ATHLETICS

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 February 1915, Page 2

ATHLETICS

TO THE EDITOR

SIR, —Of late much has been said in and around Helensville regarding the respective merits of the Northern Athletic Union, Auckland, and the N.Z. Athletic and Cycling Union, Timaru ; and as the mis-statement that the great majority of the competitors are adherents of the Southern body has been circulated, a few words from a competitor will not be at all out of plaoe. A represantative of the Timaru Union has been for the past nine months travelling around the Province exhibiting to town and country clubs a document purporting to bear the signature of some sixty athletes. I am not prepared to say whether or not all these '• signatures" appearing on that document are genuine, but I do know that fully one-third of those whose " names " appear thereon are registered with, and have competed under, the N.A.U., while a very considerable number of the remainder are either " spent lights " or " dummies " ; and if I state that the genuine signatures comprise very few outside the Centre Executive, I believe I can defy contradiction. The value qf Timaru's claim to J;hp aljegiance of competitors can be gaugreq1 frgm a cqmnarisqn of the nominations for events under their jurisdiction, and those received by clubs under tl\e jurisdiction, gf the .Auckland body, for instance, |he Wait.emata Athletic Society held a meeting on Saturday, under the jurisdiction Of the Timaru Union, and were patronised by 15 professional athletes, sprinters, distance runners and others, all told, Avhile the Onehunga F.S. Sports, under Northern rules, received an extremely heavy entry, as can be seen from publication of handicaps, etc., in Auckland papers. The 15 who entered for the Waitemata Sports on Saturday represent the full strength of the Timaru Union in Auckland, for I find that they, and those' who have been re-instated by the N.A.U7, comprise'the full complement of tlie^ runners who nominated at meetings tha.t the " Centre'■''itself held." How does this compare with the N.A.Us. 600 odd men already registered $his' season ?

Country Qlubs have oi>ly to look at »rria|; happened at the MorrinsviUe and

Mauku Sports, to form an idea what to expect if they come under the same jurisdiction. These two clubs joined with Timaru, to defeat the just claims of the clubs of Auckland. To the former six or seven Auckland runners travelled, and out of seven open races, members of the " Centre Executive" secured six firsts, four seconds, and one third ; while to the latter meeting only ONE town athlete sent a nomination. Now, Sir. who comprises this 'so-called "Centre" of the Timaru Union? A disqualified amateur, an ex-amateur, three or four known malcontented competitors—with one or more of whom the Helensville Club had trouble two years ago—and one or two outsiders who are absolutely unknown in athletic circles here. No wonder clubs and competitors want none of them. —I am, etc., J. M. O'CONNELL, Otahuhu, 22nd Feb., 1915.