ATHLETIC AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 24331, 21 October 1942, Page 4

ATHLETIC AFFAIRS

ANNUAL MEETING OF CENTRE “ We have come to the cud of another season and still find that our country is at, war. We can only iiope that by tins time next year the war clouds will have been cleared away,” said Mr C. W. Clark, president of the Otago centre. New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, at last night's fortieth annual meeting, in moving the adoption of Die annual report. He referred to the season just past as not having been tin easy otic for amateur athletics, However, m spite of the difficulties, the juniors and women athletes had assured its success. In the last war it was the juniors who had stepped into Hie. breach, and it looked this time as if it would be necessary lo go below juniors, to the colts. Altogether, he fell that (he centre should he satisfied with the season just dosed.

Referring to the Caledonian Ground, Mr Clark said that if tlio area was lost to sport lie did not know, what amateur athletics would do The centre was keeping the matter in view, and it would not be the fault either of the centre or the Council of Sport if the ground were not retained as a 'sports area. Mr E. C. Isaacs, in seconding the adoption of the report, said lie would like to compliment the clubs on the good work they were, doing among the colts. The success of the winter meeting had been largely due to the lime that had been given to the.juniors. He referred also to the Army members, and to the good work being done by schoolmasters in widening the scope of sport among the children. Mr U. W. McGregor said that over the last throe years he had been an observer of the activities of the centre. He had arrived at the conclusion that there seemed to be a necessity to attract within the sphere of the centre men with ability, energy, and vision. He felt also that it was to sport, as a whole, that they owed a primary duty and not to individual chibs. Mr W. H. Masters deprecated Mr McGregor’s remarks about the centre. He would draw Mr McGregor’s attention to the fact that over the last three years’ ihe country had been at war. No matter what limitations they had, those who were carrying the burden deserved credit for what they were doing. The club spirit did come into matters occasionally—it was difficult to overcome it. There was not the material to work on, but the centre had done well in view cf the existing conditions.

The report was adopted. Aftqr a discussion it was decided not to hold a Marathon this year. 'The following principal office-bearers were elected for the ensuing season: —Patron, Mr G. E. Tapley; president, Mr C. W. Clark; vice-presidents—Messrs E. C. Isaacs, C. K. Heaton, and ,T. A. Bond; honorary secroiory, Air C. A. Pope; honorary treasurer, Mr \V. H. Masters; honorary sports secretary, Mr A. G. Hehbard ; honorary starter, Air H. J. C. McKenzie; honorary handicappers—Alessrs W. N. Connell (track), ,1. V. Anderson (field), and C. A. Pope (children’s events) ; 'delegates lo the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association — Alessrs .1. W. Holley, ■ V). T. Woodtiehl, C. AV. Clark, and C. A. Pope; Sports Committee —Alessrs C. W. Clark, E. C. Isaacs, .1. A. Bond, C. K. Heaton, A. G. Hehbard, W. H. Masters, C. A. Pope, H. T. Emmerson, J,. V. Anderson, \V. N. Connell, G. D. Budge,, and M. Mackinnon; Reinstatement Committee, Messrs C. W. Clark and C. A. Pope; delegates to the Council of Sport, Messrs C. W. Clark and H. T. Emmerson.