AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2371, 11 December 1908, Page 5

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

THE SECESSIONIST COUNCIL

[Press Association.] Wellington' Dec. 10. The first-(meeting of the new council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, was held this evening, there being present: Messrs A. Marryatt (in tlie chair, W. F. Larkin, W. Coffey, W. H. Pollock, J. H. Dawson, F. Ross, A. Davis, and 1 B. A. Guise (provisional secretary). Officers were elected as follows: — President, Dr. A. K, Newman president, Mr. Marryatt; secretary and treasurer, Mr, W. G. Talbot; auditor, Mr. G. W. Tringham. The following re-instatement committee was -set up : Messrs Rose,-Larkin, and Pollock. Mr. Ross moved—“ That the executive. appointed.as the governing body of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association by delegates at a conference of centres which met at Christchurch on December sth jointly and severally accept office and agree to administer tho rules and affairs of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association.” The motion was oarcried unanimously.

In declaring the first meeting of the executive open, Dr. Newman returned thanks for the position in which he had been placed, and said that while he agreed with the remarks that had been made refuting misstatements made by members mf tho socalled council, he trusted the proceedings of the new council would be of a dignified nature. There was Jtao doubt they represented the great majority of the clubs in New Zealand. All the delegates who went to the conference were given a free hand by the centres, and tlie ’action of the Wellington centre had been endorsed. When the delegates explained their action to the Utago centre the latter endorsed their action.

On the anotion of Mr. Coffey, seconded by Mr. Dawson, Messrs Larkin, lloss, and iMarrvatt were appointed a committee to draw up a report to submit to the Australasian Council setting forth the position of affairs, and that the council in question be asked to officially recognise the executive as the governing body of amateur athletics throughout the Dominion.

It was resolved, on the motion of Ylr. A. Ross, that the secretary write to the secretaries of centres and clubs informing them of the position, and asking them .in future to forward all business matters and papers due to Mr. Talbot, secretary. Copies of the minutes of the conference are to be sent to tlie various Athletic Associations in the Australian (States. It was resolved that the championship meeting for 1909 be offered to the Southland centre, to be run under amateur athletic principles. A letter is to be writen to the secrota rv and treasurer of the aV.cged defunct body at Christchurch instructing them to' send over the lumU and the property held by that body to the secretary and treasurer of the new council.

There will.be another meeting next Thursday night. The secretary of the Wellington centre (Mr. Guise) was heartily thanked for his past services.