ATHLETICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2377, 18 December 1908, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

long-distance racing

DORANDO (DEFEATED

United Press Association. Copyright

NEW YORK, Dec. 16. Lon gb ran, a iCanndian-Indian, beat Dorando (the Italian) in a 26-mite race in New York, in 23 hours. Do•rando was distressed at the 20th mile, and on entering the 26th he fell m a heap and rolled off the tiaok. Longbmn finished very fresh and alone.

ACTION OF THE NEW AMATEUR ATHLETIC COUNCIL.

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Dec. 17. The adjourned meeting ol the newly-formed Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held to-night, Mr. .M R rryatt presiding. A telegram was received irom the president of the Southland centre statin <r that the Snorts Federation had disqualified the local Caledonian Society, and asking if the Centre was bound to conform in connection with amateur events at the games. It was decided to advise the Southland Centro that no official intimation of any disqualification of the Southland Caledonian Society had been received by the Executive, and that there was nothing to prevent the Southland Centre from granting a permit tor amateur events at the society s meeting at the new year.

THE AMATEUR DEADLOCK.

THE CASE FOR THE SECEDERS

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Dec. 17. At the meeting to-night oi the newly-lbrmcd Council ol the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association a report was submitted by the subcommittee appointed to consider the position which had arisen lately. Alter detailing the whole of the facts, the report suggested the following grounds for appealing to the Australian Amateur Athletic Union: that all valid nominations received by the secretary and treasurer should have gone to the ballot; that Wellington and Otago nominations were valid, inasmuch as they fulfilled all requirements of the rules of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association; that the properly constituted ollicer of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to decide as to the validity or otherwise of the nominations was the returning officer, who by the rules of the association was the secretary and treasurer; that the action oi the returning officer in requesting the. president of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association for his_ ruling re nominations received from Welling,to was contrary to the rules ; that the action of Parliament in directing the returning officer to refuse nominations received from "Wellington was ultra vires; that no valid election for the year 1908-9 lias taken place. The report explained that in view of the above circumstances tlie Wellington Centre had drawn up an appeal to the Australian Union and forwarded it to the secretary and treasurer of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, with a request that it be sent on. This request was refused, and in consequence a meeting of delegates hail been held, and tire present executive had come into existence under a resolution of the conference, and intended to administer the affairs of the Association as the governing body in New Zealand . “We therefore ask,” tlie suggested appeal concluded, “to be recognised as such by vour Union, also requesting that all official correspondence and other matters ho through this executive.’.’ The report was adopted, and will be- forwarded to the Australian Union by to-morrow’s mail. ’ The sub-co'nimittee appointed to inquire into applications for reinstatement reported that Laugridge’s term did not expire till January 21st, but would he dealt with then. Kean’s application was not in order, and had been made before tlie proper time. T-ho report was approved. On the motion of the chairman, it was decided to set up .an organising committee, consisting of Messrs W. 11. Pollock, R. W. McVilly and W. Coffey, to take immediate steps to establish amateur sports clubs wherever feasible.