils of colleges and secondary schools was not viewed favourably by members of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club at the annual meeting last night. The president,- Mr. A. C. Kitto, said that: if the club was a success it might "kill" the majority of the clnbs existing in Wellington to-day. He prosumed that 90 per cent, of the boys to-day went to a ' secondary school or a college, and such a club would not do the amount of good the promoters thought. The affiliation of the club was now before the Wellington Centre to bo passed.on to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic -Association and Cycling Association,, and it might be for the meeting to say whether the application for affiliation should go on to the association \yith a recommendation or without.. ' "'.'-■ . ' Mr. M. Burnett said that an Old Boys' Club should be confined to individual schools. "A club with its membership open to ex-pupils of schools throughout Now Zealand is bound to have a detrimental effect on clubs like our own," he said. ' "My experience is that boys leaving school are not influenced to join any particular club," said Mr. C. Jenkins. "Those who participate in sport at college do so because they have to, but I think, that the: sporting interests of most boys after leaving school lie in other .directions." The proportion of boys who engaged: in athletics after finishing with schooling, he said, was ■very small.-.This year the club would probably have a "small membership, but as time-went on.a great number of athletes'from other parts of New Zealand Tvho had no -particular . club to join would seek membership with the Old Boys' Club.- "Personally I. think the number of clubs should be cut down instead of being-added to," he said. "I am very much opposed to the formation of this club. '.'' ■■-■■: . The President: There are enough clubs, at present in Wellington. If you have too many; clubs the sport will degenerate. Mr. T.'Wiggs spoke in favour of the formation of ther-club. • , : A motion that' the; delegates to the Wellington Centre; should vote against the, club's ''-affiliation was withdrawn, and it was decided, to give the delegates a free hand in the matter. :